<p>(that is the question)
After trying to avoid actually posting on college confidential (the plight of every lurker everywhere, I'm sure), I've developed a problem that simply screams "post on the internet!" </p>
<pre><code> Basically, I'm a sophomore (class of 08) who moved after freshman year. I spent freshman year/middle school at a super-prestigious, really hard private school which will go unnamed ("School X"). Being young and stubborn, I refused to try hard in school and got mostly B+s (I had a 3.5 for the year), but took the hardest classes possible, was really active in the school community/student government, etc. (the grades were indicative of my lack of organizational skills/lack of effort more than a comprehension problem). Because I was a transfer student for sophomore year, I just went where there was space, I ended up this year at "School Y," a smaller Catholic school that's decidedly less intellectual (I'm not Catholic). I've really done well academically, quickly establishing myself as one of the top (the top if you go by test scores AND GPA) students in my grade. However, I'm pretty unhappy with the structure of my new school; the student body is very homogenous/apathetic, the drama program (I'm majorly into theater) is mediocre at best, theology is a mandatory part of the curriculum, and rather than having classes I'm truly interested in, the only choice for top students is to take a truckload of APs (I'm signed up for six for next year). Plus, after many years of it, I've grown really sick of all girls and uniform. Thus, I applied to (and was accepted at) a local private school ("School Z") which is well known as the most academically rigorous in the area-I wanted to go there the year before, but they simply didn't have space. I was initially excited to go to "School Z," but am decidedly ambivalent now. It will be hard to re-establish myself as an excellent student in such a critical year (Junior year), especially in a more competitive atomosphere. However, the general environment is much more suited to my personality, and the performing arts program seems infinitely better.
So... what do you think? Should I stay at "School Y," remaining at the top of my class while also being mildly unhappy/less able to pursue most of my interests, or run the risk of getting worse grades at "School Z?" I'm really interested in going to Yale (where I'm a triple legacy whose family regularly donates, although I don't know if that will be extraordinarily helpful), but would colleges frown upon going to three schools in three different years? Thanks for your help!
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