<p>I have finished my first year at boarding school, and it has overall been a good experience (I've made friends, earned high grades, etc.). The only thing that has bothered me is the weak art program* and the lack of artistic passion among the general student body. </p>
<p>I have thought about transferring to an art focused school (i.e. Interlochen or Walnut Hill) for my last two years of high school, because I am extremely passionate about the arts, and it is something I hope to pursue as a professional career. I believe that an art school would best prepare me for the future.</p>
<p>However, my parents do not want me to transfer, because they see that I am doing well at my current boarding school. They hope that I can continue on at this school, and go to go to an ivy league college. They told me to save my artistic pursuits for college and beyond.</p>
<p>Should I take their advice, and play the 'safe' route? Or should I follow my passion? </p>
<p>*by 'weak', I am comparing the program to programs at other art schools which have state-of-the-art facilities and resources, as well as passionate students who are dedicated to their art.</p>
<p>I know where you are coming from with the frustration that the kids in your boarding school arent terribly passionate about the arts. However, I think you are overlooking something when you sum up your choice as Follow your passion or take the safe route. If you were to transfer to an arts school, you might find yourself frustrated when most of the population turned out to be not that interested in academic classes outside of the arts. You got into and did well at an academically strenuous school, which tells me something about your intellectual abilities. I know the grass always seems greener elsewhere, but in this case, it might be more complex than that. </p>
<p>I have a few friends who are professionals in the arts, and most of them went the route of taking honors classes in challenging high schools and went on to good colleges. As a teacher, I have seen students of mine who were very passionate about the arts go on to a wide range of college programs, but the ones who went on to preprofessional arts schools were the ones who struggled academically. Weirdly enough, the ones who are now graduating and getting jobs in a variety of arts related fields are the ones who went to the top colleges. All of them would tell you that the best artists have their brains stretched and filled by lots and lots and lots of different subjects. So by studying science, religion, history, foreign language, literature, and math, you are in fact feeding yourself as an artist. I think the safe route as an artist is to surround yourself with people who already are immersed in the arts. I would argue that the brave route is to be a leader and an iconoclast in an environment where the arts are often overlooked. You may actually end up with more chances to lead and create your own projects at your current school than you think.</p>
<p>This is for the summer opera program but the dorms rooms are very small and old so that would apply for the normal school year. Stay away from Walnut Hill!! My S was very very disappointed with it. As far as I can tell it is a total waste of money. During the time not singing (which was a lot), he was stuck on the campus and didn’t have access to a library or to any performances, museums, etc. The most exciting coaching he got was “your voice is exactly where it should be for your age. NEXT!” The dorms aren’t air conditioned and it was over a 100 a lot to the time. Food is not available in the evening and the meals are the cheapest food available with very little protein. He lost 10lb over the three weeks, at 5’8 133lb, he didn’t have it to lose. When I got there to pick him up and see the final performance, the head of the vocal program waltzed in, talked to no parents and basically acted like we were dirt. If you are seduced by the idea of the Italy trip, use the tuition money and go for a couple of weeks. STAY AWAY FROM WALNUT HILL!</p>
<p>Interlochen is a fantastic school, but it is very, very different from a “typical” prep school. The academics are considered extremely challenging, probably the most challenging of any of the arts-focused boarding schools, but the main focus of the school is on the arts. Every student who applies to Interlochen auditions for a place in a specific program: Music (instrumental, vocal, composition), Visual Arts, Motion Picture Arts, Dance, Theatre, Creative Writing, or Comparative Arts. A good part of your class day is taken up with required classes in your major. There are not any school sports, although some students do play soccer on an ad-hoc basis. There are some student clubs, but most students spend their free time pursuing activities related to their arts focus (i.e. Theatre students are cast in student films; music students create ad-hoc bands and ensembles, composers write new works that are performed and recorded by other students; dance students collaborate with visual arts students to create performance art; etc.). For the right person, Interlochen is heaven. My daughter describes the school as “finally finding my tribe."</p>
<p>I personally believe that attending boarding school should not be about increasing your chances to get accepted to an Ivy league school. I believe it should be about finding the right environment, the right “fit,” that will help a high school student grow academically and personally, and to help them become the best person they can be. But I completely understand your parents’ concern, too. Perhaps you could ask them to talk to someone in the admissions office, and gather more information. The admissions staff is fantastic, and will answer your questions very candidly. (And it is not too late to pursue enrollment for classes starting this fall - Interlochen has rolling admissions, and depending on your major, your gender, and your grade, may still have space. Good luck!)</p>
<p>One more point - many, many students at Interlochen enroll as juniors, seniors, or PGs. (Our daughter will be a first-year Junior, Theatre Major this fall.) They get the majority of their academic requirements out of the way first, before coming to Interlochen, so they can concentrate on arts classes as upperclassmen.</p>