I’m considering transferring to another high school in my senior year. Even though I know it is not advisable, I do want to go to better high school to show colleges that I welcome academic challenges.
Reasons I want to transfer:
My current school does NOT offer higher-level math classes (I’m taking Calc BC as a junior this year)
My current school has just started a math club (I’m the president and founder), however, the club members have no incentive to work or whatsoever (resulting in that I’m the AIME qualifier this year; and btw, I did very poorly on AIME this year)
My current school has NO students going to top 50 colleges (like, literally none). I suppose that colleges will consider the college admission aspect of the high school I’m enrolled in, right?
My current school has now just emphasized its nonsense dress code. Fashion is my life (so is Math and Engineering) I JUST HATE IT!
Potential Drawbacks:
Recommendation Letters - since the teachers at my current school like me a lot, I may try to convince them to write me rec. letters even though I may be studying at a different high school
(That’s the only one that I can think of)
Any suggestions? I just to know the pros and cons of transferring to another high school as a senior.
I’m not sure but I’m also a junior and transferring next year. I might try and ask my junior year teachers (from my old school) to write a recommendation. I’m not sure if this is going to work, but worth a try. My GC told me that the teachers will probably do it. Keep in mind that you may not have the same leadership positions and it sounds like at your current school you are ranked very high. Changing to a different school may lower your ranking and this may make you more unappealing to colleges. Colleges also take into account all of the classes that you are offered and look at your app based on that, so you aren’t really hurt by going to an easier school(to a point obviously). If you have good SAT/ACT scores,gpa, rank, and leadership positions I would stay. On the other hand I am switching schools. At my new school my gpa will go down around .05 because of a different grading scale, but my class rank will go up about 5%. So it really doesn’t hurt my grades. I have to work a bit harder for a leadership position, but I think I have equal chance of getting it at my new school. The new school also has more clubs that I’m interested in. In the end if you don’t have a good reason I would stay, it’s kind of a headache to transfer.
You'll be applying from the same HS as students who've attended a better HS for 3.5 years. This'll be reflected in the number of AP classes they've taken, their SAT scores, and the extracurricular activities they've had access to. Applicants are evaluated "in context," and the context of a new school won't show your accomplishments under the best light.*
Your guidance counselor's recommendation will be based on 2-4 months of interaction, depending on whether you apply EA anywhere.
You lose any leadership positions from your current school. Maybe the math club isn't going to shock the world, but making the best of what you have is an opportunity to show your chops. Being a member of the new school's math program for 2 months won't help you. Making a difference at your current school over the space of a year will.
*In theory, if you just transferred to a new school and didn’t have the same opportunity to take AP courses, that won’t be held against you. In practice, it’s hard to say if this is the case, while ECs and SAT scores will be viewed “in context” more often than not.
As for your points #3 and #4, I feel these need to be addressed.
With respect to #3: no college is going to apply the circular logic of “this HS gets a lot of kids into good colleges, so we should accept their students.” The value of certain high schools comes from their course offerings, teaching, guidance departments, and colleges’ understanding that these factors prepare students for university over the course of four years. Parachuting in two months before college applications won’t show your college readiness.
As for #4, unless your school has started requiring burqas, dress codes should play almost no role in your educational choices.
There’s a reason transferring high schools as a senior isn’t advisable.
You would be shooting yourself in the foot if you were to transfer in senior year.
Give the adcoms some credit; they can figure things out really fast.
Unless you are moving from another state, this idea is really wonky and reeks of trying to game the system.
You can take higher level CC math classes, in tandem with HS courses, at your local community college with your school’s blessing.
You have a better chance of being accepted from your current high school, at the top schools, BECAUSE NO ONE has been admitted to the top 50. It means you will be more competitive coming from your present high school. The colleges recognize that some schools can’t provide 26 AP classes so they give you the benefit of the doubt.
If I stay at my current school, which is in Raleigh, I have to switch to a new host family in Raleigh in order for me to commute to NC State University to take Calc III (HOWEVER there’s no guarantee that I would get the spot to take the course). This would lead me to lose the opportunity to participate in my very important EC - Choral Society of Durham, one of the most prestigious choral groups in the area.
OPTION 2: DO transfer
If I transfer to another high school in durham with high achieving academics. I would take Calc III at the school rather than trying to figuring out who would drive me to NC state for night classes. In addition, I would also preserve the spot at the Choral group in Durham, which is one of my passions in high school.
Though I realize it’s still not advisable, HOW MUCH would transferring as a senior hurt me though?
If you stay with your current family, you continue with your choral group, correct? Then look into on-line advanced math offerings instead. Changing your home situation on the CHANCE that you MIGHT get into a college math class seems like a VERY bad idea. @NotVerySmart and @“aunt bea” gave you many compelling reasons why transferring would be a bad idea - it will be hard to make a good impression with new teachers and a new GC in just a few short months. You’d lose your rank. You’d be judged by a new standard rather than the one at your current school.
Calc BC is just fine. Can you take AP statistics or similar next year? I still think an on-line math course might be your best bet.
It sounds like you might be in foster care? Or an international student with a host family? Either will have an impact on financial aid eligibility. You will have to consider both admission and affordability as you move forward.
It sounds like you have already made up your mind to transfer. Why ask if you don’t like the answer?
In the grand scheme of things, your GPA and SAT/ACT will carry more weight.
Transferring, as a senior, with a HOST family, and you don’t think they’ll see the change?
What happens if you don’t like the school?
You are currently living with a host family (“I have to switch to a new host family”)? And you have to move if you Stay in your school? And you can no longer sing in the choral group Which you are Currently singing in if you STAY in your school? It’s difficult to understand why you are making it so hard for this path to work.
I agree, stay in your old HS.
You will be stand out in your old HS, and part of the pack in the new one.
Most HS dont’ have Calc 3, as it is a sophomore level college course. Take it at a local Community COllege via Dual Enrollment. You don’t have to take it at NC State.
You want recommendations from teachers that know you and the GC that knows you.
Dress code seems liek the end of the world now, but you can dress how you want after school, on weekend, and FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE