Transferring Boarding Schools?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>I got into a nice school, and I'm looking forward to it, but I'm really worried about being the only student on a high level (like I plan on starting trigonometry/pre-cal for ninth grade). There are very little students, and therefore I'm stuck with one group of kids for the next for years. The kids that apply to this school vary highly, and I have no idea what to expect. </p>

<p>If this school is horrible, I was wondering if I could try applying to one of the selective boarding school this new application year? Would that really be damaging to my status at the current boarding school and a turn off for the school I would apply to?</p>

<p>My parents really messed up with Andover and Exeter. I'd rather not talk about it, because it would right away give my identity, but I think I have a chance... As long as it isn't andover or exeter.</p>

2

<p>I did it. I think it really depends.</p>

3

<p>You haven’t even attended a single day yet. Why not give the school an honest chance.</p>

<p>If you are the youngest student in a higher math class, then the other students in that math class will graduate year(s) ahead of you, so you probably won’t be “stuck with one group of kids for the next four years”</p>

<p>And yes, I think that applying to another school when you have attended your present school only a couple of months will raise all kind of red flags with the prospective school-- it makes you seem fickle or seem like you have a problem, especially if your present school is a well-regarded one.</p>

<p>Even if you do manage to transfer to another school, there is no guarantee you will be happier there.</p>

<p>Give your new school a go. After all, you regarded it well enough to invest the energy to apply there.</p>

4

<p>I stalked yer past posts. Is this Linden Hall you’re talking about?</p>

5

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<p>Of course, when all else fails, blame the parents! Don’t even consider the fact that it’s ridiculously difficult to get admitted to either of these schools, no matter how qualified you are.</p>

6

<p>It has nothing to do with me blaming, but I really can’t repeat the story without giving away my identity. I’m stating the honest truth, not just angry I didn’t get in.</p>

<p>Anyways, no, its not Linden Hall sadly, and the school is a “nice” school, but it is in no way what I want. My mom pulled my ap with linden because she didn’t want to finish the parent portion.</p>

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<p>“I’m really worried about being the only student on a high level (like I plan on starting trigonometry/pre-cal for ninth grade). There are very little students, and therefore I’m stuck with one group of kids for the next for years. The kids that apply to this school vary highly, and I have no idea what to expect.” </p>

<p>I am really not trying to be mean to you here, but rather straightforward. With your post you have me very dumbfounded. :confused:
First of all, there are MANY, and I repeat MANY students who will be on the same level as you in “highly selective” boarding schools. (I’m going to assume that you’re going to a rigorous one: your post has me confused because you have references to Andover, Exeter, and say you want to go to a highly selective school.) Since they vary highly, as you say, there are definitely going to be those highly gifted in math and science. After all, that is kind of why many APPLY to BS: to get a more rigorous experience. </p>

<p>Second, being “stuck” with one group, in my opinion is better. Throughout the third grade to eighth grade in my school’s gifted program, we have fostered our own little family. Even though there are those who might be annoying, you just have to stick it out for a bit and you won’t be annoyed anymore. Granted, this is high school, but still…</p>

<p>Also, having variances in student demographic is GOOD. All these schools WANT diversity. If you are not going to have fun in ethnically/academically/extracurricularly/etc. diverse ecosystems, I suggest you leave BS. </p>

<p>I also agree with GMTPlus7. You should give your school a chance–it probably will not be “horrible.” After all, if what you want is the BS experience, it should be fine. Transferring schools will also be difficult. You can’t blame it on your parents. They helped you get here, and you can’t really ditch all that work you did and the money they’re spending to make this possible to deem the school “horrible.”
Again, just my honest opinion.</p>

<p>EDIT: If I misunderstood you, I’m sorry. I found your writing a little hard to understand, maybe it’s because I’m not a morning person ;)</p>

8

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<p>Okay, fair enough . . . You’re right - there are perfectly ordinary ways parents can screw up an application . . . by not completing the financial aid application, by not getting the parent essay done, or even by promising it drop it off at the post office and just forgetting! </p>

<p>And I think it’s true that even if a parent supports the idea of their child applying to boarding school, they may still not fully appreciate how competitive the application process is, or how strict the deadlines are.</p>

<p>So, I apologize . . . I guess it it can happen that a parent, even without meaning to, can screw up an application, and it sucks if you’ve done everything else right and something like that happens.</p>

<p>P.S. I do agree with what others have said, though. Do give this school a chance - you may be surprised. If not . . . then you start writing essays over Christmas break and try again. But you’ve got a few months to see how things go . . . and you should give it as much time as you can. It can often take a semester or longer to really “find your place” in a new school.</p>