<p>Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been posting like I used to lately. I've been busy with band, school, soccer, and working out the boarding school thing. Today is the deadline to register for the SSAT for October 14. I was about to register and I thought to myself, "Is this really what I want? Am I doing the right thing?"</p>
<p>I've decided not to register for the October 14 date, and to wait until November 11. </p>
<p>For one, I'm not even sure what schools to apply to. I'm not sure if I am willing to move in with my dad and attend a private school there. I am not sure if I am ready to move away from home. I am not sure if I could stand living with my mom much longer, or if I could stand not being around her.</p>
<p>I know this is kind of confusing and stupid, but I just needed to let it out.</p>
<p>BTW - If I apply to boarding school, I will probably just apply to Andover, SPS, and Deerfield, as well as two day schools.</p>
<p>Also, I would like someone to compare some schools for me. (One in U.S., one in Canada.) Please PM me for the names.</p>
<p>Signed contracts are due to the boarding schools around April 10th. That gives you more than 6 months to decide whether or not you really want to go to one. You don't have to make your decision now, but you have to be in it to win it. Even if you are uncertain, you can move ahead with the applications and SSAT now. You should stop when you know for certain that you do not want to change your situation at this point in time.</p>
<p>BTW, have you looked into whether or not your public high school will track you? Some students enjoy school more when they are tracked in honors and AP classes. For others, that still is not enough.</p>
<p>OMG!!! Jonathan, i'm so jealous! You have such amazing stats, i can't believe you'd even think about not going, you always seem so sure of everything.
I totally understand you not being sure, I feel the same way but that's because for me I think it's almost impossible to get in...
If my opinion really matters at all to you, I totally think you sure good, you seem like a perfect person for boarding school:).</p>
<p>Jonathan - You are an amazing person; bear that in mind. We all have our doubts; thoughts that wander, and the infamous "What If..."s that arise. Truly, it is only within yourself that you know the answer - the mind poses the question, and only the mind can reveal the answer. I will also be registering for the November 11th SSAT; perhaps we can share past experiences and study habits. Sometimes, all one needs is a simple camaraderie. </p>
<p>The boarding school experience, which I am sure you are aware of, is truly an amazing one; for someone of your caliber, the schools on your list are not that far off.
Let the flame inside never be extinguished. Kindle the desire, the focus, to strive for success; and you will soar.</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more with chaos. Any of those schools will be an amazing experience that you will cherish for life. I don't know a single kid who went to a great boarding school that would have traded it for anything. Many alum will tell you that it ws their best academic experience by far, and they went to great colleges. You'll make lifelong friends who will go on to do great things.</p>
<p>Everyone is a little nervous to leave home for boarding school. Some are homesick for a bit but most are so engaged from day 1 that they never look back. You'll work hard and play hard. You will have so many things available to you that the hardest thing is choosing among them. Jr year abroad or a Washington internship?</p>
<p>It's an absolute blast Jonathan. A once in a lifetime experience. Just go!!!!!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Some students enjoy school more when they are tracked in honors and AP classes. For others, that still is not enough.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There aren't any honors or AP courses offered in my school.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys. I really mean it. I'm thinking that I should just apply to boarding school (Andover, SPS, Deerfield), and if I get accepted, that is the time to make my final decision. I still have seven months!</p>
<p>Greenhills (day school) seems like a great school. It's a bit small, though. Only 70 - 75 students per grade.</p>
<p>After going back this morning and looking at Andover's courses that are offered, I feel like it's the perfect place for me. They have classes on Islam, International Relations, European History, The Middle East, etc. I love that stuff! Classes like that aren't offered anywhere within 1000 miles me! </p>
<p>I just hope that if I get accepted, that I won't be homesick. </p>
<p>I never worried about being homesick until I went to Japan. I was only there for two weeks, and I was very homesick. I think it's just that I wasn't around ANY Americans, except the other students that I would see for a few hours a day. I'm sure boarding school would be different, though. I would have someything to do pretty much all the time.</p>
<p>I took a quick tour of Greenhills, and it looks like a great independent school. You will probably have children of professors at the University, which should create a great intellectual mix. The class size is typical for many independent schools. Many students thrive in a smaller group because each student becomes an important member of the class. If you participate in competitive athletics, it may be a disappointment because it is hard to form a competitive team with a small class. If Greenhills functions as a typical independent school, you can petition to take an independent study for a subject that is not offered. A teacher needs to have the expertise to teach you. Many language teachers know several languages, so you may be able to do an independent study in another language. It is good that you have this as a possibility for you.</p>
<p>It's easy to be intoxicated with all the course possibilities that a wonderful school like Andover offers. However, when you map out what you need to do to meet or exceed your requirements for college admissions, you will discover that there is not much room left for all those great courses.</p>
<p>I think that the best decision is the one that gives you the most options. If you went ahead and applied to the bs, you would have more options that you could choose from, even if you decided not to go to bs. I don't want you to get past the application deadline and regret that you didn't send one in.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't want you to get past the application deadline and regret that you didn't send one in.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's exactly what I'm worried about. I think I want to just go ahead and apply so that year from now I won't be asking myself, "What if I go in? What if my life would be totally different?" etc.</p>
<p>oh, everyone gets homesick for the first couple of weeks or so. i was pretty homesick the first few days; i was just longing to go home, and i was sure i didnt want to come back next year. but im pretty happy now, i guess. but some of the girls here were crying a lot the first week or so.</p>
<p>One thing I'll add is that I think as prep schools decline in quality so does the happiness of the students there. There seem to be many kids who are not there by choice at some of the non elite preps. Does anyone watch the Gilmour girls? There's an episode where Loganand Rory's dad proudly reel off lists of all the prep schools they were kicked out of.</p>
<p>Jonathan.... I just hope you can come to the right decision for you... I, too, am having some troubles and can understand yours. My family, while not being able to get financial aid (probably), cannot send me without some. It's hard to realize what you've worked so hard for might not happen. Fortuately, I'm trying to figure out a way to make the best out of wherever I go. If I end up staying at my current school, I can at least do some independant studies in a few subjects, continue volunteering here, and find ways to stand out. Like I've said before, I think if you're commited to education for yourself, and you definitely are, then you can find ways to educate yourself wherever you end up. Hopefully you can figure out a way to be happy.</p>
<p>Hopefully my mom will let me apply. I've already worked so hard the applications. I'm almost done! I've put so much effort into this process, and I'd hate for it to not happen.</p>
<p>Wow Jon, you've finished your applications already?
And by the way, since you are also applying to Andover - when it asks for your SAT date on the Application Statement, you can put a future date, if I am correct?</p>