<p>I'm in grade nine at a 120-student private school in Canada. We have IB and AP here, but there aren't any ECs and the teachers play with kids' marks to make them look good (not mine, though). There is a really big public school in my area and they don't have have IB/AP, but they do have an accelerated program for stronger students. (This year, I'm taking some grade 10 classes so they said they could put me into the advanced program in grade 11 classes next year.) I'm very interested in going to that school because there are a LOT more opportunities there to excel outside of the classroom (leadership opportunities, student-run organizations, and a lot of other things I like), but I don't know if I should switch next year or not.</p>
<p>Additional info: My school is not academically competitive and I don't like that. I'm at the top of every class I have (even the grade 10 ones and the one grade 11 class, which is just sad because I'm a niner :P). My average right now is probably like a 97% or somewhere in that area.</p>
<p>I just have some questions:</p>
<p>1) Would it hurt my chances at Harvard if I didn't have an IB Diploma or AP credits under my belt? (Basically what I want to know is, do IB and AP make you more eligible? What if your school doesn't offer them?)
2) Would they take the accelerated classes into account?
3) What is an AP independent study like and how can I get involved in that? Would that count as a credit for AP?
4) What is more important -- lots of leadership in school or a full IB Diploma? (I think I'd be able to do the AP even if I switched, right? Like independent study?)</p>
<p>The school I'm considering going to is one of the most well-known in the province. It's ranked 88/1600. My school doesn't have a rank because they don't "believe in those things" and we have kind of a snobby reputation. </p>
<p>What would be best for me? Should I stay where I am, get my full IB Diploma and some APs, with no in-school extracurriculars (I've considered starting some but there aren't enough people or motivation)? OR Should I go to the other school and have a lot of leadership opportunities, more academic competition, possibly AP independent study, more ECs, and opportunity to start more ECs? I think I might go to the other school for next year and come back in grade 11 and 12 for IB/AP. I'm not really sure, though. Are they really worth it or is this just a waste? PLEASE help! Anything at all would be greatly appreciated! :)</p>
<p>Well, right now I’m checking for things I can do outside of school. I’ve contacted the mayor’s youth committee in my city, but they’ve told me to talk to them again after the new year since that’s when they’re going to fill in the vacancies. I’m not old enough to volunteer at the hospital yet, but I’m going to do that as well. Basically, I’ve found a lot of volunteering opportunities. I’m still looking for other things as well, though. </p>
<p>I think I would do a lot better in the other school. I had ideas this year for a bunch of fundraisers/clubs/other things we could do at my school, but there isn’t enough motivation or enough students. But at the other school, people do this stuff all the time, and they have academic teams that I think I would do well on too. </p>
<p>I’m trying to think of it this way – if Harvard HAD to choose between these two applicants, which would they choose?</p>
<p>Applicant 1:
full IB Diploma (meaning that the CAS is included), some APs as well
no in-school ECs
highest grades in every class (average is 96% or higher)
has taken courses early (Math 10 in grade 9, Accounting 11 in grade 9, etc.)
member of mayor’s youth committee, started projects and etc. etc.
volunteer at hospital
various science programs outside of school
work experience teaching Kumon and at vet clinic</p>
<p>Applicant 2:
some AP independent studies (Bio for sure, that’s all I know for now, lol)
leads in lots of in-school ECs (academic teams – including Odyssey of the Mind – Student Council, starts peer tutoring service, underprivileged children’s events, band, environmental club, etc.)
highest grades in every class (average is 96% or higher)
taking courses early
member of mayor’s youth committee, started projects and etc. etc.
volunteer at hospital
various science programs outside of school
work experience teaching at Kumon and at vet clinic</p>
<p>Harvard wants you to take advantage of your situation. I think if you can show your academic strength in other ways (ranking, courses, competitions, etc), moving to the other school won’t affect you.</p>
<p>Sorry, I just REALLY need clarification. D: (I’m so afraid, and I have to make my decision before February 1st, because that’s when the first installment of my school fees is due… if I’m coming back and I want the discount. I don’t want to screw my chances up.) If I applied with applicant 2’s stats and someone else applied with all that (but I wouldn’t get that at my current school) AND with IB and AP, they would obviously get in and not me, right? </p>
<p>If I stay at my current school, I will probably have applicant 1’s stats… that’s all I know right now. D: I don’t know what to do, really. Would it be a good idea to go to the other school for a year, do all of the projects that I can’t do here, and then come back for IB and AP?</p>
<p>Also, can someone please tell me this as well: What is a national honor society? Is it something that a student gets involved in, or a whole school?</p>
<p>I think you should relax about Harvard and make decisions based on your own life, and your enjoyment of high school. </p>
<p>Harvard admissions are “holistic”, so they look at you and the context in which you live, work and study. There is no formula for admission.</p>
<p>Bur more importantly, it would be better for you, in 9th grade, to be pursuing the things you are interested in, for our own development, and not to get into any particular school. Explore interests and friendships, and live your life.</p>
<p>It sounds like EC’s are very important to you. Is this because you want to try some things, and like to be a leader, or is it because you want them for a resume or application?</p>
<p>I hope you end up happy at whichever school you choose, and that you don’t end up moving back and forth in an effort to resolve the question.</p>
<p>And remember that there are lots of great schools out there.</p>
<p>I know what you mean… lately I’ve been trying to do just that. I know what I’m interested in and what I want to accomplish in high school. The only problem is that my current school doesn’t give me those opportunities, so that’s why I want to switch. But my parents are obsessed with IB and AP and they think I won’t get accepted ANYWHERE unless I have them. I’m going to put together a really good argument (lol) and convince my parents to let me switch. Besides, I don’t think I’ll need IB – everyone says it’s mostly for people who want to go to Europe to study and AP is kind of new here and the Enriched programs at the other school are pretty much equal to it. (If I feel I’m lacking in that, I can just do some independent AP studies, right?) The only reason I was considering staying at my current school was because of IB and AP… but they couldn’t penalize me for NOT having done those if my school didn’t offer them, right? That’s what I think, anyway… I really hope my parents agree. I don’t want to waste all this money and time at this school. <em>fingers crossed</em></p>
But at the other school, people do this stuff all the time, and they have academic teams that I think I would do well on too. </p>