Which high school will help me into an IVY?

[thestresser]

<p>Hello!
I am currently a freshman at one of the best private schools in Texas and even the South. It is extremely competitive to say the least. This is my first year and I am not enjoying it at all. I am not sure if it is the people (most of them come from very wealthy families) and that a lot of them have been here their entire lives or that my grades are suffering for the first time in my life.</p>

<p>Before freshman year I had gone to public school my entire life. The district I was in was also one of the best in Texas and super competitive as well. I had never gotten less than an A. Now at my new school, classes are not weighted and sometimes I am satisfied when I pass. </p>

<p>My hardest subject is math because I skipped two grades in math and am currently taking Honors Pre-calculus. It is very difficult for me and my lowest grade is in that class (B- to a B). The rest of my subjects are decent - high Bs and low As and sometimes an A.
My math grade pulls my GPA down by a large amount. Although I am ahead of everyone in my grade by one year, I know many many people who have much higher GPAs than I do.
My dream is a HYP school (my sister went to one) so I do not know if my math grade will hurt my chances. My sister went to a private school as well, but not the one I am currently in. The private school she went to is not as competitive and she was Salutatorian. </p>

<p>If I do switch schools (to the one she went to), will colleges think I am stepping down to something easier? Are my chances of going to an IVY better at this well known school or if I go to a lesser known school with better grades?</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

[Potassium]

<p>I don’t know if switching schools would benefit you or hurt you; I guess that’s for the admissions officers (or perhaps a seasoned CCer?) to determine. However, I do know that it does to matter if you go to the worst school in the country v. The best school; what the admissions officers at HYP schools really look at is if you took any initiative while at the school (rigorous courses, leadership positions, etc). Did you take the hardest classes? Did you perform well in them? Did you make the most out of your school’a curriculum and opporutunities? Top-tier and ivy colleges look beyond GPA, rigorous schedule, and test scores (which should all undoubtedly be good/high anyways); they also look at ECs (extracurriculars). Did you join clubs? Do you show passions for them? Did you have any leadership positions for them? Etc, Etc. I apologize for digressing; but I repeat that I have no idea if switching schools is a bad or good idea, but the school could view it as you trying to take the easy way out to boost your GPA (or that may be completely inaccurate). Hope I helped.</p>