Total Noob going into 10th grade wanting to transfer for grade 11? Any Help?

ImSoAmbitious · 07-17-2012, 03:50 PM

Hey guys, I want to try and transfer into a prep school in 2013, when I will be entering 11th grade. Does anyone know what schools allow this and how I should go about applying and such. What is the timeline for applying. What does it take? Thanks, I was looking at schools such as Andover and Exeter.

PrepQWill · 07-17-2012, 09:02 PM

Hey, I suggest you start your application soon. And I'm pretty sure schools allow you to repeat.

awkotaco · 07-17-2012, 09:47 PM

You should go for Andover and Exeter, but you'll need to work super hard. Start your application early. I don't know about Andover, but Exeter's 11th grade is the toughest and being a new Upper you'll need to be really prepared for it.

ImSoAmbitious · 07-18-2012, 10:54 PM

Thanks for the info, I think I will be prepared, I already go to a prestigious public for math and science, top 20 in the nation. It is pretty hard, usually at least 5 hours of homework a night, in all honors classes. Hopefully, they will not be much harder than that. And @PrepQWill repeat a grade? Noooooo I am not willing to do that, I'm pretty sure I can transfer in for 11th grade directly, but the websites are not totally clear. Thanks though

PrepQWill · 07-19-2012, 02:09 AM

Oh, I read it wrong! You might, you'll have to have an amazing application.

awkotaco · 07-19-2012, 08:29 AM

@ImSoAmbitious that's good. The class of the year is History though. The 333 is the most dreaded of all assignments at Exeter! You sound as if you'd adjust well though.

ImSoAmbitious · 07-19-2012, 07:29 PM

And I also have another question, do they regularly accept kids going into 11th, or will it be on an availability basis? As in, if I get accepted, will they have spots open or will I have to wait until one opens up?

awkotaco · 07-19-2012, 08:21 PM

If you get accepted you're in! No doubt (:

dodgersmom · 07-21-2012, 02:23 PM

Some schools have no spots open for 11th grade; others have a few.

It is extraordinarily difficult to gain admission to the "top" (most well known) boarding schools for 11th grade. And, even if you do get in, that's no guarantee the adjustment will be a smooth one. You're likely to find it significantly more difficult, for a number of reasons, than your current situation . . . and you can expect your grades to take a hit. (Look at it this way - ALL the kids who get into Andover and Exeter are straight "A" students when they apply; but they can't all be straight "A" students once they get in!) Since your 11th grade transcript is critically important for college admissions, most people would advise against picking that year for transferring into boarding school.

Are there other boarding schools with more 11th grade openings, where the adjustment won't be so difficult? Absolutely! But if you're not willing to look at them, then that's up to you.

By the way, just in case you're wondering, these are the reasons that many students choose to repeat 10th grade when they enter boarding school, rather than trying to go directly into 11th grade. It's not because they're "not good enough" for 11th grade . . . it's just because they've got the good sense to realize that (1) more students are admitted to 10th grade and (2) torpedoing their 11th year grades might not be a good idea.

Repeating, by the way, does not mean you'd be the oldest kid in the class - many boarding students have repeated a grade. It also doesn't mean you'll actually be repeating the same work you did in your old school - your placement in individual classes at boarding school will, for the most part, depend on your prior experience and ability level. In the rare instance that you would repeat a class (10th grade world history, for example), I can guarantee it won't be the same experience you had the year before!

If you want to know which schools accept 11th grade applicants, contact the schools directly and ASK. The timeline for admissions would be the same as for any other applicant - with applications due sometime from early January to early February, depending on the school.

govsgirl · 07-22-2012, 09:05 PM

Choate Rosemary Hall is one of the few boarding schools that accepts many 11th graders. I know about 20 new juniors that will be attending this school year.

GMTplus7 · 07-22-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

torpedoing their 11th year grades might not be a good idea

dodgersmom raises a very important issue. Do NOT underestimate how difficult the transition into an intense academic environment may be. And there are fewer support resources on offer for a newly-entering Junior as there are for newly-entering Sophomores & Freshmen.

As you will be applying to college at the beginning of your Senior year, entering as a Junior gives you very little time to “recover” if your GPA is less than ideal. Entering as a repeat-Sophomore would give you more of a cushion.

Just because one can enter in the Junior year does not make it advisable.