TheatreGeek1

I totally agree with CherryRose. Even though they're your best friends now, people WILL change in high school. When I come back for break, I might hang out with them, but really it'll be very awkward. After all, if you're at boarding school, you're in a different world than the rest of your friends. My group of friends will probably disband after high school, so going to boarding school won't have that much of a change. I made it very open that I was applying (basically to the whole school!) and I haven't received any negative treatment. It's really too bad that others that have had that bad experience. Just hope that you'll be able to go. My friends have been very dramatic about the whole thing but they haven't been overly negative. They don't want me to go 100%, but they know that I want to and do support me a tad bit.

CherryRose

*sad smile* It just makes you think, though... where is the real strength in friendship?

helloel

Gahh, I'm so bad at lying! The teachers that I asked for recs I've told the truth to about where I'm going when I go on visits, but to everyone else I just make up stuff. I mean not completely make up stuff, I just leave out a really big part of the truth. Like for last weekend I just told everyone I was visiting friends and looking at colleges up east, I don't know what to say about this weekend though, since I'm going on more visits! Where should I say I am going? Because people will catch on if I say I'm visiting friends, again.

ALittleButterfly

I told my friends that I was going on a super secret spy mission and they got the message that I was not going to tell them where I was actually going.

CherryRose

@helloel: What's so bad about just telling them? If they're truly good teachers/classmates, they should understand. If they don't, then screw them.

helloel

I don't want to tell them unless I decide to go. Because they will all treat me differently once they know. Nobody at my high school really understands boarding school and would be offended if I stated that I want to go. So I don't want to start any drama until/if I get in and decode to go.

TheatreGeek1

Am I the only one who told everyone? Haha I guess it was a kinda stupid move on my part, but I've been totally open with everyone that I'm applying. I'm not sure why, it just felt like the right thing to do. No one has treated me differently about it and I think my friends would be more hurt if I told them right before I leave. I guess by telling everyone that I'm applying it gives me an extra umph to get in, but I know whatever happens happens for a reason. (Awkward sentence to the extreme!) I don't really feel comfortable keeping it a secret and by being so open I've actually encouraged others to apply I guess I'm just really optomistic about going to boarding school but I know it'd be a little embarrassing if I don't get in. To anyone who's worried about telling friends I really don't think you should be because THEY WILL UNDERSTAND. Boarding school is pretty foreign at my school, but people still educate themselves about it and try to understand so don't be worried about what others think. You might as well tell them and keep everything open because I'd be REALLY hurt if I found out my best friend would be leaving to go to boarding school and didn't bother telling me until we only had 2 months left together. Just a thought for everyone.

fascination

I didn't really want to, because then what if I didn't get in? It would be pretty embarrassing to me. Plus, I asked a teacher for recs, but he's going to be my electives teacher next year too. So it's gonna be kinda awkward. "Hey, Mr. Teacher, I didn't get in! But that just means I can be with you next year too. YAY!" not.

CherryRose

I dunno. If the issue ever came up, I was pretty much like "Got a problem? Then deal with it." With that said, I didn't go around yelling it in people's faces. But I will get defensive if anybody asks and subsequently tries to raise something. That's just me.

Bookie101

I was really open about it. I mean, only my close friends know, but it's come up a couple times with them and people are like, Wait, what??? behind us and all. But it's not some big secret, so why treat it like one? If you don't get in, then... well, at least my friends will know why I'm mopping about. =P I also have a friend who is in my grade that is applying, though we don't have any of the same schools on our lists.

helloel

I've just decided not to tell most of my friends. Might tell a closer one though. So for all those other people that ask where I am going out of town, what should I say? Because I don't want it spread around the school if it's not for sure. Last weekend I said I was visiting friends up east, what could I say for this weekend?

I know it sounds bad that I'm going to a lot of effort to make up a lie, but I go to a very small high school and things would get very awkward very quickly. Advice much appreciated.

CherryRose

@helloel: What'd you tell them last year when you were applying? Just say the same thing. They'll assume it's an annual trip/event/whatever.

cassat

Last year, I told several friends that I was applying, and the news eventually got out. On March 10th, everyone was staring at me and questioning me, knowing that when I got home that day, I would know where I would be spending the next three years of my life. Everything was fine from the beginning of the application process, up until March 11th.

My friends began to lash out when I got into Andover. They began to call me pretentious and a snob, and I think they got relatively jealous--no one likes the school I went to, not even the people who go there. An unfortunate series of events determined that I could not trust any of my old friends anymore.

I'm not sharing this story to frighten you. I am telling you this so that you will handle the situation with care--it's very possible that I was too open about what I was doing. Let your friends know that you care about them and that you'll miss them--make sure they don't feel abandoned, and don't seem too eager to bolt from your hometown. By going to boarding school, you are inevitably leaving people behind. If you get into a school, be excited! But just be careful with how you handle it.

98beebee

Thanks for the advice. I can't believe people would say that, though... ?

helloel

CherryRose: This is my first time applying, I didn't apply last year. Also, there are multiple trips I have to make.