<p>Most deadlines are coming to an end, or very close, and I don’t think I’d be ready to go to boarding school by the next school year anyway. I’m a freshman and I really want to go, just not now. Do you think it would be okay to spend two years in public school and two years at boarding? I feel like I’m gonna wish I went sooner, and I also feel like my chances are going to be slimmer when I apply, do you think so?</p>
<p>Also what should I do for a year before applying!! Extra curriculars, volunteering, sports, STUDYING, obviously???</p>
<p>I also wanted to go to NYU or Columbia (I’ve had my heart set on New York since I was 11, and recently only thought about trying to get into an Ivy League, even though I’m not that confident hahah)</p>
<p>if you are planning to apply as a junior - the odds are low of admissions. The vast majority of admits are Freshman and Sophomore year applicants. You could consider a repeat 10th grade to enhance your chances. </p>
<p>I don’t want to discourage you - every school takes a few 11th graders. But just wanted you to look at the numbers when investigating schools. And - by the way - there is nothing you can do that you aren’t doing now. Students who suddenly show as flurry of activity in the year of or before application look as if they are resume padding. Find things you are passionate about and have done long term. That gives the school a better sense of who you are as a person. Not extracurriculars done for show.</p>
<p>Also, junior year is tougher because you’ll be in class with students who have had 1-2 years to adjust to the harder academic curriculum During jr. year they’re focused on getting ready for college applications. They’ve formed alliances, taken on leadership positions, created friends. So you’ll have to get up to speed quickly.</p>
<p>Try - apply - you might be lucky. But go into the process with open eyes.</p>
<p>That’s what I did, and I really wished that I’d gone to boarding school for three years, not two. It wasn’t terrible starting at boarding school as an 11th grader, but it did take me awhile to acclimate and I felt like everyone already knew each other and were friends. I ended up making friends with a lot of the new 10th graders because we were in orientation together. So at least I did have friends pretty much right off the bat, but it took me longer to break into being friends with my classmates and I always felt a few steps behind the 8 ball. Academically, it was fine, not hard to adapt. Overall, I just felt like it was such a wonderful experience and I wished I’d had more time to take advantage of the things that boarding school life offers.</p>
<p>I would suggest looking into The Masters School, located in Dobbs Ferry NY. Pretty sure they try to incorporate NYC into curriculum whenever possible…so you could get that feel for NYC even before going to college.</p>
<p>But keep in mind that what Exie noted about limited slots for juniors is true for most boarding schools.</p>
<p>We should add - if you want to go to boarding school to increase your chances of going to an IVY - you’re not likely to see that advantage. Too much competition. And the colleges are starting to become suspicious of student motivation for attending boarding schools for that purpose (easy to ferret out through any number of interview techniques).</p>
<p>If the goal is ONLY to get into an IVY - might as well stay put.</p>