<p>I’m currently a sophomore, and in 8th grade, I was offered a full scholarship to McCallie, but for (many) (probably stupid) personal reasons, I chose to stay in Georgia’s TERRIBLE public school system and attend the local high school. In retrospect, this seems stupid, as I really want to go to somewhere like Brown, Penn, Tulane, Cornell, or Emory, but at the time I was shortsighted and concerned with trivial matters (aren’t we always haha?). I’m just trying to gain some fresh… Perspective, from others. How badly did I hurt myself? I’m not asking for encouragement to apply to prep schools or anything, nor am I asking for consolation for my actions, nor condemnation of them, though if you have SAT/AP test tips, or study tips, or if you could give advice on what one interested in government, politics, and law should do with his summer next year, I certainly wouldn’t mind(: ANY comments at all are welcome. Thanks!(:</p>
<p>Your spelling and punctuation are good. I’m not making a joke–you write better than many young posters on this site, even though your post is relaxed in form. </p>
<p>Selective colleges make an effort to select classes from diverse backgrounds. I would not conclude, at this point in your life, that you’re past the point of no return. Have you taken the PSAT? If so, you might have an idea of your testing potential, in comparison to the national norms. </p>
<p>“advice on what one interested in government, politics and law should do with his summer next year…”</p>
<p>Apply to become a congressional page.</p>
<p>Just as good? Heaven help us, we’ll have a presidential election in 2012. Volunteer to work on a candidate’s campaign. It doesn’t have to be a presidential candidate. I don’t know Georgia’s politicians, but choose someone who has a chance, or at least enough campaign funding to pay for coffee and promotional materials. </p>
<p>Of course, an insider’s view of politics might scare you off!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Hey, I currently live in GA, too. C:</p>
<p>I’m still in eighth grade, so I can’t really give you too much advice. Periwinkle’s idea seems great, though. I probably wouldn’t be able to say more. You seem like a really driven person, though, and I wish you luck.</p>
<p>@EliKresses, stop beating yourself up. </p>
<p>There is no single path to being admitted to “Brown, Penn, Tulane, Cornell, or Emory”. In fact, the majority of the students who matriculate at quality universities are probably not the product of a prep school. </p>
<p>Make the most of whatever school you attend.</p>
<p>Amen - Everyone has to make choices, some of them still look good in later years, some don’t. I cringe at a few of the ones I made - but hey, I’m still here, and life has turned out pretty well, all things considered. And if you write down why you made the choice you did, and what you learned from it, that should go over well in any college application. Honesty - and self-knowlege - are big. </p>
<p>You sound like you have some interests to pursue - that’s great. Hit them hard - you could definitely try the suggestions from Periwinkle. Or if you can’t get to the big city, make your own internship right where you are. There must be people in your town who need your help for a number of reasons - you could figure out what they need, and try to help them get it. It might work, it might not - but you would be learning huge lessons, and building up a portfolio of work (I don’t think I’m stretching the definition) to show to the college that you want to go to. </p>
<p>and don’t forget to have fun while you’re doing it!!!</p>
<p>If you still want to attend a boarding school, you could always apply as a repeat (if you want to re-learn material that you don’t think was covered properly at your school) or you could apply for a PG year (if you think the college counseling program would be more supportive at a specific prep school). It may depend on your age - whether a specific school admits repeats/new students for a certain grade or whether the school offers a PG year. But, as GMTplus7 said, prep school does not necessarily equal admission into Brown, Penn, Tulane, Cornell, or Emory. Going to a new school might actually hurt your chances - if it takes you awhile to adjust, I wouldn’t suggest applying for a PG year. Sometimes, it’s simply more wise to make the best of what you’ve got. Anyway EliKresses, i wish you the best of luck with whatever you do :)</p>
<p>Do not regret. This CC board are BS believers many of whom want to project the notion that BS is life altering, amazing and without flaws. The fact is that BSs are still educational institutions with good and bad aspects, and students have varying experiences–some successful, some miserable, and every flavor in between. Make the best of the situation; it will definitely make you a more capable, more successful adult–carry on, without REGRETS.</p>
<p>There is no point crying over spilled milk, particularly the milk may have been loaded with fat.</p>
<p>College admissions often look at the student in the context of their resources. If your school offers one AP class, and you take it, you are now a good applicant by maximizing your school’s resources. Obviously there are disadvantages, but it does not hinder individuals such as you at public schools. In fact, going to a public school will probably teach you a lot about social taboos and such, as well as expose you to more “evils”.</p>
<p>You can shine through the rough.</p>
<p>You certainly did not mess your life up. People have probably wrote this before, but i am too lazy to read over the other posts. The college can only accept so much of a graduating class from a certain school. If you understand what im saying, then you would realize that your best chance of getting into a great college would be from home. However, if you would like the boarding school experience, then i would suggest that you apply again next year, because if you want to go, and you dont, you will regret it the rest of your life. There are alot of options for you, so choose the one that you know you wont regret later down the road…</p>