<p>Is it a good or bad idea? I got past the problem of my mother not allowing me to go to boarding school at all; she is letting me go if I apply for scholarship. The thing is, the one and only school I really want to apply for is the San Domenico school, which is not well-known but has all of the curriculars I enjoy and has clubs that I would love. My mom really wants me to apply for GLADCHEMMS schools, but I don’t. Is it much better to go to one of the GLADCHEMMS/HADES schools or one that I would enjoy?</p>
<p>Boarding school is tough enough without the added stress of attending a school you don’t even want to be at! (That’s if you could even get in . . . If your answer to the question, “Why are you applying to this school?” is “My mom told me to,” your chances of being admitted aren’t all that great anyway!)</p>
<p>I would suggest you broaden your horizons a bit . . . get the viewbooks for a couple of different school and see what you think. They don’t have to be New England schools - look at Thacher or Cate or one of the other small California schools. I’d guess your mom is just concerned that you’re not even considering all the other possibilities that are out there. So, look around, and see if any other schools interest you. But, in the end, you should not apply to any school you don’t really LOVE. And if that means just applying to San Domenico, then that’s fine . . . it’s a fantastic school.</p>
<p>Is it a bad thing to go to a lesser-known school? Not as far as I’m concerned. Attend the school where you feel most “at home,” where you can pursue your passions, explore new things, and grow as a person. For some kids, the only schools that fit the bill are the huge New England prep schools . . . but that’s not the best fit for everyone. There are plenty of other fantastic schools out there . . . and no reason not to take advantage of them!</p>
<p>I attended a boarding school that had less than 200 students . . . and it was the best experience of my life! I would have been miserable at a school like Exeter with more than 1000 students . . . for me, smaller was better. Not every school is right for every student. You just need to find the one that’s right for you.</p>
<p>Why do you want to apply to that one school only? What sets it apart from other schools? If you are sure about those questions, go ahead with it. I would be thrilled if my parents had the confidence in me and supported me to pursue the best of the best!</p>