<p>Hi I know this article is long but if you can help please do I really need guidance and help I dont know where else to go.</p>
<p>My end goal is to go into an Ivey league school for an undergraduate program. </p>
<p>I live in Canada, and am currently in grade 11. I have always been very strong in both academics and extracurricular activities. My marks have always been in the 90’s and I have been extremely strong in students union, sports, leadership and other extracurricular activities. Basically I was on the right path. </p>
<p>When I moved to high school however (Grades 10-12 in Canada) I got sidetracked with friends. My grades dropped to 80’s in grade 10 and are now in the 60’s and 70’s in grade 11. In addition, I have to extracurricular activities. I know I’m a good student and have it in m to make it to an Ivey school. However, I’m really confused and lost. I am very fortunate to say that money is not an issue and am seriously considering applying to a top prep school in the US and redoing grade 11 and 12? Or should I just grade 12? Or not go at all? Would that be a good move? Is it too late to apply? I’m already 17, am I too old? Im scared of being the oldest kid in the grade. Would a postgraduate program be a good idea? Its already February is it too late to apply to TOP Prep Schools? </p>
<p>I don’t even know which tests I have to take? SAT’s for sure but what about SSAT’s and ACT’s? Where and when should I write these exams? Is it too late? As you can see, I am really lost and really need help and guidance. I have extremely supportive friends and family but even they dont know what to do, as going to Ivey league schools and Prep schools is not common where I live. PLEASE ANY help or guidance would be MUCH appreciated. My major worry is that I’m TOO LATE. I hope not my dreams will be crushed.</p>
<p>The main reason I feel the need to go to a Prep school is that they will know exactly what to do to get me into the top colleges, something that is just not available to me where I live. The school would also have to be a boarding school. Also, which Grades do Ivey league schools look at for marks? Just for grade 12? For 11 and 12?</p>
<p>Well, here are a few ideas, since you seem seriously interested in a good education:</p>
<p>1) Quit messing around and bring up your grades. Make school your number one priority.
2) Spend the summer in some productive way (classes, work, service)
3) You will have to show any selective college that you have turned your academics around. </p>
<p>Take the SAT (you should anyway as a junior) and consider looking around among US boarding schools for a late full-pay opening (it is too late now for regular admissions) for 11th or 12th grade. After you have your scores, you can call boarding schools directly and inquire. Be prepared to fly down and interview quickly if given a chance.</p>
<p>Consider a PG year after you graduate from your current high school. Apply next fall if you don’t find an opening in the spring or summer for 11 or 12 grade. Most PG spots are for athletes, though, so there is a slim chance.</p>
<p>Go to a community college or less selective college if needed, and get excellent grades, become a leader, get good recommendations and try to transfer to a selective school. </p>
<p>Ivy does not mean selective, there are more selective schools than some Ivys. You need to find a school where you can succeed, not just a prestige name.</p>
<p>WRONG. Only you can get yourself into a top college. No prep school, no matter how prestigious, is a direct path to an Ivy League school. The prep school graduates who go on to an Ivy League school probably would have gone there no matter what HS they attended.</p>
<p>Your chances of being accepted in a “top” prep school are also not good. You simply don’t have the grades to get there. Prep school admissions committees don’t expect perfect grades. They will forgive “blemishes” in a applicant’s grades if there is an upward trajectory in the grades. You have, however, described a downward trajectory. Being full-pay is not enough to get you into a “top” prep school if you simply don’t have the resume. The prep schools typically want to see the last 3 years’ grades.</p>
<p>Can you get admitted into a “good” prep school? Yes. Many solid schools have rolling admissions. It’s not too late to apply.</p>
<p>Can a prep school help you get your act together? Yes. But you need to be realistic about the outcomes. A prep school will get you PREPared to succeed in college; it will not get you into your dream college.</p>
<p>At this point, competitive boarding schools and Ivy League schools are probably not an option for you. If I were writing the report I would have to be honest and recommend no. The clues - the grades dropped and you didn’t reverse them. The spelling errors in your comments above. That you are too far into your high school journey to make a difference now. Colleges will look at your grades all the way back to 9th grade. If they saw lower grades that became progressively higher - that would be a positive. If they say okay to high grades that get progressively lower, it tells them you aren’t college ready.</p>
<p>Unfortunately life is about choices. Lower grades because of choices about friends is part of that. And no boarding school in existence will fix the deficit. </p>
<p>It’s too late to apply. Even if you have funds and can pay full rates, you won’t find a strong school willing to take you on. Most take only a handful of 11th and 12th graders and those are students with strong hooks. The best you can do know is improve your grades, go to a college that sees your potential and then try to transfer later.</p>
<p>Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but the competition right now is too fierce for you to get your hopes up and the deadlines for the best schools have passed.</p>
<p>At this point, competitive boarding schools and Ivy League schools are probably not an option for you. If I were writing the report I would have to be honest and recommend no. The clues - the grades dropped and you didn’t reverse them. The spelling errors in your comments above. That you are too far into your high school journey to make a difference now. Colleges will look at your grades all the way back to 9th grade. If they saw lower grades that became progressively higher - that would be a positive. If they see “okay - high grades” that get progressively lower, it tells them you aren’t college ready.</p>
<p>Unfortunately life is about choices. Lower grades because of external influences is part of that. And no boarding school in existence will fix the deficit. </p>
<p>It’s too late to apply. Even if you have funds and can pay full rates, you won’t find a strong school willing to take you on. Most take only a handful of 11th and 12th graders and those are students with strong hooks. The best you can do know is improve your grades, go to a college that sees your potential and then try to transfer later.</p>
<p>Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but the competition right now is too fierce for you to get your hopes up and the deadlines for the best schools have passed.</p>
my dreams will be crushed.</p>