<p>Be warned that while it is not uncommon for students to transfer, it will set a bad tone with Kiski if they offered you full aid and you turn around and ask for a recommendation for another boarding school. If you need full aid from Exeter and Andover you’re going to be scrutinized because the pot of money is limited and they’re going to wonder why you took a spot at another school if you didn’t want to stay.</p>
<p>If you are accepted - good for you. If you are not, you will have burned some pretty big bridges with Kiski when you turn around and ask for aid for the second year.</p>
<p>Although I agree with what others have stated as a dose of realism and pragmatism and things that need consideration, my advice is to follow your heart. Live your life so that as you look back you have “no regrets.” Life’s too short, reach for what you want, but if your hand gets slapped, it hurts. Then, it’s time to reassess opportunities and make the most of them, and repair bridges if necessary. No risk, no gain.</p>
<p>I’ll go one further than Exie: your credibility will be zilch at both places. There is no way you can hide your intention from Kiski, and they will not be pleased that they went out on a limb for you and you’re immediately looking elsewhere. And from Exeter’s perspective: someone else has already hauled your butt up. Why would they pick you over a similar kid who has no such offer? Ultimately the prep school community is like all of the grads from one big U–think HYP or any college with fraterinities/sororities. Yes, to some extent your closest friends were in X house/club (i.e., your same prep school), but what matters most is that you share the identity of the larger institution (i.e., that college, or the <em>small</em> boarding school world in general). IMHO, you are really dissing Kiski, and it’s not likely to end happily for you.</p>
<p>I think you’d also do this board a service by posting people about your Kiski experience, for better or worse. It’s not usually discussed here, but you could either dispel myths or give your genuine critique, and either that would be an actual contribution.</p>
<p>I have already asked about kids applying to schools from Kiski.</p>
<p>Apparently, there are a few kids every once in a while that apply to other schools. They seem to understand that some kids just want a challenge.</p>
<p>The academics here are alright, but I can still tell that it’s a big sports school. Don’t get me wrong, it’s miles above my old public school, but it’s still nothing that I’m sweating over.</p>
<p>At my son’s BS, an English teacher told me that they get requests all the time for recs for kids wanting to change schools. She says it’s no biggie and no one takes it personally. I don’t think it will matter a great deal to anyone but a staffer in Financial Aid, perhaps.</p>
<p>Guess it depends on the type of school (a mama papa store type, which could take something like this personally, or a mature institution that doesn’t give a dam about a student leaving) and the individual you are asking reference from. I suggest you start exploring it by contacting the schools you are interested in first, explain your situation honestly and ask for their advice. Proceed cautiously. Since you know your current school’s culture better than outsiders, you know if you should be prepared for the worst outcome, which may be going back to your public school (?). Good luck!</p>
<p>That’s what they say, it’s not in practice what they do. If the school is a bad fit - then everyone understands that. In some cases schools will work to help the student transfer. </p>
<p>But it is not accurate to say that the “reality” is that it’s no biggie. Especially when the school worked to grant full aid to a student who then turns around and applies to a competitor.</p>
<p>Caveat Emptor. Schools are polite but the die will be cast if the student doesn’t get admitted. Which is why we say “Love the school that loved you – or don’t go in the first place.”</p>
<p>Well there might be another school that “loves you” equally. You just have to know them first. Then, of course, if you think school attendance is like a marriage. If you are married and still looking for a better fit, then it’s called unfaithful, and your spouse will hate you for sure.</p>
<p>I think the problem with going in intent on transferring is that you’re screwing up a valuable year. Invest in where you are and commit to it. That doesn’t mean you can’t transfer or that you’re a selfish if you decide to do so. If anything, I submit that planning on transferring on Day One at Kiski means that you’re not acting selfishly enough.</p>
<p>The selfish choice is the one where you commit to get as much out of Kiski as possible…and that means committing to the school with the intention of graduating from it. Keep your options open, if you must, but your commitment should be to what you are doing now. If, after giving Kiski your best, you believe that you need to be in another place, you can cross that bridge at that time. But if you haven’t given your best to Kiski, you’re not making an honest decision. You can’t know that it’s the best decision. And you’ve cheated yourself more than you’ve cheated anyone else in this equation.</p>
<p>Be forewarned: Despite your present intentions, there’s a very good chance that you’ll end up liking Kiski…and then you’ll wonder why the aid got tighter (as they assumed you’d free up that money) and why you can’t get a sophomore year roommate (when they keep hearing you boast of how you’re not going to return with them next fall) and the lead roles and the first chair and all the other coveted places are not really available to you (because your Kiski community is not investing in you to their fullest just as you’re not investing in them).</p>
<p>Be one with your surroundings instead of being physically present and mentally AWOL. This is a gift you owe to yourself.</p>
<p>Well, then look at it this way . . . a bad recommendation from Kiski will be the kiss of death for any other school you apply to.</p>
<p>You want to get in somewhere else? You need good recommendations. You want good recommendations? Then follow the suggestions in this thread and put your all into everything you do at Kiski. Doesn’t matter whether you’re doing it because you want to stay or because you want to leave . . . just so you do it!</p>