<p>My daughter is interested in making a change for her fin al 2 years. She is attending a highly academic girls’ day school and is interested in a co-ed environment (for positive reasons) and a more global curriculum (possibly but not necessarily IB). She is interested in UWC, which is only 2 years but, for other schools, is it possible t get in for junior year? Any recommendations for mid-Atlantic/East Coast with good arts and a global/international feel (and preferably some merit scholarship!)
Thanks</p>
<p>How about Simon’s Rock, which has a unique format? It begins in junior year of high school, then goes through two years of college. It is affiliated with Bard College. Most graduates move on to four-year liberal arts colleges, either as freshmen (after two years at Simon’s Rock) or as junior transfers. Northfield-Mount Hermon has a very global perspective, and strong arts. George School has a full IB program, including IB certificates in visual and performing arts, for those not choosing to pursue the full IB diploma. All of the most prestigious prep schools would satisfy your daughter’s interests, but many of them are extremely difficult to get into as juniors (especially if you are seeking financial aid, and she is not a competitive athlete). I suggest that you research a number of schools, decide which ones she is interested in, and then contact their admissions departments directly. Most of them will tell you whether they expect to have a significant number of spots for incoming juniors. When we were looking at schools for my older son, four years ago, I can remember St. Mark’s publicly announcing on the admissions web page that they did not, at that point, anticipate any openings for 11th-graders (they call them “fifth-formers”) in the next year. One or two might occur, owing to attrition, but they had a full class at that point. I presume other schools would be as honest.</p>
<p>Thanks very much. We are looking at George - will investigate the others.</p>