Repeating a grade, then skipping/graduating early?

squishsquash97
Sun, 25 Dec 2016 21:19:46 +0000

Hi @worldmap,

Academically, I would definitely not consider an additional year a waste of time. Many academic/intellectual pursuits take years to hone. Writing, for example, is something that takes a lot of practice and using that tenth grade year gives you one more year to employ academic and creative writing skills, both of which will serve you very well later on in life. Something like writing, in my opinion, just takes practice. In addition, tenth grade teachers will likely hold you to a higher standard of academic performance, as you are no longer new on campus. In my experience, eleventh grade was REALLY challenging academically, so you might be better off not plunging head-first into that without the stepping stone of 10th grade to prepare you.

Also, since it will be your second year at the new school, you’ll be able to solidify friendships and make new friends with the confidence of having had one year under your belt. But at the same time, you will actually have a lot of time to put into your friendships. My friends told me they barely saw me in my 11th grade year because I had “my head buried in the books” almost all the time.

While there is the added expense of an additional year of boarding tuition, I would suggest you don’t skip, if your family can afford it financially. It will put a lot less stress on you as a student and I think it will make the college process much easier for you. Additionally, like you mention, you will have an extra year to pursue advanced classes which will serve you in the college admissions process and in exploring and finding academic and extracurriculars you love and excel at. There’s some things that just take time and personal growth. In my experience, an extra year of high school at a BS was invaluable as much for my growth in the classroom as it was outside the classroom. Having an extra year may help you to appreciate forums and opportunities your school offers that you just wouldn’t pay heed to if you didn’t have an extra year of life experience and BS experience under your belt.

I respect that you’ll make the right choice for you. To me, doing four years at your current boarding school (for a total of five years in HS) is not being unproductive in the slightest.