transferring between boarding schools

dodgersmom
Sat, 16 Mar 2013 11:29:23 +0000

Look, if you’re really not happy with the school your son’s been accepted to, then don’t send him. (The question arises, though, as to why you even bothered to have him apply to that school . . .)

If you do like the school, then embrace it, and encourage your son take advantage of the opportunities and activities available to him there. Treat it as his “forever” school. Chances are that he’ll settle in quite nicely. If he doesn’t, and really is unhappy there, despite you ALL giving it your best shot, then you can revisit the idea of transferring when he’s home for Thanksgiving.

And, yes, it’s possible to transfer, and the staff at School A are not going to consider him a “traitor.” And he will, by Christmas, certainly know his teachers well enough to be able to ask for recommendations.

But if you send him off to School A with a plan to get him out of there just as soon as possible, then you’re setting him up to fail. At that point, why bother?

Keep in mind also that there’s no guarantee he’ll ever be admitted by the school “he really likes.” Which is why it’s so much healthier for all of you to learn to “love the school that loves you.”