Currently, I’m a sophomore attending a local (Midwest) competitive admissions high school that regularly ranks among the best public schools in the nation.
But the thing is that a couple of months ago my parents broke up, and now my mom has decided she wants to move to Florida. So she’s applying for jobs and will probably get one, and she’ll likely move down around Christmas.
I’ve decided that I want to go with her and apply for prep schools for the last two years of HS, which is another matter entirely. So I’ve begun that process now.
My question is whether I should go with her when she moves, or wait and finish out the school year at my current HS. I’m wondering whether or not it will look odd to colleges if I attend three different highschools, and I really like where I go now. It would definitely be possible to live with my dad for the semester, but I kind of don’t want to. I love him, but he can be very difficult to live with and I’d rather be with my mom. Another thing is that with one brother in college and the other almost there, my parents won’t pay more than a few thousand- they really can’t- and since my dad makes like three times as much as my mom does I’m pretty sure I’ll get much more FA if she’s my primary parent (her income falls under the ‘free Exeter education’ line).
So, bottom line: is it gonna look strange to colleges if I spent a year and a half at Competitive Admissions School, then a single semester at Florida HS, then two years at Prep School? Also, how will it affect my BS application if I switch schools halfway through my applying year?
(And of course, this is all relying on the assumptions that my mom will get the job and I’ll get into prep school/it will be feasible to go.)
My advise is to worry about where you will be happiest. It is most important that you spend the next two years in the place where you think is most likely to allow you to have the best high school experience possible. The years in high school are not just about getting into college. They are important years of your life and you deserve to be happy. So if living with your mom would be best, by all means do that. Colleges are used to seeing that students move around. Kids whose parents are in the service move all the time-as do a lot of other students. In terms of financial aid-colleges look at both parents’ financial situation so it does not really matter which you live with-both are considered. You can’t know anyway how the schools will weight various factors-especially for schools that use the College Board Profile as well as the FASA. So instead, figure out where you will be happiest. Where ever you go, do the best you can. Concentrate in high school now-not college.
Also, all schools consider incomes from both parents-regardless of who you live with.
You don’t NEED to live with your mom, you want to. That’s OK, but let us not confuse the two concepts. Mom may be great and all, but she is the one moving.
My personal suggestion would be to live with dad until you get the prep school figured out. That creates less upheaval. I know from having my oldest go to both a prep-school and a public HS, that you sometime lose some credit for tougher classes when you change schools. As long as dad is not abusive, take your time.
As noted above, you will have to count all income for college either way, so don’t use that as a rationale for making a decision.
I would also reiterate that colleges are used to kids moving around. It would be a bit different if you were just changing schools and not moving. Sometimes it is all about the ‘why’.
Colleges get that kids can’t control when their parents move. You can put a note in your Common App about the mid-year move to a new state if you want to. I wouldn’t worry about that. Focus on finding a HS that is a good fit in your new home.
Also, to the people who’ve mentioned FA, I saw on the FAFSA site that they base your aid off of the income of the parent who you spend the most time with, taking into account what they get from the other parent in child support + alimony. So if I live with my mom, I’ll get aid based on her ~50,000 dollar salary, vs. my dad’s six figures. I might be misunderstanding, though.
I don’t think it necessarily looks good. I’ve attended three high schools.
If you’re unhappy with your dad, it may affect your grades and your emotional state.
As long as you get good grades/scores, it shouldn’t look to bad. Go where you’ll be happy!