Possibly switching schools-Perspective needed on best choice
EaglesSayMeow
Snowy Owl
Joined: 1 Nov 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 169
Location: Earth. Hong Kong or the US, probably.
I've got pretty good control over what school I go to (going into 9th grade in September). I'm continuing with one school through this year, but then I have a choice as to where to go. It's a bit complicated, but basically I live in a big city. When I was younger, I went to a reputable private, all-girls school. The social atmosphere was horrible for me, but the academics were great. Then, last year I switched schools. The academics don't stimulate me at all, but I'm finally discovering self-worth and individuality. I can't continue at that school for 10th grade, though. I can either:
-Go back to the school that gives me a good shot at Ivy League, etc, but I'm pretty constantly belittled (For future reference, prep school have a horrible social atmosphere for a borderline aspie w/o a dx)
-Switch into public school (bad grades, bad people)
-Try for a (famous, academically challenging) public school, which I doubt I'd get into, since it's weighted (heavily) towards math, and I didn't get a great foundation in that at the private school, enough to be interesting to me, but not really, really focused on that.
-Go to a boarding school. I can probably get into at least one good boarding school (Choate Rosemary Hall, Andover, Deerfield, etc) but I could also just stay at the private day school, which is on the same level, academic and prestige-wise. I shouldn't have homesickness, etc, issues. I've done 3-week summer programs pretty similar to boarding school and enjoyed them. But, I can't guarantee that it'll be the same.
(Cost isn't too big of an issue)
Does anyone have any input into this?
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Call me Trish, please.
Last edited by EaglesSayMeow on 11 Aug 2010, 2:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
EaglesSayMeow
Snowy Owl
Joined: 1 Nov 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 169
Location: Earth. Hong Kong or the US, probably.
I was at public school when I was little. The issue wasn't socially, it was academic-the local PS that I could (very, very easily) get into (not the math-y one) just aren't willing to let me go ahead
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The avatar is from Neopets.
Call me Trish, please.
EaglesSayMeow
Snowy Owl
Joined: 1 Nov 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 169
Location: Earth. Hong Kong or the US, probably.
Basically, my choice is to go back to a school where the people were all nasty but the academics were 'just right' and I had a very good chance at an ivy league school or I can try out my luck getting into/adjusting to a boarding school. Homesickness isn't an issue. Anyone have input?
Grargh, this is where all my problems lie! I have to balance the fact that I'm undiagnosed, but right around the borderline of AS with my/my parents' wish to get me into a good HS/college. I'm not a genius or anything and I don't know my IQ, but it's slightly above normal, I'd guess. So, someday I'll have to pick-go to a less challenging school where I have a chance of being accepted (socially), stick it through at my current one, and get almost guaranteed admission into a good/famous college, but have no friends and a bad social experience, or roll the dice and see what happens, trying a boarding school
_________________
The avatar is from Neopets.
Call me Trish, please.
How do you actually feel about getting into one of those ultra-high class schools? Is this a parent thing, or do you actually want to get into one of those places? If you legitimately want to get into one of the big schools, you should probably set yourself up in the best way possible for that, which means possibly giving up on social interaction. I pretty much ended up doing the same thing (though I had a hekuvalot less choice than you do) and it got me a 33 on my ACT. If it's not a huge deal to you, then it seems like you would be happier being accepted, therefore I'd say go with the public school. Getting into a normal-to-pretty good state school is not hard at all; usually they have just a minimum ACT & GPA requirement, which is most often around a 21 and a 3.0.
EaglesSayMeow
Snowy Owl
Joined: 1 Nov 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 169
Location: Earth. Hong Kong or the US, probably.
I've been going to the day school equivalent of one of those boarding schools since second grade, so it's not really something that I think of. My parents have been very careful not to pressure me about college, etc too much. (Family issues in previous generations; my dad and his sister are now touchy about putting a big emphasis on academic/financial success)
I'm not sure how feasible public school is, though. The academic public schools I'm talking about have a 20% acceptance rate, though. So, trying to do that would be a really long shot. The one thing I really can't do is the local public school system. Like I said, I tried that. I'd die of boredom very, very quickly.
I wish I could stay at my current school. I've made real friends for the first time in years, but that's simply not possible, since my school's in Asia, and a day school, and I'm going back to the US next year
_________________
The avatar is from Neopets.
Call me Trish, please.
Good luck with making the decision- tough! My opinions, in order of preference:
1. I'd at least try out for the academically challenging public school if it caters for you properly- if it is only maths focussed maybe it's not right for you though but if it is more balanced once you're in it sounds good- if you don't get in that's okay- you know how hard it is to get in and it's no failure on your part.
2. If you can't get in there I'd go for the private day school- at least if you don't love it socially you can escape for some quiet 'me time' to home.
3. Private boarding school- preferably in a private room if possible, again so you can have your own space.
4. public crappy school and try really hard, push for extention work
5. nasty all girls school- while academics are important they are not the only thing that is important in life- I think staying in this environment could be really detrimental to your self-esteem and confidence long term, and if you grow up as a depressed, anxious adult as a result of being treated badly by your peers it won't matter how well you did at college as you won't enjoy life or be able to hold or enjoy a good job as an adult.
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Mother of 7 year old son dx Apsergers/ADHD, 3 year old son and 2 month old daughter.
EaglesSayMeow
Snowy Owl
Joined: 1 Nov 2009
Gender: Female
Posts: 169
Location: Earth. Hong Kong or the US, probably.
1. I'd at least try out for the academically challenging public school if it caters for you properly- if it is only maths focussed maybe it's not right for you though but if it is more balanced once you're in it sounds good- if you don't get in that's okay- you know how hard it is to get in and it's no failure on your part.
2. If you can't get in there I'd go for the private day school- at least if you don't love it socially you can escape for some quiet 'me time' to home.
3. Private boarding school- preferably in a private room if possible, again so you can have your own space.
4. public crappy school and try really hard, push for extention work
5. nasty all girls school- while academics are important they are not the only thing that is important in life- I think staying in this environment could be really detrimental to your self-esteem and confidence long term, and if you grow up as a depressed, anxious adult as a result of being treated badly by your peers it won't matter how well you did at college as you won't enjoy life or be able to hold or enjoy a good job as an adult.
Yeah, I do have a lot of control over this stuff. I'm lucky in that way.
_________________
The avatar is from Neopets.
Call me Trish, please.
Good luck with it whatever you decide. The boarding school sounds pretty good- least it's not the nasty school.
I hope you enjoy moving countries and schools, enjoy the academic side of things and meet some friends. ![]()
_________________
Mother of 7 year old son dx Apsergers/ADHD, 3 year old son and 2 month old daughter.
Good luck with it whatever you decide. The boarding school sounds pretty good- least it's not the nasty school.
I hope you enjoy moving countries and schools, enjoy the academic side of things and meet some friends. ![]()
_________________
Mother of 7 year old son dx Apsergers/ADHD, 3 year old son and 2 month old daughter.
Wherever you go there will always be people who will bully you and if your are not a "normal" person the chance of you getting bullied and being a loner is high(most normal people are too weak minded to understand "not normal" people)
Best to go for an good academic school that is more academic than social
