Dilemma: Transferring From Private to Public High School

[Stampaholic1961]

Wow! You really started an interesting discussion full of great information and wise advice. I will be very brief. The point I want to make is that Colleges and Universities are having a hard time attracting the kinds of students they want. I know from experience that what will make the difference is extra curricular activities.

An awesome grade point average isn't all that impressive if that is all the kiddo has to stand on. On the other hand, a respectable grade point average with a full plate of clubs, etc - perhaps even a leadership position or two - is what won me scholarships. Those kids are the "safe bet" - statistically, they do better in their new environment of freedom vs. responsibility. Public School will work just great - any school will do. Focus on the well-rounded experience and success will find you all!!

So far in high school he has participated in Model UN, joined the robotics team & is involved in karate. He was in the band until his new braces caused problems. This summer he will be volunteering with a day camp called Camp Invention. That's the extent of his activities. Does he need to add anything else to his list to make himself more attractive to colleges? Based on a test he took last year he is already getting information from a ton of colleges. I think we've received emails & brochures & letters from 30-40 colleges & universities so far. He has gotten stuff from Stanford, Pepperdine, Duke plus a slew of in-state schools.

 

[Teresa Lynn]

They look at Leadership, extra curicular activities, community service and a biggie Financial NEED
my son had a fantastic GPA, was very involved in church, school and community activities but daddy makes too much $ for many of them. He did get a few local ones. But, many are based on the students need.

 

[Stampaholic1961]

I want to thank everyone again for their advice. I'm trying really hard to accept his decision but it's tearing me up. I start crying every time I think about it. I know this doesn't consign him to working at McDonald's the rest of his life but I just feel like he wasting such a wonderful opportunity. Thanks again!

 

[GourmetGirl]

As a public school grad who had the option to go to private school... I look back and regret my decision. I saw so many people who had worse gpa's, SAT/ACT scores, and school involvement get accepted into schools that I was rejected from; just because they went to a private school. I loved my public high school, don't get me wrong and I succeeded in pretty much every way: sports (badminton, cheerleading and varsity soccer) as well as activites (student body officer, fca officer, volunteer club officer, nha member, dancer, thespian) and graduated with a 3.9 gpa and a 1410 on my SATs and I started college with 27 credits under my belt between AP classes and dual enrollment classes. However I feel that if I went to a private school I could have ended up where I am today with less stress during high school.

I ended up at a very respectible private college where I earned a scholarship and grants. However, I worked very hard to get where i did there by forming a first-name basis relationship with my admissions counselor who went to bat for me come scholarship time.

Another I do know is that out of my graduating class of 220, 4 of us went to private schools a handful went to public and many, many more went to community college. I also know that only a very small percentage of us has actually graduated from college (it's been 5 years since high school).

Also, the public school seemed much more okay with mediocrity (they tried to get me to go to an in-state public college instead of a private college that I wanted to attend). I also had to stand my ground and "fight" to get dual enrollment classes allowed at my school because nobody had ever tried it before.

I guess what I am trying to say is that while public high schools can provide a great environment, applying to college and being from a well known private school where many of their students have come from (and then succeeded at college) can be a great boost come admissions time.

Overall, your son sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders and will succeed in whatever he does, but now might be a time to look at what college he wants to attend and see if switching schools will harm him in any way come admissions time.

Sorry for the short story turned long, but this is an issue that I feel very passionate about.

 

[Stampaholic1961]

As a public school grad who had the option to go to private school... I look back and regret my decision. I saw so many people who had worse gpa's, SAT/ACT scores, and school involvement get accepted into schools that I was rejected from; just because they went to a private school. I loved my public high school, don't get me wrong and I succeeded in pretty much every way: sports (badminton, cheerleading and varsity soccer) as well as activites (student body officer, fca officer, volunteer club officer, nha member, dancer, thespian) and graduated with a 3.9 gpa and a 1410 on my SATs and I started college with 27 credits under my belt between AP classes and dual enrollment classes. However I feel that if I went to a private school I could have ended up where I am today with less stress during high school.

I ended up at a very respectible private college where I earned a scholarship and grants. However, I worked very hard to get where i did there by forming a first-name basis relationship with my admissions counselor who went to bat for me come scholarship time.

Another I do know is that out of my graduating class of 220, 4 of us went to private schools a handful went to public and many, many more went to community college. I also know that only a very small percentage of us has actually graduated from college (it's been 5 years since high school).

Also, the public school seemed much more okay with mediocrity (they tried to get me to go to an in-state public college instead of a private college that I wanted to attend). I also had to stand my ground and "fight" to get dual enrollment classes allowed at my school because nobody had ever tried it before.

I guess what I am trying to say is that while public high schools can provide a great environment, applying to college and being from a well known private school where many of their students have come from (and then succeeded at college) can be a great boost come admissions time.

Overall, your son sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders and will succeed in whatever he does, but now might be a time to look at what college he wants to attend and see if switching schools will harm him in any way come admissions time.

Sorry for the short story turned long, but this is an issue that I feel very passionate about.

Unfortunately he doesn't know where he wants to go or what he wants to major in. He did mention recently that he is thinking of politics or law. He sees all the wrong stuff going on in politics & wants to get in there & change things!!

What you mentioned about regrets is one of my biggest fears. I know what it is like to have regrets & I don't want my children to have to live a life full of regrets.

Today was really difficult for me. We went to the closing exercises/moving up ceremony. There were lots of awards given & my son received one in computers. Then they had this little ceremony of the seniors turning over the reigns to the juniors. It was beautiful. I couldn't help think how they can't do things like that when you have 500 kids in a class instead of 60.

 

[Paige Dixon]

A successful kid will be successful in almost any school. My brother was only one year ahead of me, got the exact same public education as I did. He's one of the most sought-after pediatric facial plastic surgeons in the country, I'm a "home party lady". He thinks he got a fantastic public education, I'm still learning things from cartoons!

The bigger point is to raise a decent person, not necessarily the most successful one. Going back on your promise may affect his character, far more important than his future success.

 

[Stampaholic1961]

The bigger point is to raise a decent person, not necessarily the most successful one. Going back on your promise may affect his character, far more important than his future success.

We're not going to go back on our promise. We're going to let him make the decision but that doesn't mean I have to like it, do I? lol

He's been telling us that the reason he wants to change schools is because he doesn't have any friends at the private school & that all his public school friends are encouraging him to transfer. Well, he brought one of the boys from the private school home with him for the weekend & went & played paintball with several of the people from the public school today. My husband plays too & one of the girls & he were both out at the same time so they were sitting & waiting for the game to be over. They started talking about Micah changing schools & she said that she has been telling him that he should stay at the private school!! She asked him where the boy that was with him was from & he said the private school. She said "then you do have friends there. That means you lied to me!!) I knew I liked that girl!!! Too bad she doesn't have more influence on him!!

 

[janetupnorth]

Well, there is still a few more months before school starts again...let us know what happens....

 

[Stampaholic1961]

Well, there is still a few more months before school starts again...let us know what happens....

I haven't enrolled him at the public school or withdrawn him from the private school for that very reason!! I keep hoping he will change his mind but I'm afraid he is as stubborn as me!!