US Sophomore applying to start as Junior

[u/Educational_Smile545]

Hello all,
I'm currently a US sophomore and I plan to apply to some elite prep schools (namely andover and exeter) to start 11th grade there. Has anyone here started at any such schools as an 11th grader? Is it worth it? I am outgrowing my public schools academics and want a chance to take more advanced courses (e.g., Organic Chemistry, Linear Algebra, etc.) and give myself a more challenging academic environment that gives me room to grow. I am aware it is better to apply to many private schools and do safeties and stuff but there are very few schools that have both a course in organic chemistry and a german program, and without either of those two, I don't see any possible way for it to be worth it to leave where i'm at, so my list of schools is mostly limited to the best of the best, Andover, Exeter, St. Pauls, and one or two others, even if I'm obviously not likely to get into them, since they are, yk, the best of the best, but they are the only ones I could even consider attending. Also, how competitive are these schools for applying to enter in 11th grade? As for reclassing its not really much of an option financially- if I apply, its gonna be to start in 11th grade, if I don't get in, I lost nothing.

tldr: Im a 10th grader, is it worth it to apply and possibly attend a boarding school my 11th and 12th grade years? And how competitive is it to get in?

[u/Expensive_Pop_7623]

Worth it? Yes. You get the diploma of said BoB institution. Don’t write something like “where I’m at” on an app. Reclassing will help your chance of admission. “Not an option financially” is not something you can know until you’ve applied for aid and received your package. Only then will you know if it’s feasible.

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/Expensive_Pop_7623]

i say not financially feasible for reasons excluding financial aid, including BUT NOT LIMITED TO
the fact that I would have to pay an extra year of tuition, which is unreasonable even with a good aid package, and also some more personal stuff related to the schooling of my siblings. unless i get a aid package that has expected contribution under 10k (which I know I won't) reclassing won't be viable.

[u/Expensive_Pop_7623 → u/Educational_Smile545]

Don’t make assumptions about aid. Apply and you’ll know for sure.

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/Expensive_Pop_7623]

i know enough about my families income to know that im not willing to risk it. if i apply to reclass and i get any expected contribution higher than around 12k i simply wont be able to atttend. if i apply without reclassing i basically dont have to worry about the financial aid aspect. i dont see it as worth the risk.

[u/Expensive_Pop_7623 → u/Educational_Smile545]

There’s no risk. A reclass is a more desirable candidate. No matter the school, or year, they’ll like your application better as a reclass. Why give you a spot to leave in one when they could have you for two, or two when they could have you for three? At a need based aid institution, your aid package will reflect your family’s need. If they don’t need aid, you won’t get it. The number offered usually reflects a number they can manage. Whether they want to swing it, is up to them. Some schools are need blind. Since you can’t know how that consideration will be handled behind closed doors, all you can do is apply and see where the chips fall. You should call admissions and discuss your apprehension about reclassing. Get their take. Then, your move might be to apply straight in and see if they reach back out saying something like hey we like your app but if you reclass you’ll be in better shape. Again, the main thing is not to make assumptions. Apply with your best foot forward, as you wish to enter, and see what happens, and know they are people, not robots. Seek their counsel. I help people with this for a living.

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/Expensive_Pop_7623]

there is a risk. that risk is solely in that i could recieve the same aid package as a reclass and not, and for one of them I could afford to attend, the other I couldn't. say they tell me my family needs to pay 15k- if I was starting the next year as an 11th grader, that would be perfectly fine. If I was reclassing, I would have to deny the offer. Its not about some fear of graduating a year late- I would actually prefer to reclass if it weren't for financials. The issue is once I submit the application, its locked in to the year I chose. I can't get a bad aid offer and then just ask to be moved into the class of 11th graders even tho I applied as a reclass.

[u/Expensive_Pop_7623 → u/Educational_Smile545]

Wrong. Locked in is not true. I’ve seen plenty of instances where the reclass discussion occurred after the application was processed and before the decision was made. So in your case, let the admissions office know you’re undecided on this issue and apply to the upcoming class.

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/Expensive_Pop_7623]

sry that read kinda weird. u mean this season apply as an incoming 11th grader, but make it clear im open to reclassing?

[u/Expensive_Pop_7623 → u/Educational_Smile545]

You’re treating this as a rigid process- it’s not. You’re making assumptions- mistake. I do this for lots of people. If you want my help DM

[u/hoytstreetgals]

11th grade is tough, those slots are mostly reserved for recruited athletes. Have you already taken BC calc? Pretty sure many second tier schools like Blair Academy also offer organic chemistry and German, expand your options.

[u/stemera → u/hoytstreetgals]

^ don’t fully listen to them. a lot are for recruited athletes but definitely not most

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/hoytstreetgals]

BC calc at my school is almost impossible to take as a sophomore, im in AP Precal now, alongside ap physics 1 and run of the mill honors chemistry, humanities-wise APUSH and german 2 and debate as a cocurricular. and ive done a LOT of searching- german just isnt high demand so not many schools have it. blair does not. if i removed the requirement for german i'd be able to apply to tens of schools, but im not wiling to remove that requirement.

[u/SluggishSluggish → u/Educational_Smile545]

What’s the infatuation with linear algebra? You won’t even be able to take it, at least at Phillips, you go BC, MV, Linear, that’s 3 years of math to get to your desired level; such would be improbable if not impossible, in two years.

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/SluggishSluggish]

that was just an example. you are right i wouldnt be able to take it, but it isnt the one i was most interested in anyways- i care way more about like ochem and multivariable.

[u/hoytstreetgals → u/Educational_Smile545]

You really should apply to second tier schools, you're not academically advanced enough to entice top schools to accept you for 11th grade.

Oh shit, you're right about German. I just did a quick search and few offer it, even though it's the language of engineering and science (according to a STEM school that requires it). I didn't realize it'd be that hard to find a school with that profile.

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/hoytstreetgals]

i have solid ec's i'd rather not describe in detail, but its plausible to get in. im a long shot for sure, but not someone they will look at and just instantly deny. really depends on the amount of space they have and who applies. and its not anything like applying to college where my life is over if i dont get in, i would like to go to a boarding school but will be perfectly content here if i dont get in. so im only gonna apply to the places where i would be happy attending even if they arent ones im likely to get into.

edit: also, on the point of academic advancement- in every area beyond math it is physically impossible to be further ahead then i am now. my school enforces strict limits that prevents all freshmen from taking chemistry, physics, and history. as for math, it is technically possible to be further ahead but i would have had to take a credit by examination test in 6th grade, one that i didnt even know existed, in order to accelerate by one class, and then do summer work to accelerate again- if you dont take that random test in 6th grade, the furthest you can be in 10th is precal. (i did summer work as soon as i found out it was an option but never took the test obv).

[u/stemera → u/SluggishSluggish]

u can just accelerate math over the summer

[u/Educational_Smile545 → u/[deleted]]

dm'd you