10th grader: stay at "elite private" or move to W-L IB?

[Anonymous]

My DD is a current sophomore at a DC area all-girls private. She started there in 9th. We live in Arlington, which makes going to this school geographically and socially difficult. She also does a unique sport that requires her to leave early every single day. She's done fairly well academically and seems to have good relationships with her teachers. She started a club, does model UN, etc but is by no means a "superstar", especially considering the performance of other students at her school. She has only a few friends and doesn't feel like she's cracked the social scene 2 years in.

She was accepted to the Washington Liberty IB program, which we are not zoned for, but her older brother also attends. She loosely knows people from her elementary school but has been in private since COVID (6th grade). Additionally, she is very keen on applying to UK universities but has no APs at her current school, which makes the process a lot harder.

Because the IB program starts junior year, I feel like the academic transition would be smoother than if she just left private school for public HS. But, considering she is shy and introverted, would it be an absolute disaster to throw her into WL with thousands of students? Or, would it be easier to integrate with this school community because she is closer to all the activities? Another part of the equation is the fact that it will take $120,000 more to get her through private, in addition to her expensive sport! DD feels that maybe she doesn't take enough advantage of the opportunities/connections at private school and instead likes feeling a part of "the DC elite", with no real reason or need to attend that school. Also, she has no exposure to the real world and I worry she will be swamped in college. Thoughts? Go back to public or not?

[Anonymous]

What was the draw of the private all girls school 2 years ago when she applied? I need more of the back story here. Did her brother start at WL or somewhere else to do the IB program?

[Anonymous]

How happy is she at her current school? It sounds like it would be a great opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a current sophomore at a DC area all-girls private. She started there in 9th. We live in Arlington, which makes going to this school geographically and socially difficult. She also does a unique sport that requires her to leave early every single day. She's done fairly well academically and seems to have good relationships with her teachers. She started a club, does model UN, etc but is by no means a "superstar", especially considering the performance of other students at her school. She has only a few friends and doesn't feel like she's cracked the social scene 2 years in.

She was accepted to the Washington Liberty IB program, which we are not zoned for, but her older brother also attends. She loosely knows people from her elementary school but has been in private since COVID (6th grade). Additionally, she is very keen on applying to UK universities but has no APs at her current school, which makes the process a lot harder.

Because the IB program starts junior year, I feel like the academic transition would be smoother than if she just left private school for public HS. But, considering she is shy and introverted, would it be an absolute disaster to throw her into WL with thousands of students? Or, would it be easier to integrate with this school community because she is closer to all the activities? Another part of the equation is the fact that it will take $120,000 more to get her through private, in addition to her expensive sport! DD feels that maybe she doesn't take enough advantage of the opportunities/connections at private school and instead likes feeling a part of "the DC elite", with no real reason or need to attend that school. Also, she has no exposure to the real world and I worry she will be swamped in college. Thoughts? Go back to public or not?

I went to Cambridge. A military kid who was willing to see the world and applied my senior year from a public high school. Before cell phones and high speed internet, at 17 I hopped on a plane by myself and went to my Cambridge interview in person. I still do not know how I figured out the bus from Heathrow to Cambridge, but I did. Save the 120k and go to W-L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How happy is she at her current school? It sounds like it would be a great opportunity.

+1. Let her decide what would make her happier.

[Anonymous]

W-L is big enough that she can find a place to fit in. The IB teachers are great too (my DD is not full IB but takes half IB classes). Also, she can take IB English every day at 7:30am at "0 period" before the rest of the school starts and have a free period at the end of every other day and leave by 1:30. It makes life for kids like yours so much easier.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would move her if she's not happy.

[Anonymous]

W-L is a mess.

[Anonymous]

Not in our experience. My kid has a bunch of good, tough teachers with his full menu of Pre-IBD courses in 10th grade. He also has nice friends, a good counselor and ECs he really enjoys. What are you referring to?

[Anonymous]

I am so weirded out by you asking on this message board if kid 2 should go to the school kid 1 attends? Like why don’t you know from your other child’s experience? What could an anonymous message board possibly tell you that you don’t know as a parent? Plus, like how many of you are there whose little sister goes to an Elite Private School? Weird post. Troll?

[Anonymous]

We just talked to a college counselor who said that being in the IB program helps with applying to colleges in other countries, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

If you already have a son there, don’t you know the answers to these questions? W-L is a great school. I have a daughter in IB and she’s flourishing. Go for the local option.

[Anonymous]

I would leave the decision up to your daughter, but W-L IB is a great program, and I don't think she'll have problems finding friends. With all the military and diplomats around here, there's usually more than a few kids starting in each high school grade.

[Anonymous]

If she is genuinely interested in UK universities, it is much more straightforward with the IB rather than her private school curriculum. My eldest is currently completing the IB and has applied to various universities. All British universities will accept IB results. On the other hand, I am trying to figure out how to navigate it for my youngest who is at a private girls school that does not offer APs. I have concluded she will probably have to self study for at least 2-3 APs but the timing matters for some British universities. She won't be able to apply to a few universities as they will require 5 APs.

[Anonymous]

We plan to have our eldest, who is at W-L in the IBD program, apply to UK and Canadian universities from a gap year with all IB and a few AP exam scores in hand.

If you look on the web sites of UK universities under admissions, you can find info about which IB and AP scores they're looking for in which subjects for admissions, along with the kind of volunteer and work experience they want to see. This info tends to be v. specific, e.g. IB scores of 6-7 in Bio and Chem and a third subject to apply for veterinary or medical programs.

We know that "predicted" IB exam scores provided by teachers that most American applicants rely on in applying to colleges at home and universities abroad don't carry the same weight as actual scores in admissions, so we're going to wait to apply to colleges from a gap year.

Our kid wants to train as a vet tech during the gap year while applying to vet programs abroad (many vet programs abroad confer certification that works in the US).