Strategically transfer to crappy school for the last year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just curios.

DC (middle school) goes to a private school that has pretty high academic standards and it's not easy to get an A. I'm sure in high school it will be even more competitive - it's a small school, there are plenty of of overachieving, bright kids, the average ACT score is 28 and last time they had 11 National Merit semi-finalists.

We are zoned for a pretty crappy high school and my friend's son goes there. He sleeps in classes, hardly ever does homework. Yet his GPA is 3.8.

So, my question is wouldn't it be a good strategy for parents to put their kids from overachieving school to the crappy school for the last year? The kid will have a great GPA, be on top of the class, may even be a valedictorian. And coming from a crappy public school, it will look good on a college application. What do you think?

What kind of schools are you aiming for? If you're aiming for top schools, they'll know your kid couldn't hack it at the competitive school and therefore will not be a top candidate for those colleges. Not to mention that your kid is at a disadvantage when it comes to recommendations, etc. Plus I would hate to be adjusting to a new school while doing college applications.

[Anonymous]

You lose the advantage of having teachers who know you well to write your recommendations. You're less likely to get a lead in the school play or to be a leader in other extracurricular activities.

I agree that if you're going to do this, you need to do it for all of high school. And if you're not willing to subject your kid to a "crappy" school for four years, why do it for one?

[Anonymous]

Really? Is this what they will think?

A kid couldn’t hack it in private and now he’s on top of his class at Crappy High?

[Anonymous]

That is socially difficult. Poor kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how this would work. Your kid spends three years in the prestigious/hard grading school. He and his GPA then transfers to the easier school, where his GPA now looks even lower in comparison to his peers. Plus you lose access to teachers and counselors who know him and can write good letters of recommendation.

This. If anything, it should go the other way. Go to the crummy school and get a 4.5 and transfer that to be valedictorian at the good school.

[Anonymous]

OP, there is a document that every guidance counselor has to submit at the same time they are submitting a transcript to colleges.
It's called a high school profile.
It provides lots of information about the types of classes that offered at the school, how many kids are taking advanced classes, and they spread of grades kids are getting.
It is specifically designed to help admission counselors look at two applications from two different schools, and put them in the correct context.
If a school has very few kids getting an "A" then that is reflected in the GPA ranges. The admissions counselor sees that, and is then able to put the "B" grade that a particular student got into context.
Dean J who writes the admissions blog writes extensively on this topic.
http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-role-of-gpa-in-uva-admission-review.html
Bottom line: you don't gain anything by making this move, and it seems like it would be an awful thing for a kids' social life, not to mention whatever capital then had built up in their school's extra-curriculars.
If you are happy with your school--stick with it.

[Anonymous]

You'd have to transfer in 10th for it to make any difference. And then you run the risk of your kid not actually learning material and failing out of college and that's pricey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just curios.

DC (middle school) goes to a private school that has pretty high academic standards and it's not easy to get an A. I'm sure in high school it will be even more competitive - it's a small school, there are plenty of of overachieving, bright kids, the average ACT score is 28 and last time they had 11 National Merit semi-finalists.

We are zoned for a pretty crappy high school and my friend's son goes there. He sleeps in classes, hardly ever does homework. Yet his GPA is 3.8.

So, my question is wouldn't it be a good strategy for parents to put their kids from overachieving school to the crappy school for the last year? The kid will have a great GPA, be on top of the class, may even be a valedictorian. And coming from a crappy public school, it will look good on a college application. What do you think?

This has got to be the most DCUM post ever. Like, EVER.

I think this may win. In between all the coronavirus action, discussions of soccer teams, conversations about killing geese, this gem really stands out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is socially difficult. Poor kid.

I can’t believe you’re the first poster to mention this. Think about social life as a senior. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just curios.

DC (middle school) goes to a private school that has pretty high academic standards and it's not easy to get an A. I'm sure in high school it will be even more competitive - it's a small school, there are plenty of of overachieving, bright kids, the average ACT score is 28 and last time they had 11 National Merit semi-finalists.

We are zoned for a pretty crappy high school and my friend's son goes there. He sleeps in classes, hardly ever does homework. Yet his GPA is 3.8.

So, my question is wouldn't it be a good strategy for parents to put their kids from overachieving school to the crappy school for the last year? The kid will have a great GPA, be on top of the class, may even be a valedictorian. And coming from a crappy public school, it will look good on a college application. What do you think?

This has got to be the most DCUM post ever. Like, EVER.

It’s like most of the private school posts. Those posters think their kids’ educations are far superior, much more difficult aNd require a lot more work than the public education system.

[Anonymous]

My brother did this for my nephew. He was a B student at a really rigorous k-12 school. He attended that school k-8 then sent him to a underperforming, diverse, high school that had strong athletics. My nephew became captain of his sports team and played varsity for three years. He graduated with a 4.0 and got into better colleges than his friends from his former school who were B students, athletic, and performed academically the same - they also had similar test scores.
With the money my brother saved from not paying for private school he spent on tutoring writing, math, and science to make sure my nephew would do well in college.

[Anonymous]

Also, by switching for last year, unlikely to be a captain, lead, editor, or other leadership position if they are even able to join competitive sports or activities.

[Anonymous]

you would be a really crappy parent to do that to your kid.

Weren’t you ever a HS senior?

[Anonymous]

I think the best strategy is to leave the country and apply as an applicant from another country— from what I’ve seen this is a hook up there with sports or urm

[Anonymous]

Or move to a state that is historically highly under-represented at top schools, like Wyoming, for the full duration of high school. That's an even bigger hook than being from a foreign country.

This kind of manipulation is unlikely to end well.