Reply to If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?

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Reply to "If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?"

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[quote=Anonymous]I didn't quite understand senior year until I saw it secondhand.  It is definitely not a year off.  It is a year of not doing AP exams.  But not a year off of school.  I thought it would be tons of free time.  I was fully wrong, at least so far.

First Trimester (Aug-Nov):  They go to school every day. They have several electives that build off what they have learned in AP classes and become more discussion based (ex. infectious diseases as a capstone for biology).  This was so helpful to show the different types of classes that are available in different colleges as the classes that they have had previously have been fairly rigid because they are constrained to the AP model.  The kids also have daily college counseling and are working hard on lining up internships and other things for their senior projects, which are self-led and generally align with interests rather than expectations. Plus most have a lot of leadership responsibilities for extracurriculars.  But it is relaxed enough that if you need to do a last minute college visit before you submit an application, you can probably do so without too much concern.  Junior year didn't have that flexibility as most kids are taking 4 to 6 APs in addition to a full extracurricular load (if you want to claim this is too much for your child, I get that fully, it is a lot!). I am so thankful that there was that little bit of breathing room to explore the options as decisions are being made.

Second semester (Dec - Feb):  Electives and extracurriculars are still very much a focus. The kids still go to school. But most students are done with the majority of the applications, so there is a little less focus on getting into college. And most have a safety or two at least in the bag at this point, so the pressure is down. This is when most students start their internships and dive more into their senior projects, though this is individual.  Sure, they could probably slack more at this point, but that isn't the culture.  More likely if they have free time they will pick up a seasonal job or volunteer in the community, at least the ones I know.

Third semester:  (Feb-May):  This is the period that people are referring to as the gap "year."  The electives are over.   The students do not have to attend classes at the school. The extracurriculars are winding down as they turn over leadership.  Students have a ton of options during this time.  Most do a senior project.  But it is absolutely not required.  Most have an internship.  But it is absolutely not required.  Some may just sit on their hands and do nothing - I have not met any of those kids, though even mine had a stressed period at the end of junior year in which that was the stated plan.  I generally support any choice that these kids make for this period of time if it makes them happy.  They deserve the experience that they create.  My kid would murder me if I said what she was doing, but I'll just say I'm often legitimately impressed by the opportunities these kids are finding.  I think that is actually one of the things that basis teaches the most, how to find opportunities.  This doesn't come as much from the school as it is a result of things that are often considered negatives about the choice. The location coupled with the admittedly poor facilities taught these kids to learn the resources available in the area well.  While it may be seen as a downside for a 5th grader, by senior year these kids know the core of this city and the opportunities of this unique neighborhood more than the vast majority of adults living here.  There is so much going on within a short walk of the school and so many opportunities if a motivated kid shows interest.  Moreover, as students of a city wide school, these kids know how to get places and the value (and downsides) of looking further afield at times.

If you do not want to raise an independent and self-motivated child, I don't think it would a good choice at all. But if that was your goal, this is the perfect time for them to take what they have learned and see how far it goes before they are stuck back in the grind that they know so well.[/quote]

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