Saturday, November 25, 2006
Should I Change Schools?
Dear Guidance Guy,
I've been thinking about changing from my small school to a larger school in a city close by. There are more AP classes, clubs to join, and there is a bigger chance that I will make friends with people who share the same interests as I do. At my current school I am very unhappy; the classes aren't challenging enough and I don't have any friends. Do you think that my changing to a new school would solve these problems? Do you think that I have a better chance of getting into a better college if I go to a bigger school?
Lauren R.
*** *** ***
Dear Lauren,
There is a quote I heard last year from a psychologist I was hanging out with: "happiness is an inside job." The most well-adjusted people can be happy under any circumstances, because they will find the good parts of whatever situation they're in. They'll focus on those. And the people who are prone toward being unhappy will be that way no matter what.
The reasons you gave to go the the other school all sound good. More appropriate classes, more clubs, people with more in common than you (maybe). So just based on that, it seems like a good idea to transfer schools. But in order to be happy in the new environment you're going to have to appreciate it when you're there. Be grateful you're in a new and better environment. Go to the new school excited to be there, not relieved you're out of your old school. That's the best way to attract new friends.
If you mean by a better college one that's harder to get into, it depends on what grade you're in now, which AP classes you take, how you do in them, and how much you participate in clubs and activities. I've never believed that a harder to get into school is a "better" school. Any college is a good college if it's the right one for you.
Talk this over with your parents and decide what's best for you - for now and the future. But I think you have the power inside yourself to become happier no matter what school you attend.
Thanks for a great letter,
The Guidance Guy
I've been thinking about changing from my small school to a larger school in a city close by. There are more AP classes, clubs to join, and there is a bigger chance that I will make friends with people who share the same interests as I do. At my current school I am very unhappy; the classes aren't challenging enough and I don't have any friends. Do you think that my changing to a new school would solve these problems? Do you think that I have a better chance of getting into a better college if I go to a bigger school?
Lauren R.
*** *** ***
Dear Lauren,
There is a quote I heard last year from a psychologist I was hanging out with: "happiness is an inside job." The most well-adjusted people can be happy under any circumstances, because they will find the good parts of whatever situation they're in. They'll focus on those. And the people who are prone toward being unhappy will be that way no matter what.
The reasons you gave to go the the other school all sound good. More appropriate classes, more clubs, people with more in common than you (maybe). So just based on that, it seems like a good idea to transfer schools. But in order to be happy in the new environment you're going to have to appreciate it when you're there. Be grateful you're in a new and better environment. Go to the new school excited to be there, not relieved you're out of your old school. That's the best way to attract new friends.
If you mean by a better college one that's harder to get into, it depends on what grade you're in now, which AP classes you take, how you do in them, and how much you participate in clubs and activities. I've never believed that a harder to get into school is a "better" school. Any college is a good college if it's the right one for you.
Talk this over with your parents and decide what's best for you - for now and the future. But I think you have the power inside yourself to become happier no matter what school you attend.
Thanks for a great letter,
The Guidance Guy
# posted by Larry Hochman : 12:57 PM
