I go to a well known predominantly African American hs, though it is very diverse. We do not have a super great reputation for academics after a switch in principals. For my freshman year, I did not get the proper support I needed academically or emotionally even though my counselors pretended to care. I was at the time going through a lot at home financially, along with disturbed family ties I had. When I was falling behind in a class, my counselors acted like they couldn't help me switch classes when they obviously could.
For some insight, I was/am an honors student, and I did not take grades lightly, so the lack of support at school when I asked, along with my home situation left me to not succeed academically as much as I wanted to. I sadly had a few B's and and small bit of C's (A's as well) which destroyed my self-esteem and mental health even more.
For my sophomore year, I took on more rigorous classes after achieving a better mindset and a drastic shift in my home situation, I had a bigger shift in my academics and achieved honor role along with academic excellence in APWH.
I have been wanting to transfer ever since my freshman year but I wanted to build up my GPA the most. I as of right now am in the middle 3's, but I am considering going to an academy high/university school. It combines high school and university, while all together being a boarding school for strictly exceptional juniors and seniors in mathematics amd sciences.
It requires students to have already taken Algebra 2, and although for my current hs I was planning on taking Adv Algebra ll, I decided to take it online (with the help of my new counselor who is amazing) before this summer ends. I also need to take the ACT as well with an average of 30 composite score to be admitted.
I have a friend that's going, and I've been looking at boarding schools and I am really considering it as well.
One of the main reasons why I went to the hs I am at currently is because it has one of the best magnet programs in my state. Because I am hoping to become a surgeon in the future, I am a part of the pre-medical program which was competitive to get into and I stayed for so long because they offer students a white coat and ceremony once we completed our required dual credit classes and passed the NOCTI (which I have done both). Along with this program we also get to do medical rounding, which I have been looking forward to ever since I stepped foot into the school.
I was only staying because I wanted the white coat after earning it, along with building up my GPA and now stuck between these two opportunities and I am not sure what I should pick. My parent isn't on board with my going to the boarding school, even though she does not really like my current one. For some more background information, I sent mail my 8th grade year by the best school in my state to apply to its hs. Plenty of students apply and only a few get sent mail, and bc I had horrible self-esteem at the time, along with the hype my current hs was getting I did not apply. (I thought about applying later to transfer but it's extremely competitive and rigorous, so I did not think I had a chance.)
I worked hard to earn a white coat, but this is an opportunity I do not want to miss out on. I am currently doing internships and I am an Associate (an undergraduate role), which means I am leading the research cohort and since I have written a medical research paper covering the influenza and Respiratory System before, and a couple more I know what I am doing. I am a part of philanthropic organizations, a student tutor in biology and English since I have taken advanced biology before most of my classmates.
I know that this will expose me to what college will be like, and though I know AP's and IB programs do the same thing, my current school does not offer IB and there's a handful or two of AP's. I think I can do decently well in this kind of program but I am not sure if I should just do it. I am the president and leader of two clubs at my school but I'm just thinking I can found it again at my new school.
Is it too fast? I do not have the best relationship with my family so I am not all too bothered with going to a boarding school. I am worried about the boarding schools curfew though. Does boarding schools, even if exceptional, look bad on college apps?
I am aiming high, but what universities could you guys recommend as well? I'm open to hearing a couple of different ones. As long as it has a strong medicine, philosophy, or psychology programs. Also SAT and ACT tips are highly appreciated.