Is it too late to change schools?

[Gorblitzer]

I am a year 11 student, about to enter term 3. Despite this, I am friendless, very lonely and feel alienated at school. I go to a private catholic school, with a pretty small cohort so I am already acquainted with essentially all of my peers, and I have tried incredibly hard to fit in, to no success. I do not feel as though I fit in, so I am looking to change schools. I’ve brought this up to councillors and my parents, where I’ve then been told to simply just ‘wait until uni’. I don’t want to wait until uni, I am sick of being told to compromise my own emotional and mental health to stay at a school I don’t even like. 
Of course, there is a more impending problem if I were to change schools, that being my upcoming ATAR results. As far as I know, changing schools won’t actually do anything to affect my ATAR, but the adjustment period might affect my results. I want to do well regardless but I’m so tired of my current environment and want out so badly.

Thus, my question; Is it too late to for me change schools without affecting my final results upon graduating?

[Psychdiaries2]

Hi there,

A warm welcome to the forums, thanks for writing in. I hear how hard it has been for you to fit in at your school and how hard you've tried. I see you're frustrated with this situation, understandably so. If you do change schools, I'm not sure if it will affect your grades. If you are a conscientious student and you focus on your studies, then I doubt that it will. Again, I'm not sure. It depends on how you adjust and how you continue to manage the year 11 work load. You also have to remember that the ATAR is just your year 12 results so that should mean that switching won't affect it since you're still in year 11. If you do switch, then I assume you would have adjusted by the time you reach year 12. t's really up to you if you want to switch. Keep thinking about it and I hope that whatever you choose to do, that you will have the support you need to get through it.

Hope this helps you in making your decision. Reach out anytime on here.

All the best,

PsychDiaries

[Strawberry]

Hi, 

You should never compromise your emotional and mental health.  Being told to wait unit uni to have your situation change, ... I can see how that wouldn't help you feel supported or heard.   It's not an easy time, I hear what you are saying.   The straight answer is, no, it's not too late. However, no one ever has that crystal ball to gaze into to know if the change will bring the positive flow on effects to hopefully improve the friendship situation.  Your school results should only ever be determined by your academic ability.  ATAR is calculated on achievement in the subjects used for the score.  The timing might not be ideal, especially  if you are mid way through a unit of study or are mid way through an assessment item, but students all over the country need to change school at inconvenient times for many reasons.  So, there are potentially ways to navigate a move if it's what you what you really wish to do.  I hope find friendship and connection, and that sharing your feelings and questions here have been helpful.  Take care, Strawberry.