Sierra Oaks

As a high schooler, if you're not serious about getting yourself/your child into a UC or Ivy league college, then don't even consider applying to Country Day. In other words, consider this a one star review if you're not willing to work hard for the top colleges.Besides that, this school is essentially a dream for introverts; sure, the sports teams and sizes of classes are pretty underwhelming, but there are definitely people out there (like myself) who want a small, yet cozy environment to learn in. Nobody smokes or vapes off/on campus, there is no popularity "hierarchy" among the students, and I haven't seen a single case of bullying -- nor have I even overheard people talking behind other's backs. All of my peers are, admittedly, slightly nerdy, but they are absolutely astonishing in what they love. Everyone you see at Country Day is much more than a quiet, studious kid, which is why I love this place so much. The teachers are experts in what they teach, but the thing that separates them from the rest is how much they're willing to help you outside of class. What truly makes this school special is their college counseling; personally, my inbox has been constantly spammed (in a good way) with student-leadership opportunities outside of the school, which goes to show how supportive they are in finding the best college for you.There are some things only a student can share; this school is very, VERY competitive in its academics. To say that you've gotten LOWER than a 92 in a regular class is very humiliating, and will put you among the laughingstock of the majority of friend groups at Country Day. What is an even bigger problem, though, is that this school offers nothing but academics and music/art-related studies. This is the biggest cost when it comes to Country Day (as I vaguely went over at the start of this review), but once you expect that you/your child won't get the "complete", grand high school experience is when you will absolutely fall in love with this school. Country Day is not for everyone, but it definitely is the only option for the select-few people willing to become the top 0.1%. That is why I give this school five stars.