Admissions and Graduating Early?

I’m a current ninth grader planning to finish high school at the end of my sophomore year. I’ve checked with my standards for my state, and I am able to graduate if I take courses over the summer and other stuff. I’m a very motivated student, and not just doing this to get into a certain college. But do schools put you up to the same standard as how much you did over your years of HS? Surely they must be understanding that if an academically qualified person applies to their school while exhausting all high school courses but only did that over two years, they could not have done as much as someone who has spent four years. That being said, I’ll surely try my hardest to do everything I can to do what I can.

Where do you want to apply?

Why do you want out of high school this soon?

What would you and your parents think about your focusing on colleges and universities that have special programs for younger students? Here is one list:
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/eric/faq/gt-early.html

Unless you are a junior genius like the 12 year old who was admitted to Cornell a few years ago your chances of admission to any selective college will be reduced by trying to squeeze everything into two years.

Is dual enrolling as a junior and senior an option in your state?

As a young student, you will be compared directly to much older students. If you’re applying to competitive colleges, you will be directly compared against students who’ve probably on paper been academically college ready for all of high school. They’ve had 2 more years to mature and develop deep extracurriculars.

There are reasons to graduate early. If you really have no other meaningful educational options for your junior and senior year of high school and are matriculating somewhere reasonably local and that makes financial sense for your family that is a fair decision. But there are many great reasons to launch to college closer to age 18. Especially if you want a more typical campus experience.

I have a kid who has been college ready according to the ACT since 7th grade. He is dual enrolling as an age appropriate senior right now. He was homeschooled his freshman and sophomore year. That is not an option everyone has but many states have charter schools, magnet schools, flexible online options, etc. I would not make a quick decision in this regard.

Keep in mind that many, if not most, students at the most selective schools could have graduated in two years if they put their mind to it. So you really don’t get brownie points for actually pushing to do it just because you can. And it is not likely to be a help getting into a selective college; quite the opposite.

Yes, most colleges will compare you to 4 year HS students- and not just academically: in ECs / leadership / etc. You can also consider staying in HS but doing a study abroad year in whatever language you are taking (Rotary is one; there are others).

There are graduation requirements from your state, but competitive colleges often have expectations also -look up the admissions guidelines for some of the colleges that you are interested in.

@happymomof1’s link for colleges that have programs for younger matriculants is really useful, b/c no matter how mature you are, you will be several years younger than most entering students- and they are years that matter. Those colleges have support systems in place that will help with having a peer group and with navigating the growing you will be doing during those years.

“But do schools put you up to the same standard as how much you did over your years of HS?”

Yes. To paraphrase a quote by an AO that I recently read, colleges aren’t seeking to educate the next generation of scholars. They hope to educate the next generation of leaders (in all the respective fields).

Colleges view each individual’s high school journey as more important and impactful than the picking up of the diploma at the graduation ceremony, so be wary about shortchanging that experience.

@MusakParent well, for that i like that i’m not given preference because i graduated early, but i just needed to know what my goals should be. thank you!

@happymomof1
I don’t have a list. The three I really like though are St. John’s College, Bowdoin, and Deep Springs College. I want to graduate early for the sake of starting early, but also a lot more in that. My parents and I agree that it’s a good and feasible goal to have, I’m just not sure where to start.

@Groundwork2022 understood

@collegemom3717 thank you!