<p>My school's curriculum is not very demanding and I had this thought to take my second senior semester off to do something fun and meaningful (study abroad, traveling, volunteering or interning). I was just wondering if anyone had done so and I would like to know more about your experience. Also what are some of the pros and cons for not going back to the second semester senior year?</p>
<p>Are you doing this to wait out the crappy economy? If that is playing some role in your thought process than just continue on and graduate. Unfortunately the economy will probably not improve that much by next year. It sounds like you have senior year gitters.</p>
<p>Have you applied to any of the common gap year jobs or programs?</p>
<p>I assume you are talking about high school? It would probably depend on your school if you could “skip” senior spring but why would you want to? If you don’t have a killer schedule it’s a time for alittle relaxing and comraderie with your classmates before you dive into college. Or get a jump on everyone and pick up a job 10-15 hours a week in addition to school. You’ll never be together again like you will be senior spring. Whether you “liked” high school or not, the last semester is all about the seniors.</p>
<p>momofthree…I just read his history and I see he is a HS senior. My advice would be the same, just finish up and get your diploma. You could apply for a gap year and delay college. That would not be a big deal and many students really enjoy the break while doing something intetesting. Have you looked into AmeriCorps?</p>
<p>There other options…such as going to college early at a place like
[Home</a> — Bard College at Simon’s Rock - The Early College](<a href=“http://www.simons-rock.edu/]Home”>http://www.simons-rock.edu/)</p>
<p>If you can fulfill your graduation requirements and graduate a semester early, it’s fine, but you’d have to notify the colleges you applied to of the change. If you have an acceptance in hand that you are happy with, and that school has no problem with your plan - go for it. Otherwise I think it can be risky at this stage.</p>
<p>My neighbor’s daughter did it. She really didn’t enjoy high school (she’d had to switch and didn’t have any roots at her senior year high school anyway). She finished in December, got a job, saved her money, and is now attending a state university. Not everyone likes high school, in fact it’s downright soul-sucking for some people, so I think graduating is a fine alternative. Not everyone follows the same path.</p>
<p>I second nngmm’s advice - check with any schools you’re hoping to attend and make sure this doesn’t affect your admission.</p>
<p>My nephew did it. I think the colleges he had applied to knew it was his plan already. I believe he was on a block plan so he didn’t miss out on AP courses, he just needed to be back in May for the exams. (In any event he had his acceptance to St. Johns, Taos already.) He had planned to spend the time overseas being a WOOF (Willing Worker on Organic Farms). Unfortunately he was in a snowboard accident so instead he spent the time getting surgery and recovering.</p>
<p>I absolutely do enjoy my high school, but unfortunately I applied most of the RDs and I won’t hear back until March/April. I get that second semester is for relaxation and bonding, but I rather do something that’s more meaningful like volunteering or getting an internship, which will make me to appreciate my college education more.</p>
<p>My D was forced out of HS after her junior year (due to health issues), did well on her GED exam & started CC in the fall of what would have been her senior year. It worked out OK for her. Academically, she got credits that later transferred to the college she entered 3 semesters later. She was able (with work from her & her buddies) to keep in close contact with her HS buddies. It saved us $15K or more of private school tuition and allowed her to set her own schedule & choose her own courses. She applied to transfer to dream private college as a transfer from her CC after her 1st semester of CC & was accepted as a spring 2nd semester sophomre there. She will be graduating with her HS buddies from her dream college in 2012, after attending 3.5 years there & 3 semesters of CC.</p>
<p>I graduated in December but that was a long time ago. :eek: In January I started at the local 4 year college.</p>
<p>I planned to finish in December long before December, though, and it was cleared with all appropriate parties in my high school. I would make sure you have all the credits and coursework you need to graduate.</p>
<p>I’m not sure I’d agree with you that second semester is for relaxing and bonding though. Will you be taking any AP tests in May?</p>
<p>At our HS, to be considered for Valedictorian at graduation you have to be full-time all semesters. Other than that, I don’t think it matters too much and lots of students either graduate at semester or have a very abbreviated schedule their spring semester of their senior year. In our district even if all graduation requirements are completed after the first semester, the official diploma isn’t released until May, so while students can begin college in the spring term, they do not qualify for federal financial aid since they have technically not graduated from high school yet.</p>
<p>My daughter did it (kind of). She finished required academic courses working on-line and by mail, independently with willing teachers, and completed P.E. requirements by sending in weekly documentation of her rigorous dance training (the activity she was pursuing in lieu of that last high school semester).</p>
<p>You can do a study abroad program without graduating. There are several term long programs.</p>
<p>Some of my oldest son’s friends took classes at our local tech school. One that went into pharm took pharm classes, one took art and photography classes, one took automotive tech classes and one took culinary classes plus the grades and credit went on the HS transcript. All these were enrichment classes more than anything, but they were at the high school in the morning and then went out to the tech center in the afternoon. We have zero hour classes so those kids literally have enough graduation credits by the end of senior fall. There are ways to stay connected to your fellow seniors without actually being in the school all day.</p>
<p>Back in the day, I didn’t graduate a semester early but I went to HS for half day in senior year (didn’t need that many credits) and worked part time. </p>
<p>Anyway, I know some kids in my community who did what you are talking about. I even interviewed one of them for my alma mater (I’m an alum interviewer). These girls did what mathmom mentions in post #8; they were WOOFs…in Tortola for the spring semester and came back in time to attend graduation. One went onto Oberlin and one went onto Emerson the following fall.</p>
<p>(my own kid graduated after junior year and went to college a year early though)</p>
<p>(I graduated college a semester early)</p>
<p>Is there any way you can just take one or two classes at your high school and then go to a community college and take classes? It shows you have some initiative. Whenever you do accept to your college they are going to want to see your transcript. What are they going to say when it says second semester? Have a plan and talk to your GC about it.</p>