Applying as a junior, looking for advice!

College Search & Selection
1

I’m currently about to start my junior year of high school. I’m going to talk about some of my high school experiences and what I plan on doing, but yes the point of this thread is to find the right college for me. I am NOT looking for people to tell me not to apply as a junior. If you feel you just have to tell me something that you honestly believe is going to stop me from applying as a junior then go ahead, otherwise please don’t waste your time. I’m looking for advice on how to go about this and which colleges to apply to, not advice to whether or not I should. Also, feel free to give advice in other areas if you want to!

Let me start off by saying that I’ve been planning on applying to college my junior year for a while now. It is something I have discussed with not only my parents but much of my extended family as well, and I feel that I would be quite confident going into college a year early. I am planning on taking the ACT this October, mostly because I have a strong hate towards the SAT/subject tests and want nothing to do with them after taking the pSAT a couple times. It’s not that it’s hard it’s just the most annoying thing ever and I hate the trickiness/way they ask the questions. I love questions that are straight to the point and a test of knowledge/logic aka ACT questions. I’m going to be completely honest and say that the reason I want to apply to college junior year is because I feel like I’m wasting my time in high school. I already have connections to have a great job in the future so I’m not too concerned about “life after college” sort of speak. I could care less about the high school experience and believe I’ll do just fine in the “real world”.

I’ve taken every honors/AP class available to me, and next year I’m taking three AP classes. I could’ve made this four (and still can) by taking AP Environmental Science, but I don’t have a passion for that and am not looking to rack up as many APs as possible (should I be doing that? A lot of other people certainly are).

Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
State: CA
Financial Aid: Yes please. We can pay up to $35,000/year
Middle - Upper class, depending on how you view yearly income vs property value

My school gives us 9-12 and 10-12 GPA’s so I’ll list both:

Academic GPA
Weighted: 4.04
Unweighted: 3.82

Total GPA
Weighted: 4.04
Unweighted: 3.82

10-12 GP
Weighted: 4.29
Unweighted: 3.86 <- :((

My main interests are computer science & engineering, and I’m almost certain that I want to work in a field of engineering and/or computers. I attend a somewhat prestigious private Catholic school that is extremely well-known to colleges and that sends many people to the nation’s top universities each year. Next year I’m taking physics, US History (dual-enrollment through a college w/ college professor so I get college credits), AP Lit/comp, Pre-calc H, ASB, AP Computer Science, and religion classes.

EC’s:

  • Attended a National Youth Leadership Training camp
  • ASB Vice President
  • Academic League
  • Life Scout
  • Quizbowl
  • Summer camp SPL (senior patrol leader)
  • Lots of Tennis
  • ASB President
  • Various Scouting awards
  • National Honor Society
  • Order of the Arrow Brotherhood
  • National Order of the Arrow Conference 2015 Attendee
  • HOBY Alumni (Every school in SoCal can choose one Sophomore student to send to HOBY, my school chose me)
  • Went to Philmont

Not sure if this one counts but I love making websites with HTML/javascript and I’ve combined my passion with service and done some pretty cool stuff with that. Definitely writing something about it in my essays.

EC’s to be completed:

  • Presidential Service Award (waiting for the next president to complete)
  • Eagle Scout (I could get it this Summer/Fall if I put in a good 70-75 hours, which I’m really considering right now)
  • Other? Nothing I have done has been specifically for college but if there’s anything that would help I guess now’s the time

Unnecessary information that you can read if you feel like giving feedback:

I'm probably going to drop student council (ASB). I've already been vice president and president. The faculty at my school are very political and are aggressively against one of the two American parties. I posted something on Instagram that expressed my political beliefs towards one political candidate over another, and the faculty got extremely upset and told me I represent my school and our ASB but that post did not. I stated nothing other than my political beliefs. They had me take the post down. I feel politically oppressed being in this situation and want out, especially considering most other people at my school are allowed to post harsh political stuff and the faculty don't care. so I'll probably replace ASB with App Design. Next year ASB is actually a class as well and I just don't want my teacher to be that kind of person, much less drop my grade because of my political beliefs.

Aside from that, I really am looking to apply to college this November. I’m looking at Columbia Engineering, but being an Ivy League school I’m going to assume my chances are quite low. I also would love to go to MIT/Princeton/Stanford, but again chances are extremely slim. I’ve heard UPenn also has the programs I’m looking for, and would love to go there if that’s a logical option. The problem is, I have no idea what colleges accept high school juniors. Does anyone here know any colleges that accept juniors and have good computer/engineering programs? I have no interest in community college and am looking towards higher-ranked colleges. I’m not looking for people to tell me to wait until senior year because my chances will be 1000% higher or that I should enjoy my childhood/time in high school. This is the decision I want to make with my life and regardless of chances I’m going to apply to college this year. Yes, this is very ambitious.

My question is, which colleges should I apply to this year that I’d have a fair chance at getting in? Is there such a thing as a “safety school” when applying junior year? I’ve noticed some colleges require certain classes (UCLA needs 3 years of a language for example, so I’m taking Spanish through a university this Summer). Other schools, such as Columbia, only want my high school transcript and SAT+2 subject tests or the ACT. I’d preferably seek schools that don’t have class requirements like UCLA does and are fine with only the ACT and high school transcript. I’m also only looking for colleges in the US. Again, feel free to give me any advice you have (please explain yourself as to why you said what you said). Thank you CC! :slight_smile:

2

You’re a rising junior and you’re ASB President?

Does your school allow early graduation?

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We can pay up to $35,000/year
Middle - Upper class, depending on how you view yearly income vs property value


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Have you run the NPCs? Will schools expect your family to pay more?

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@mom2collegekids My school would likely not allow early graduation. They require 240 credits to graduate and we can only complete 60 credits per year.


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However, they offer dual-enrollment, meaning I would be allowed to attend college while still being enrolled at my current high school and the high school would count my college classes as high school credits which would allow me to still graduate. If I were to get into a top-level college as a junior I probably wouldn’t be too concerned about graduating high school.

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My friend’s friend applied to UC Berkeley as a junior in high school and got in, and he just dropped out of high school and continued on with life. No athletics were involved.


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We also have enough money to pay for whatever college I end up going to. I put $35,000 to give a rough estimate of what we are hoping to pay, but my family is more than willing to help me pay for a college that is more expensive. We have had family discussions on this topic and they can financially support me in whatever path I choose to take. I wouldn't focus on money as an issue when searching for colleges.

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I have received messages already since posting this discussion. Thank you to those who have messaged me and your advice is greatly appreciated. I think I am in search of colleges with no specific course requirements, and MIT is looking pretty good right now. I’m hoping people can provide some more recommendations.

4

Have you completed the necessary standardized testing?

5

I don’t understand the rush.

6

Without test scores, it is impossible to say what your chances are. I don’t really see the flash in your app for a school like Columbia, regardless of your age/grade. Not sure a school like that is going to accept you without a high school degree or GED, either, even if Berkeley took someone you know. Columbia is not Berkeley.

Also, I think you are late with testing if you want to apply to top colleges in the fall. Many students take more than one shot at standardized tests, and you have left yourself little room for that. You would need very good test scores to overcome your junior standing, too.

You are okay to apply to Columbia a without subject tests, but at any school that “recommends” them, you would be at a disadvantage.

7

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If I were to get into a top-level college as a junior I probably wouldn’t be too concerned about graduating high school.
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Don’t colleges expect to see a final graduation transcript?

8

Try Bard Simon’s Rock. It was developed for students like you.

  • Smart kids tired of high school
  • Ready for college
  • Great alumni include filmmakers the Coen Bros
  • They may offer you merit as your scores are high
  • No need to graduate from HS. Just start at Bard Simon's Rock
  • They may have space for this fall.
  • If you google "early entrance colleges" you will find a list. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_entrance_to_college
  • It's possible to attend for all four years or to transfer out.
  • If you transfer, try Columbia General Studies (or another undergrad college there). GS has same education and is the home for non-traditional students

Best of luck

9

^Yes, and a student would definitely need to check with the college and make plans to get a GED before dropping out (and I wouldn’t be surprised if the college refused that plan). Otherwise, I can imagine it would be rare to get by without being rescinded.

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Bard Simon’s Rock allows you to enter without GED or HS diploma. There may be more. Just look at the list on the link in my earlier post.

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Thank you everyone for the positive feedback! To answer some of your questions, not all colleges require you to graduate from high school. Some of these include UPenn (probably my #1 choice), Columbia, MIT, etc. I have a high school transcript, I just haven’t met the graduation requirements yet. The only other requirement is that I take the ACT, which I am taking in September and again this October to meet the early decision deadline. I believe I can take the ACT as many times as I want and colleges only see my highest score and don’t know how many times I took it. I understand that some of you don’t understand why I’m doing this, but I really just don’t have any reason to stick around in high school. I really am just wasting time there. My senior year has already been planned out and it’s all college classes anyway, which is pointless if I could just be in college excelling in my own way on the path that I choose, not completing high school (in my opinion) busy work.

@Dustyfeathers That sounds exactly like what I’m looking for. I’m definitely going to message you to find out more about that if that’s alright. That sounds really interesting.

12

Free college classes seems like a bonus, not a negative, to staying another year.

13

My daughter felt the same way as you during her sophomore year. I think you’re a bit late on the testing. I made my child take ACT and SAT tests June of her sophomore year. We also went to college fairs and some open houses. Essentially, I made her go through her sophomore year as if she were a junior.

We investigated two early entrance schools: Bard at St Simon’s Rock, and The Clarkson School (associated with Clarkson U. in NY). Students at both schools transfer after they complete the "high school"portion. Check them out and see if they work for you. There are probably other early entrance colleges.

In the end, my daughter realized she needed more time and stayed in high school but it was a very useful experience and helped in the long run. Good luck.

14

I wouldn’t have as big of a problem if you had a couple standardized tests under your belt. That is a bigger hindrance to your admission to top 20 schools than applying as a junior.

U Penn wants subject tests regardless of whether you take SAT or ACT. Columbia only wants subject tests if you submit the SAT. ACT is stand alone.

You will have one shot at ACT and one at subject tests for EA/ED. You can problably get a second test in for RD.

15

@Sportsman88 University of Pennsylvania, along with many other top colleges now, don’t require the SAT Subject tests anymore. I’m not sure how recent this change is but many of them list the subject tests as optional, and others only require them if you take the SAT over the ACT.

See here: http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/freshman-admission/checklist

Thank you for your other advice. I’m definitely going to apply ED to a school, and after that I will apply RD to others based on my ACT score. Of course my chances are extremely low if I get an average/below average score, but I’m really hoping that being a junior makes my application stand out, hopefully in a positive way. I’m planning on taking the September ACT and then October ACT. I’m working on getting a study program setup now, I saw one on shark tank a while back and that looked interesting so I may try that.

16

I guess your “safety” is staying in high school. I think you are going to need it – I don’t think applying a year early that you are going to get into Columbia, Penn, or MIT.

Also, Penn “recommends” subject tests. That allows students who might come from countries where testing is difficult to skip them – but they pretty much expect them from everyone else. Especially someone trying to prove that they are academically ready without a HS diploma. MIT requires subject tests.

My guess is that you certainly could go to college after junior year, but if you want to shoot for those top colleges, you should stay in HS for the extra year. Take the time to build stronger ECs and get all your testing as close to perfect as possible.

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@Sophomore2 If you look more closely at UPenn’s recommendations re: subject tests, you will see here http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/whatpennlooksfor/testing that for people applying to STEM fields, they recommend “Math Level 2 and a science test (preferably Physics for Engineering Applicants)”

Between not having subject tests and applying as a junior, it seems like you’d be putting yourself at a needless disadvantage when the odds of getting in are so slim to begin with. Have you thought about this?

18

@thermom It would only be negative to me if there was something bad about being denied as a junior and applying again as a senior. Would colleges keep track of this, and would it hurt my future chances of getting in if I applied this year, was denied, and then applied again next year?

19

They will have your previous app. If your recs aren’t all they should be, or your essay is less mature or has issues, they will have it.

20

Have you thought about AFS or similar programs instead of an early application to college? You would be away from your high school, but building skills and strengthening your eventual application.