<p>I have been thinking about skipping the last year of high school and applying to college early. Most colleges require or suggest you to have taken certain classes (e.g. four years English, three math, three science, etc) but none explicitly say anywhere that you must graduate from high school. Admissions officers will definitely raise their eyebrows if they see that an applicant has only three years of classes on their transcript, but can't I explain in my essays?</p>
<p>So of course, there is "why the rush". For me, it really is just boredom and the fact that I will have taken all the math and most science classes that are offered at my school by junior year (and I am taking courses at a community college).</p>
<p>Lastly, has anyone done this before? What universities did you get into? </p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Actually, yes, colleges do require that you have a high school diploma. In fact, many will not even consider a GED in place of a diploma.</p>
<p>This information can be found in a college’s Common Data Set. </p>
<p>For example, on page 5 of Berkeley’s:
<a href=“http://opa.berkeley.edu/statistics/cds/2012-2013.pdf[/url]”>http://opa.berkeley.edu/statistics/cds/2012-2013.pdf</a></p>
<p>Actually, they don’t all require applicants to complete high school before enrolling.</p>
<p>It is true that some do, and it is true that some will not accept a GED in lieu of a diploma.</p>
<p>But a generation ago my sister applied to and was accepted at Oberlin while she was a junior, and Oberlin still accepts some high school juniors. And it’s not the only college that does.</p>
<p>Indeed, you should check a college’s common data set or call its admissions office.</p>
<p>Most colleges and universities in the US will admit anyone who they believe to be “college ready”. Few specifically require that an applicant complete high school (or the equivalent). This information is not always obvious from the websites. Email the places that you are interested in, and ask what their policy is about early college admission.</p>
<p>There are umpteen threads on this topic here at CC. Try running a search using “early college” or something along that line. You also could do some further reading at: [Early</a> College Entrance Programs | Hoagies’ Gifted](<a href=“http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/early_college.htm]Early”>Early Entrance College Programs | Hoagies' Gifted)</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>There are some college that have specific programs for this. One college Simon’s Rock of Bard is specifically for HS jr’s and Sr’s to enter as freshmen.
[Early</a> College ? Bard College at Simon’s Rock - The Early College](<a href=“http://simons-rock.edu/]Early”>http://simons-rock.edu/)</p>
<p>USC has a special program, Resident Honors, for Sr’s
[Resident</a> Honors Program > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences](<a href=“http://dornsife.usc.edu/resident-honors-program/]Resident”>http://dornsife.usc.edu/resident-honors-program/)</p>
<p>I don’t know how it works at other colleges.</p>
<p>I did it, umpteen years ago. I was accepted everywhere but my first choice, where I was wait-listed. I had the opportunity to study abroad, so did that in lieu of my senior year of high school, reapplied EA to my first choice with no change to my app other than the year abroad and was accepted. </p>
<p>My situation was also a “ran out of classes” one.</p>
<p>I believe Oberlin has a type of early admit program for Juniors, though I could be wrong.</p>
<p>So do Wellesley, Reed, Georgia Tech, and Harvey Mudd, last time I checked.</p>
<p>(I could have done this, but instead I decided to take all my senior-year classes at a local university instead so I could save money and have more time to prepare for college applications.)</p>
<p>The common data set was really helpful; I am looking up those of various universities.</p>
<p>thanks for the other responses.</p>
<p>Clarkson University also has an early entrance program, The Clarkson School, where they admit students after their junior year in high school. They take regular college courses with all Clarkson students but they live in a separate dorm.</p>
<p>If you feel ready for college and that you’ve outgrown high school, go for it.</p>