<p>My D was advised to apply to college this year. She just began her Jr year in a high school that offers limited AP classes. She has already taken most of the ones - about 10- that they offer and her adviser felt she would no longer have any courses left that challenge her next year. However D still needs to take the SAT II subject tests that were planned for end of Jr year. </p>
<p>Anyone considered this option?
What are the pros/cons of applying a year early?
Any impact on scholarships (national merit etc)
How do Ivy colleges view this ... experience/advice much appreciated
thank you!</p>
<p>As already pointed out the topic is discussed often at CC, usually around this year. I can give you my perspective as the parent of a student that already went through college after skipping his senior year in HS.</p>
<p>In our case he actually came up with the idea. He had to sell it to us and ultimately we had to sell it to his guidance counselor and the principal. The main reason was the same as your daughter's: he was running out of classes to take. It took a little bit of convincing but he finally got the support of his guidance counselor and the teachers he asked for letters of recommendation. </p>
<p>From tactical point of view he never fully committed to leaving early. Instead he decided to apply to the top schools in the list, probably all of them reaches, and use the senior year in high school as his safety. He did not apply early to any school instead waiting for regular decisions in the spring. This allowed us and the school to work on a plan for his senior year which would have likely included courses at a local college. We knew and accepted the fact that he would not graduate (the school let him march and attend senior class events) and probably would not have a diploma (he could have gotten one from the state by showing college credits but he never bothered to do the paperwork).</p>
<p>Needless to say the decision may impact students differently. For our son it turned out to be the right decision. He seemed to adapt as well as the rest of the freshman class and his age was never an issue. Sure, he was often teased for being a high school drop out, but we actually did the same at home :-). He was not the only one as the school he attended typically accepts a handful of early applicants each year. No difference in the application process except for a separate letter he had to write explaining the reasons for applying early. One school that normally did no require interviews did ask him to visit and talk to an admissions officer.</p>
<p>Two factors that may have contributed to the smooth transition were his age (he was one of the older students in his class) and the fact that he had been taking classes with older students (as much as 3 years) since he was in middle school. Many, if not most of his friends were in the senior class the year he left. He was also a multi-year attendee to overnight summer camps so we knew he was comfortable being away from us.</p>
<p>It is hard to say whether schools see being young as a plus or a minus but I don't think it was a major issue.</p>
<p>Perhaps the one drawback we encountered was financial because he qualified for an NMS award sponsored by my company. Since the process does not start until the senior year of HS he only got the benefit for 3 out of the 4 years he qualified. This was not a major setback for us considering he got a nice merit award from the school he attended. There I don't think his early application was an issue as all the admitted studetns are considered for those awards.</p>
<p>Many years ago we considered this with my S (at Columbia). The issue by the school is on maturity (he would have been 2 years early) of the student, and the fact that socially, there are huge maturing rates year to year in this age group. In the end, did the interview, talked to people, asked what they thought, and decided not to try it (have no idea if they would have taken him -- he had the mental ability to keep up). He ended up better off in my opinion. That is not to say that some kids could handle the social stuff, but it could be a serious issue for some at a critical time. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks you all for sharing your experiences and advice.. I appreciate it. </p>
<p>ArtiesDad.. you mentioned your son applied to the top IV's. I was wondering how they dealt with the SAT II's. Did he already have all 3 scores to submit or do they have an alternative if the student is applying early. Any suggestions on how to handle this pre-requisite. In the HYPS loop some need up to 3 subject test scores. </p>
<p>Also do you mind sharing where he chose to attend - seems that the culture/environment there might be more receptive to this option
thanks!</p>
<p>This is not uncommon around here. Lots of kids do PSEO and get HS degree and have the classes count for college while the state pays for them. Works out great for those staying in state or those with reciprocity. Don't know how it works for those applying to IVs. Classes can be taken at CC's or regular colleges, single classes or all classes. Nice option for those so inclined.</p>
<p>For a variety of reasons, DD graduated from HS at 15 and because of her age did two years at a CC and now is away at university. It was not easy, especially because CCs have the reputation as being for "losers" and Dd had to get over that and learn that she did have to work hard for As.</p>
<p>In hindsight, it was the right decision for her, mainly because she had had to change high schools and the new one was an okay but not great fit. She wanted a private university and the only way we could afford that was to have it only be for two years. She is not that amazing kid who would get a 2300 SAT scholarship!</p>
<p>I suggest getting a tutor for the Sat2s. Student will be at a definite disadvantage taking them midyear. I'm surprised that at least one or two SAT2s have not yet been taking. My son is a sophomore with no thought at all of going early but will be taking SAT2s for courses this year and already took one last year. You are supposed to take them at the end of the pertinent subject.</p>
<p>I think the OP is asking if the SATIIs must be taken and the answer to that is yes. The colleges will expect everything of an early applicant as they do from all. </p>
<p>This is why I'm surprised your counselor recommended this approach over other ways to enrich your child and leave her with what she needs to mount an impressive application if she's looking at ivies. She could do college classes, a PG year at a prep school, study abroad or any number of things that would leave her with a stronger application and time to prepare for the SATIIs. She would also get to miss what they are saying will be the hardest year in history to get into a top college.</p>
<p>My daughter did it last year (for a variety of reasons), and is now a happy college freshman.</p>
<p>Will your daughter be able to graduate from HS after junior year (will she fulfill her HS graduation requirements?)? If so, she will have many more college choices. Some schools (including some of the very best ones) do not require HS diploma, but most of the schools do.</p>
<p>She should take SAT IIs this fall. Going over a practice test is a good idea. I doubt that your D will need any tutoring if she took 10 APs. From my kids' experience, Math and Lit do not require much preparation for a strong student. Science tests are trickier. Language tests are very hard for non-native speakers.</p>
<p>She will be able to compete for NM scholarship if she graduates early (the HS will need to help getting her paperwork to her, and filling out their part, and she will have to submit her 1st semester college grades).</p>
<p>She should know that she will not get any "extra credit" from colleges for graduating early from HS. If anything, it will work against her. But many many strong applicants are very successful applying and getting into top schools after 3 years of HS, and if the HS suggested this route for your D, I think she should seriously consider it.</p>
<p>Gap year is a good idea for some, but not for all. It can also be problematic wrt health insurance (many will only cover kids that are full time students).</p>
<p>The other thing I want to address are the SAT1 test scores. They are instrumental in getting merit money. My direct experience has been that they tend to go up as the student gets older. My kids did much, much better the second, third time they took the tests. Juniors just don't tend to do as well as seniors. If the numbers on the SATs are not what you and she like in terms of getting into target schools and/or getting merit money, you might want to rethink this graduating early idea.</p>
<p>cpt, the kind of schools OP is addressing do not give merit scholarships. And based on her "target schools", her D's SAT score is probably quite high.</p>
<p>My son took SAT IIs the same year he took the corresponding AP course, e.g., Biology or Chemistry. He had already taken the required 3 by the end of his sophomore year.</p>
<p>He attended Caltech. I do believe the environment there, in particular the houses, contributes to an easier adaptation of younger students since freshman begin interacting closely with upperclassmen from the first day (after rotation).</p>
<p>A couple of thoughts:
For Early Action, the student may still take a couple of SATIIs in November and be in time. Make sure that she has signed up for it asap. December will be too late. Most schools require only 2 (and there is variation on which twos among colleges) but some, like Harvard require 3. Generally, it is very tiring to take 3 in one sitting, most students take only 2.
If the student is considering applying Regular Decision, then there is time to take the SAT-IIs in November, December and also in January.
Some terrific colleges are SAT-optional though some require them for placement after a student has been admitted. Check them these out as well as HYPSM.
If the student is applying EA, she needs to get cracking on her essay, line up recs from teachers, make sure the GC gets her transcript, school profile, etc... and if financial aid will be required, the parents need to prepare FAFSA or whatever forms the college requires.<br>
It's going to be quite hectic.</p>
<p>An alternative to graduating early would be for the student to remain in high school but take college courses at the local college.</p>
<p>Nephew attended Cal Tech after junior year of high school. Family joke was that he would not have been able to attend a UC because he never graduated from HS. Finished in 3 years and discovered he had enough credits for a Masters as well as a BS. Can be done.</p>
<p>This isn't too out of the ordinary in my home town. The year before me, a junior went to MIT and another junior went to Stanford. In my year, we sent juniors to MIT, Brown, Cal Tech, and Princeton. I don't know how most of them fared, besides my friend and I, but it's been good for us. I don't regret it at all. I didn't like high school that much, academically or socially, and I've been leaps and bounds happier in college, both academically and socially.</p>