<p>I have already applied EA to Harvard. I don't know if it is senioritis, but more and more I have been bored with school.</p>
<p>I am currently ranked number 2 in my class and have had straight A's since 9th grade.</p>
<p>I'm feeling that it would be a waste of my time to remain in high school and am completely bored with my classes. There is no way now to graduate early, so I am thinking of just dropping out of school.</p>
<p>I am currently an intern for the mayor of my city. I have been offered an internship handling consituant casework for my state senator and also a job at a local newspaper (both of these opportunities, THEY asked ME).</p>
<p>I know that Harvard does not require a high school diploma or GED, but do you think it would be wise to drop out of high school to pursue things that I actually want to do? How should I explain it to them?</p>
<p>Stick it out! Prehaps there is a program at your school where you can do college courses to finish up highschool credit? THose might be a bit more challenging.</p>
<p>I agree with the others.
I also suggest that you consider taking a gap year after you graduate. Then you could pursue your political and journalism interests while learing a lot about the world and yourself. That kind of structured, productive gap year produces students who are more focused than the average college student at Harvard, which is why Harvard invites all accepted students to take a structured gap year pursuing something they're interested in.</p>
<p>Well, I don't think what you're talking about is entirely the same as this situation. Most people would say they were "bored," when they were really just lazy and drop out. Obviously, the OP is extremely talented, and may even be a Harvard acceptee. Now, if all the Harvard acceptees dropped out because they felt "bored," I hardly think the graduation rate of the nation would change ;)</p>
<p>With that said, DO NOT drop out of high school. Imagine telling your grandkids that you have a Harvard degree but no HS Diploma because you got bored of high school 1 semester too soon.</p>
<p>Well, perhaps the OP's situation is different from your average highschool student. However, this is irrelevant, as I've always been under the impression that dropping out of highschool would be grounds for a rescintion. In fact, I can't think of anything that would be <em>more</em> grounds for rescintion than that.</p>
<p>Harvard, like many Ivy colleges, does not require a high school diploma. In fact, on the application it even asks if you are still in high school, and if not, what you have since been doing. I know that there have been students accepted to Harvard without having a high school diploma.</p>
<p>When I say "bored," I mean that I don't think I'm being challenged enough by my 6 IB classes and I feel like I could be better spending my time doing something else. For example, I've stopped paying attention to my Economics teacher for a while now and I've gotten an A on every test. The only reason that I'm in that class is my teacher will not let me take the IB test without being in her class because she is convinced no one can pass it without her help. I even offered to take--and pass--a sample IB Econ. test the second week of school for her, but she said it wouldn't matter.</p>
<p>Yes, I know that it's probably a good idea for many to earn a high school diploma, but I don't know what purpose it would serve for me if I can attend an Ivy college without one. I can use my extra time to pursue some interests.</p>
<p>I am planning on putting in an application to serve on the county Grand Jury next year. If chosen, I would probably defer acceptance to any college for a year.</p>
<p>well if you're so set on dropping out it's not like byerly or nsm can convince you otherwise, again this is a personal decision... that may or may not come back to haunt you</p>
<p>Yes, it's true that you don't need a HS diploma for Harvard. However, quitting school might give them the impression that you're a quitter altogether; perhaps you'll quit Harvard from boredom. They don't want to tarnish their high grad rate, so it is very likely that without a good reason for dropping out (and "boredom" is not a good reason) you won't get in. If you were in your twenties but had to drop out of high school due to a pregnancy but go to community college, hold a job, etc. to prove that you aren't lazy but you were a misguided teen, then there is some leway for you. But, boredom? That won't cut it.</p>
<p>No one can tell you what's going to be best for you. College isn't for everyone. Neither is high school. And people here that try to tell you otherwise are full of themselves. </p>
<p>It sounds like your question is whether not graduating will jeopardize your chances at Harvard, and Byerly is the perfect person to answer your question. </p>
<p>For most people, the best advice is to stick it out, get the diploma, and go to college. That may be the best option for you, but don't choose it because that's what everyone 'thinks' you should do. Do what's best for you. You can always go to college later in life and pursue other opportunities now, if that's what you want to do. The traditional plan isn't the best plan for everyone.</p>