See if your state has an Adult Diploma Program. I was considering doing that because you can finish it very quickly, and it is an actual high school diploma, not a GED. However, most people go to community college after, and I decided that for my goals, having the required classes was a better choice. There is a reason colleges want to see you taking 4 years of English, Math, etc.
@Livvyxoxo Why is the Adults Diploma Program quicker than that of one at a high school?
I know that an adult diploma program would be meant as a quick way to attain the high school diploma. I will change my question: How quickly on average are adult diploma programs?
In OH, the adult diploma program is only available for adults, age 22 or older. You may want to check what the threshold is in your state Michael before you go too far down this road.
I believe it is meant for adults to quickly obtain a high school diploma without taking all of the usual required classes. In my state you had to complete tasks, such as taking a financial literacy course or completing a science experiment. I know one person in the program who finished in about two months. But it’s not really meant for those who are looking at 4 year schools, let alone very selective ones.
@momofsenior1 In my state it is 18, but I agree that he needs to check. I also decided against doing the program because the schools I talked to were hesitant since I only have two years of a transcript so far. I also was considering it because of medical reasons, not because I didn’t like high school. The schools I talked to were a state flagship, a state directional, and a moderately selective private. If they are hesitant I can’t imagine that an extremely competitive school will take it. So something to consider if you are dead set on a very competitive school @Michael3423
I think adult diploma programs have minimum ages. It depends on the state. Some are 17, some are 19, but others are higher.
Have you taken the ACT/SAT yet? You’ll need those scores to apply to college.
@Michael3423 I haven’t read through this thread but, yes, there is such a program - John Hopkins CTY: https://cty.jhu.edu Specifically, the individually-paced, online courses: https://cty.jhu.edu/online/about/formats.html
They cover year-long subjects in three weeks in their summer sessions and their courses are accredited and graded. You would need to coordinate with your local HS to actually receive course credit. They have a flexible payment plan, where you pay for the first three months and then extend month-to-month, doing one course at a time and as many as you want.
From my searching, it does not seem that these three-week summer courses allow for more than one course to be taken at a time. Please correct me if I am wrong. Thank you for the suggestion though.
Not the summer classes, the individually-paced online classes. (Second sentence, post #86.) You do them one after another, at your own pace. If you are going for some kind of record, you can try to do them in three weeks each like the summer session kids.
Your district would have to approve the program, Michael. Please speak to someone at your school before you spend money on outside, online courses.
Also, consider whether they’ll get you into Cornell (doubtful) or be an asset on med school apps. @WayOutWestMom would know how med schools might view finishing 2 or 3 years of high school in one online summer program.
Med schools don’t look at high school records at all so whether you finish high school early, on-time or in 5 or more years----no one on a med school adcomm will know or care.
However, med schools do care about the maturity (and to some extent, age) of applicants. Younger than typical applicants have a significantly more difficult time gaining a med school acceptance, even if their stats are good.
BTW, any college level coursework completed during high school will be included when computing your GPA and sGPA on AMCAS, AACOMAS and TMDSAS.
Admission to any medical school, not just top ranked med schools, is extremely competitive. And success requires much, much more than merely grades and standardized test scores. The only thing stats do is to prevent your application from being trash binned.
Admission requires not just top grades and a MCAT in the top 12 percent nationally (top 3 percent for top med schools), but also strong LORs, appropriate & meaningful ECs (physician shadowing, long term clinical volunteering, long term non-medical community service with the disadvantaged, leadership roles in your ECs, and clinical or basic lab bench research), well-written & persuasive personal statements, thoughtful & well written secondary essays, strong interviewing skills, plus ECs and a demeanor which display the personal characteristics & attributes that adcomme look for in future doctors. ( see Core Competency for Entering Medical Students)@Michael3423 I know you wrote off Bard College at Simon’s Rock several pages ago, but it is the only way I see that would allow you to do what you want. I know you said it wouldn’t get you where you want to go. I’m not sure why you think that. Current students I know were accepted as transfers to their top choice programs, including Pomona and Brown. They also have a BA/MD program with direct admit to SUNY Upstate Medical School. https://simons-rock.edu/academics/program-overview/suny-upstate-medical-university-md.php
My daughter is a current student, entered college at 15, and will be transferring in the fall to her top choice program, where she will start as a sophomore at the age of 17. Simon’s Rock is not for everyone, and the academics are tough. But it may be an option for you.
Let me explain to you why such a program is not suitable for me in brief:
Early college is a great option to advance one’s academic journey, I understand. However, in my case, I desire to be a college student who does not have “special treatment/recognition”. By “special treatment/recognition”, I am not saying that early college is a disadvantage, not at all, rather early college programs give one a sense that he/she does not belong to the general college population, at least in my view. Although classes are taken with college-age students, members of these early college programs often create relationships with other members as they are often the most relatable, leading to a somewhat small, close group of companions. I look at college as a stage filled with opportunities, much the same as everyone else. I want to take advantage of the full college experience including interaction with other college students. Doing so allows me to mature much beyond what is expected.
If you want an age-diverse college experience, you may find it at your local community college, where many older non-traditional students get their start (or restart) in college.
Just stay in high school and do a bunch of dual enrollment classes. If you pack your schedule like 100 guppies in a one gallon tank you’ll finish pretty quickly but also probably get PTSD. Let us know how this whole thing works out for you.
Are you asian? I cant possibly believe that your parents are willing to move to another state just for you unless you’re asian.
@ucbalumnus, it seems as if you misinterpreted my previous post. I am not indicating that I prefer an age-diverse university experience but rather an interest-diverse one. Also, keep in mind that I am aiming for medical school. Community college, as I hope you would know, is not exactly the best place to have an education in pre-med from.
How do you know who students at early college programs choose as friends and why they chose those particular people?
I have two personal friends who became MDs and began their careers through the local CC.
Medical schools pick and choose whom they want, when they want and no matter how they begin their careers. In fact, they seem to prefer students who have taken a different path and still can achieve their original goals.
My friends said that med schools recognize the students who budget their time and dollars for med school. It’s admirable. My daughter has several classmates in her med program who began at CCs.
My middle daughter got into her med program with a strong history of grades, test scores, and work history (both volunteer and paid). At one med school, her interviewers asked her about her high school sports program. The schools want to know if you can “play well” with others.
I’m assuming you’re in a HURRY to get a HS diploma, before Fall, because you may be considered TRUANT within your district, if you are not attending a school? How do you plan to attend a top college in the Fall? It takes work. It takes test scores. Decisions for are done; they don’t take beggars. The Lori Laughlin thing is done and over.
Your parents don’t understand how the education system works. Moving anywhere, to appease an undereducated, relentless adolescent, in trying to get a high school diploma, is one of the most irresponsible things I’ve ever heard.
I really don’t understand why you need the diploma by the end of summer. What are you going to do the following year? Why is homeschooling not an answer?
Remember, to get useful answers you need to ask the right questions. Based on this thread, your original question is not the right one, yet you want people to answer it and not to help you search for the right questions. This is not going to be very useful.
I’m still very interested in whether or not you have taken any standardized Tests. ACT? SAT? PSAT? Just having a high school diploma will not get you into a college this fall or next spring. Some students are plenty surprised by their test scores the first time they take it. You might do phenomenally well, but you might not. It will help guide you with your future academic path.