Dropping out

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I'm new here....
I live in California(hope that helps for my later questions)</p>

<p>I am a high school senior in my first semester. I am planning to drop out and earn some extra money, and then in a year or so, head to community college for 2 years, transfer out to a UC for 2 more years, and then off to Med School.(HOPEFULLY) </p>

<p>Dropping out is my only option because I am not qualified to take the GED nor the CHSPE(both are equal to a completion of highschool). </p>

<p>SMC(the community college I plan on going to) doesn't require either of the 2 tests, however I still have the option of taking them afterwards. </p>

<p>Would dropping out affect my admission to the UC? </p>

<p>Should I take the GED or the CHSPE(After dropping out)?
Would the lack of either abate my chances of employement?</p>

<p>All comments are appreciated
Thanks for your time.
:-)</p>

2

<p>Are you absolutely sure you're not eligible for the CHSPE? You're a senior, which means you meet the criteria established by law (be over 16, or be enrolled in at least the 10th grade.) There's no reason you can't register for it now, taking it when offered in March.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.chspe.net/about/%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://www.chspe.net/about/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The community college route is a perfectly valid one - and in fact, you'd be doing close to what I did. I passed the CHSPE and bailed on the last year of high school. But I didn't quit school entirely - I immediately enrolled in the local community college. I would recommend you take a couple classes while working, as it'll keep you in the academic mindset. It's dirt-cheap ($20 a unit, so the books cost more than the classes) with plenty of financial aid available, so there's no financial excuse, and most colleges have programs at night and on weekends specifically designed for working people.</p>

<p>And yes, if you don't have a high school diploma or its equivalent, you'll have a tough time finding anything more than the most menial and low-wage of jobs.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for the reassurance.
Sorry, I didn't clarify what I meant.
What I meant to say was that I'm not eligible for the GED; I am eligible for the CHSPE, however, the next testing date is after the spring semester has already started in SMC and all other community colleges around me.- that is why I want to find a job for the time being. I will try keeping my mind as occupied as possible though so I don't lose focus.</p>

<p>Should I still take the GED/ CHSPE?</p>

<p>If so, which one do you recommend?</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

4

<p>It will be difficult to get into med school with your chosen path of study.</p>

5

<p>I would still take the CHSPE - it's more of a "real" high school diploma than the GED, I think. You even get a nice tear-out faux paper certificate from the state semi-suitable for framing... I expected more for my testing fee, maybe they've improved it since I took it years back ;)</p>

6

<p>It is difficult getting into medical school, period.
In my situation, what path would you take, Bob?</p>

<p>Haha
How is it more real?
I thought that the GED is accepted throughout the USA while the CHSPE is for California only.</p>

7

<p>college is for losers. get paaiiid yo</p>

8

<p>They're both accepted throughout the United States - the Certificate of Proficiency is a state-awarded diploma. The U.S. government accepts it as evidence of completing high school-level education material for purposes of employment.</p>

<p>By "more real," I more or less mean the CHSPE doesn't have quite the same negative dropout stigma that could be attached to the GED - "Good Enough Diploma," etc.</p>

<p>"The CHSPE means I tested out of high school" is the wording I always used ;)</p>

9

<p>Wait, I don't understand why you don't just finish high school?? You're almost there!!! (Just for some "extra money"?)</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
It is difficult getting into medical school, period.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Which is why there's no reason to make it any harder, and it seems like that's the way you're going. Is there any reason why you need the extra money? If not, I strongly suggest sticking with HS until you graduate. If you want to take some time off before college, make sure it's productive. Med schools will ask for a complete accounting of all time you're away from school.</p>

<p>Since you plan on going to med school, I strongly encourage you to carefully think through what you want to do. I'm afraid that you might not really understand what med schools are looking for.</p>

11

<p>lol, "good enough diploma" nice one, Travis
ergh...I thought the "C" stood for California..pardon my ignorance.</p>

<p>I'm not making it harder, I just want to get out as quick as possible- which is the easier choice for me. How is it harder in your opinion?</p>

<p>No, I do not need the extra money, but it'll be time put to good use.</p>

<p>No, shades_children, I do not fully understand what medschools are looking for. I've always thought it was a good MCAT score and good grades in college(and extra research on the side?). If I am wrong, please enlighten me, as I am only a mere highschool student now.</p>

12

<p>cl2yp71c, med schools do not want people who simply follow the crowd. Do you know how many bio majors (with research summers, of course) they see? My mom applied to dental school when I was a kid after over 25 years out of school and she did great. She also scored top 1% on her MCATs and DCATS, again, with several decades between the test and her last bio class. She ended up in a prestigious school close-ish to our home, and all the people who discouraged her were eating her dust.</p>

<p>shades_children's comment was a bit insulting. Don't let anyone insinuate that by taking a different path you will be unable to reach your goals. Med schools jump for people who are qualified, but also INTERESTING.</p>

<p>Having said that, I do think that, unless you have a pressing reason, you should re-think dropping out. I am not saying that you won't be able to fulfil your plan, but it might make things unnecessarily harder. I don't know though, maybe it would be better in your situation. </p>

<p>Maybe look into something like Bard's Simon Rock College if you feel like HS just isn't right for you. I don't know why you feel compelled to leave HS, but you said that it wasn't the money, so I'm assuming that it is either boredom or an unpleasant environment. Either of those can be fixed without "dropping out," in the traditional sense. </p>

<p>"the lack of either abate my chances of employement"</p>

<p>The lack of either would abate your chances of getting into a college later. Even if your community college doesn't require those tests, your 4-year school (and definitely med school!) will, regardless of whether you have an associates degree. </p>

<p>Don't postpone taking the GED or the CHSPE. When you transfer from your community college, the 4-year may require the SATs, so you don't want to be in your last semester and filling out transfer applications AND studying for the SAT and GED/CHSPE.</p>

13

<p>Um, "I just want to get out as quick as possible"!?!? Doesn't everyone?</p>

<p>Just finish geez.</p>

14

<p>Thanks for the insight and the positive attitude, railoraine.</p>

<p>Ergh, I just don't see the point of finishing.
The tedious work in the boring classes is getting to me, the students are morons, the teachers teach useless standards...etc.
The time can be put into good use, such as work which I mentioned earlier, or independent studies.</p>

15

<p>Most four-year schools do not require high school or SAT information for transfer applicants as long as you have more than 24 units of transferable credit. At that point, it becomes all about your previous coursework and your college GPA.</p>

<p>However, I would take the SATs anyway.</p>

16

<p>FCYTravis99, I don't know about the schools cl2yp71c mentioned, but I am a transfer and almost every school I considered (all private schools) required the SAT (I have <em>much</em> more than 24 units). The only schools which did not want the SAT were SAT optional for ALL applicants. As a result, I had to take the SAT after being in college for several years. For the record, my advisor also told me that I wouldn't need to take the SATs. Clearly he was wrong.</p>

<p>cl2yp71c: No problem.</p>

<p>"The tedious work in the boring classes is getting to me, the students are morons, the teachers teach useless standards...etc."</p>

<p>I definitely feel your pain here. HS (even college, if a poor fit) can be filled with busywork and, well, yeah, <em>morons</em>. Look into Simon Rock. It is, from my limited knowledge, an early college opportunity for students who haven't finished high school, but feel that they need a stronger educational environment. I'm not sure how financial aid is there, but that is also worth checking out. It is in NY, so it would be a big change, but it sort-of sounds like a big change could do you some good.</p>

<p>Can you petition for independent studies at your HS? Or enter a community college for classes while still enrolled in your HS? Check out your options. You may not even need to be <em>in</em> HS classes to finish your degree. Plus, you'll look awesome when you apply for four-year colleges if they see that you took the extra initiative to find more challenging options.</p>

17

<p>Ok, thanks, I will surely take the SATs then.
Do you know by any chance, the amount of SATs one may take, and how do the scores round up?(average or best score) </p>

<p>I do not think I can go to New York, as the UCs here have an articulation deal with the community colleges here in California. This is the reason why I want to go to a community college and transfer, it will not be as difficult as it would be elsewhere.</p>

<p>I highly doubt that I can petition for independent studies because I've never seen nor heard about them in my school.
Also, concurrent enrollment isn't a very strong program, and isn't worth the trouble.</p>

18

<p>dont drop out, your already there.</p>

19

<p>Crap. :( My comment was erased...</p>

<p>Okay... Summary:</p>

<p>"Do you know by any chance, the amount of SATs one may take"</p>

<p>You can take the SAT 1 as many times as you wish, but I suggest starting as early as possible. Reasons: The math section is easier to do if you are taking a relevant math. Also, it will relieve some of the pressure and you'll be more likely to agree to re-taking.</p>

<p>"and how do the scores round up?(average or best score)"</p>

<p>Some schools "superscore" (not all, you'd have to find out which). Super scoring adds up the highest sections from each test. Ex:</p>

<p>Test 1: CR: 770 / M: 400 / W: 700</p>

<p>Test 2: CR: 400 / M: 800 / W: 710</p>

<p>Schools which superscore would give you your highest sections, making your final score: CR: 770 / M: 800 / W:710</p>

<p>This can really help some people; however, I discourage you from taking the SAT 1 more than 3 times. It makes you look anal and score conscious, and usually doesn't help at that point anyway.</p>

<p>"This is the reason why I want to go to a community college and transfer, it will not be as difficult as it would be elsewhere."</p>

<p>Summary: This is a myth. Transfer schools will not look down upon other schools. The articulation agreements are only relevant at those few schools; if you change your mind about where you want to attend, what then? More likely, the 4 year schools will have an (unfair) bias towards a school like Simon Rock, so it would actually probably be easier to transfer from there (it also makes you look more mature, as it is a unique school opportunity taken by few). Regardless, you can transfer from wherever, but don't close your options. You may change your mind about where you want to go (I did!). </p>

<p>"I highly doubt that I can petition for independent studies because I've never seen nor heard about them in my school."</p>

<p>You could always ask. </p>

<p>Whatever path you take, if you keep your eye on the prize, you will most likely succeed. Try not to close any doors though. You have a lot of options that you don't seem to realize you have.</p>

20

<p>I'm still stumped at why you want to drop out.</p>

<p>You say you want to get to college as quickly as possible. So why not finish it now (May 2008) rather than drop out now and then go to CC in a year? I don't see how dropping out speeds up this process.</p>

<p>And I strongly suggest you cherish your senior year, especially 2nd semester. You'll never get so much freedom and free time.</p>