Early Entrance to College Decision: Univerity of Washington or Bard College at Simon's Rock?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi! I am hoping for some advice about my future plans for next year. I was accepted into two universities as a sophomore in high school, and I am not super sure what I want to do next year. So, I am looking for your opinions or just any general advice you have about my choices. :slight_smile:

Here are the pros and cons of my three options. For reference, I have about $70k in scholarship money and in money that my parents and I are willing to contribute to my college education, and I would like to continue on to grad school after undergrad.

University of Washington (through UW Academy program):
Pros:

  • Inexpensive (tuition is $10,753)
  • I could live at home (no extra cost for room and board)
  • Research opportunities
  • Study abroad opportunities
  • Great academic counselors for early-entrance students like me
  • Located in a big city, which I like
  • Takes AP credits (I have 4 AP tests that would qualify, to be honest I don’t know how many credits this is)
    Cons:
  • No scholarships from UW specifically (I am too young to apply for most :confused: )
  • Less awesome student experience, especially for early entrance students
  • Larger class sizes
  • Lecture classes are mostly taught by TAs, not by professors

Bard College at Simon’s Rock:
Pros:

  • $35k in grants and scholarships from that school specifically
  • Would get the opportunity to explore another side of the country and live away from home; town is located in the scenic and awesome Berkshires
  • Better student experience (majority of students at that campus are early entrance)
  • Dual degree program with Columbia in environmental law that I am really interested in
  • Stronger possibility to transfer to a good or better school after one or two years
  • Small class sizes, well-qualified professors → seems to be a better education
    Cons:
  • Even with grants and scholarships, estimated family contribution for cost of living and tuition combined (including grants and scholarships) is $36k
  • Would have to uproot my life, leave my friends and family and move to Massachusetts
  • Limited research opportunities
  • Live in a tiny, tiny town with limited cell service

Staying in high school:
Pros:

  • Opportunity to keep grinding and apply to my dream schools
  • Would stay in school with friends
  • Able to earn college credit through AP classes (In theory, I have the capability to graduate with 20 or more AP tests that would qualify for credit)
  • Likely would qualify for National Merit Scholarship next year
  • Likely would be able to improve my SAT and keep my GPA at a 4.0uw
    Cons:
  • Consistently bored in clases; no academic challenge or satisfaction
  • Tired of how juvenile some high school students can act
  • If I want to be competitive for an Ivy or similar, would have to keep grinding with very little free time
  • Would probably have to transfer to another school in my senior year (Basically I’d be switching to take different and more APs)

So, if you have any opinions or advice please let me know! Thanks <3

2

UW Academy is a pretty good program, geared for kids like you, and you’ll be entering a very well know and respected university. Your chances of going from there to any grad school you will choose are good. There is the issue of Bird In Hand and all that, and it also means staying in HS for two more years.

On the other hand, there are likely a bunch of colleges in which you will be a good fit, perhaps better than in UW, AND you will be going in with kids who are closer to your age, if you enter at a regular time, assuming that you will be accepted.

That is the crux of the matter - being accepted is not easy, even for a very high stats kid with good ECs. If you want to wait in the hopes that you will attend an Ivy, well that’s not a good idea - the acceptance rates are a abysmal, and they are usually not the best school for most kids anyway. On the other hand, there are at least dozens of colleges in which you will fit, and it is likely that you will get into a least a few. So, while there is an excellent chance that you will find a school in which you will fit, though it is most likely not an Ivy.

I would not go to Bard, because it is, financially, not in a good place, and, according to student reviews, it is in need of a lot of renovations it cannot afford.

So, if you really do not want to go to UW, even if it because you are not yet ready to start college, or because you want to go to a college at which you will stay at dorms, or because you want to go to college mostly with kids your age, stay in HS. If the idea of staying in HS any longer makes you itch all over, attend UW and don’t look back.

BTW, I have some bad news for you - as a gifted kid, you will likely find that most college kids are juvenile as well.

3

@MWolf Note that Simon’s Rock of Bard College (in Great Barrington MA, an early college program) is different from the main Bard College campus (in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, a 4-year undergrad institution). Simon’s Rock campus may very well also be in need of renovations but important to note they are two different campuses and programs under the broader Bard umbrella.

4

@lilymartha0 Based on your scenario, Bard is out because of the costs.

UW Academy appears to fit the bill regarding what you need, especially if you’re thinking of transferring during your senior year. The change of schools will allow for a refreshing change of pace.

You’ll still be able to compete for National Merit. There’s no rush. You will find your tribe soon enough. Just remember when applying to colleges to seek those who are merit and financial aid friendly.

5

UW Academy is the better option by far because you can remain at home.

6

@Itisatruth You are right, while the reviews for the dilapidated buildings were from Simon’s Rock’s students, the finances are from Bards College in general. Simon’s Rock has an of endowment 26.1 million, and 450 students. Not closing just as yet, but those fiances are not solid.

7

UW Academy. Living at home and saving money are great reasons. The academics are certainly high at UW Academy.

Save the money now. If you want to experience something different, you can always do a study abroad in a future year.

8

I would be careful about enrolling in college early and missing out on the social aspects of HS. If you want academic challenge, I don’t see why you can’t take college classes on the side.

And isn’t UW Academy in their honors college and offer smaller classes?

Also, how did you determine what schools are you dream schools? If you are bored, why not think further out and explore and figure out what you want to do for the next 40 (or at least 20) years of your life and work backwards to figure out how to achieve your goals?

9

If you stay in high school, could you take most of your courses at local colleges through Running Start?

10

Simon’s Rock has a very particular vibe. If it suits you. it’s great, but if not, it might not be a great place to be. Did you visit and like it?

Given that you can stay at home and the cost works, UW sounds great. You will have the company of other students your age (I assume this is true, but am less familiar with the workings of the program) but be able to get the academic challenge you want. In your shoes, I would do this because it’s a great opportunity now rather than hold out for a “higher ranked” college experience that might be better but might not.

11

IMHO you aren’t ready for college.

You may look down on the kids around you, have you considered how many 18-19 year old college students want to hang out with 16 year old kids? College is more than the classes you take, its learning from the kids around you and not necessarily the material on the syllabus. It’s a time of growth and experience, something you may miss out on to a great extent given your age and plans to live at home. Given the involvement with college you’ll end up with, especially living at home, to some extent college will be like taking online courses but attending the taping live.

If you consider learning the assigned material “grinding” what do you think college is going to be like when the pace and difficulty steps up? If you don’t find any satisfaction in your subjects now, what do you think changes when you get to college? Yes they offer subjects not taught in HS but in the end I think saying you aren’t finding any satisfaction in your current studies says more about you than the material, and I fear you will find more of the same in college.

Also your statements seem self-contradictory. If you find classes are “no academic challenge” then why the “grinding”? They ought to be so easy you have plenty of free time, and what time it takes to complete the assignments should not be a burden at all.

12

You may already know this, but good grades and lots of AP courses are just a part of being competitive for an Ivy or similar. They also care what your teachers say in their recs, and whether you’ve shown leadership and/or achievement in your ECs. So hopefully you are building rapport with a few teachers and have been working on your ECs.

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14

@badgolfer Thank you for your reply! :slight_smile: I really appreciate your insight.

15

@mikemac Very good point! I have definitely been trying to build up my ECs and keep in good standing with my teachers.

16

@gardenstategal Thank you! I am definitely leaning towards UW.

17

@ucbalumnus I could, yep! I’ve consulted my teachers, and they feel that I would be better suited in AP classes, as their understanding is that the majority of classes at my local community college can be a bit slower-paced than AP classes. But, if I stay in high school, I will definitely be taking a class or two to try it out!

18

@PurpleTitan Thank you for your insight! So far, the social aspects of high school (aside from my friends), are not super important to me. But, that could very well change, and I could end up just adoring my junior and senior years.

I’m pretty sure that the acad program is separate from the honors program. But, I will have the opportunity to apply for interdisciplinary honors–something I am definitely interested in.

I chose my “dream schools” by doing pretty much what you described. I asked myself what I wanted to have accomplished 20 years down the line, and looked into undergrad and grad schools that would specifically help me get there. I’ve seen a few high-achieving friends who chose their colleges based on reputation alone. And, the schools they ended up at are great schools, but they just aren’t happy there. So, I tried to take a multi-faceted approach, and consider more than the academics and reputation. :slight_smile:

Again, thank you so much for your response!

19

@Longhaul Very good points. I’m definitely leaning towards UW!

20

@Publisher Thank you! And, agreed. I’m pretty sure I could do it, but moving away from home at 16 seems pretty daunting!