Early Grad Dilemma

<p>I currently attend a middle college program (high school and community college classes are taken at the same time) and have decided to graduate early. The aspiration is quite feasible and does not require any ridiculous amount of course work. I will have completed all of the advised coursework for university/ivy league applicants (3 years of language, I'm taking pre calc, 3 years of science, etc). I am fairly confident about my application- while as a freshman I had a 3.4 gpa (3.8 weighted) in the fall and a 3.6 (4.0 weighted) in the spring, I achieved a 4.0 (4.6 weighted) in both semesters of my sophomore year. My class rank is 10. I am fairly active in volunteer activities, will be heavily involved in student government this upcoming year, and have many hobbies outside of school. I will have taken two AP courses and will have completed 48 college units by the time I graduate.</p>

<p>The only problem is that I was only officially declared an incoming senior this week, so did not take the PSAT or SAT testing like the juniors did at my school. Since college applications are due in early December, I will only have time to take one test before applying. Should I just take the PSAT when I send in my college applications or risk a lower score and take the SATs with the "real" seniors? </p>

<p>This is, of course, assuming that I even receive the scores on time, which is another issue. I know that PSAT/SAT tests are taken in the fall and that it takes around 3 weeks to find out your score, but will that be soon enough?</p>

<p>Your situation is not a typical one. As you describe it you sound more like a college sophomore than a rising senior. Does it not make sense for you to apply as a transfer student? You’re way beyond the PSAT and I don’t understand what you expect colleges to do with that score.</p>

<p>At my school the PSAT is taken first semester of the junior year, but upon reflection it is quite clear that I’ll just have to study up this summer and take the SAT in the fall. I’m starting to wonder if I’d be better off just doing high school all four years.</p>

<p>also, I cannot apply as a transfer student persay because it is not a full 60 units and colleges have recommended all students at my school to apply as freshman because, for whatever reason, none of us are regarded as actual college students.</p>

<p>Just as a little background, I’m a high-school student who spends most of his day on a community college campus, though I do not attend the kind of program you do (several of my friends the early college program in my county, however).</p>

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<p>Ivy-league schools, in particular, require those in programs like yours to apply as freshmen. I think this is because they do not believe you will particularly more prepared than your ivy-league peers (and they want your money).</p>

<p>Getting into an ivy-league school is more than test scores and grades. Without PSAT or SAT scores, however, we’re in no position to postulate whether you’d fare well in admissions or not.</p>

<p>Normally, early-graduation is a result of running out of courses to take. Have you exhausted the college’s offerings in your area(s) of interest? Why don’t you stay another year, take advanced courses in your area(s) of interest, and improve your application for next year? It looks like you’ll be stressing to get your testing done on time and you don’t (and won’t, until the last minute) even know what scores you’ll be looking.</p>

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<p>If you apply next year, you’ll have to send your SAT/ACT scores, not PSAT scores.</p>

<p>There are special regulations about the PSAT for students in situations like yours. Talk to your counselor about whether or not you are covered, and take a look at the PSAT website. The PSAT is only important if you can be considered for a National Merit Scholarship or Commended, National Hispanic, or National Achievement status. Again, this is something that your counselor should be able to advise you about.</p>

<p>All of the institutions that you are considering accept the ACT as well as the SAT. Visit the websites of these two exams to find out testing dates and locations in your area. You may be able to take one or both of them this summer.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

<p>I decided not to graduate early. The extra year will strengthen my overall application and give me time to do well on the SATs etc. Thanks anyway, all.</p>