Early graduates are just as important as URMs and legacies.

Applying to College
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<p>The title is not a fact, rather I am questioning its truth. In an interview with Jon Reider - you may know him as a contributing author to the book "Admission Matters" - he stated the following: </p>

<p>"Anything other than the high school transcript is considered “number two” depending on the strengths of the individual applicant and the policies of the school. For example, some schools no longer require SAT scores, so these may have less value at such schools. These “number two’s” include essays, extracurricular activities, test scores, letters of recommendation, or anomalies such as being the first generation to enroll in college or a bright student applying to college at the age of sixteen."</p>

<p>A bright student applying to college at the age of sixteen would be one who graduated a year early, and is mentioned in equivalence to first generation university scholars, which is also put on the level of URMs and legacies. Does this mean that, contrary to popular belief, early graduates might just have an edge when having applications comparable to those of regular graduates?</p>

2

<p>I’m going to argue the logic in this. I’m watching someone do it now. Skimming a year off your graduation date means virtual classes, less electives, fewer EC’s, and in our county a ‘regular’ diploma as opposed to an ‘advanced’ diploma. These students are going to be less likely to have more than three years of foreign language which will hurt if you are looking at a LAC.
Just because you can arrange those credits into 3years doesn’t mean you’re going to be a better catch. You may be less well rounded because all but the essentials were stripped.</p>

<p>There are certainly cases where students have skipped grades early on and are graduating at 16. This would apply. I don’t think trying to cram 4 years into 3 is marketable (which is the purpose of the post).</p>

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<p>Occasionally the early graduate is favored- but only if s/he is amazingly accomplished stats-wise, as well as possessing maturity beyond their years. Colleges can be reluctant to admit someone too young to be able to blend in socially or emotionally.</p>

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<p>I agree that it depends on the well-roundedness of the candidate, and how early on they decided to graduate early. However it can be does, and is more often done than one would think. Especially now with so many options via online & CC</p>

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<p>At my school, the people who graduate early are the ones who just don’t want to be in school anymore. They aren’t the ones who are in some sort of rush to move on to a better, brighter future. Like other posters said, cramming high school into three years seems more detrimental to an application than making the most of the four years available by taking courses that interest them and getting heavily involved in EC’s (both are things that I really started to do my senior year). I skipped a grade when I was younger, so I’m the baby of my class, but I don’t think my age really matters at this point. </p>

<p>When I read the title of this thread, my knee-jerk response was “Yeah, right.”</p>

6

<p>I think the biggest factor here is what sets you apart. If you’re an outstanding oboe player, and the college is looking for that, you’re golden. If you’ve got an amazing voice and starred as {u]Amal and the Night Visitors at Lincoln Center at age 13, then you’ve got a different cache. A kid who skipped a grade or just plowed through HS in 3 years rather than 4 may stand out as the Einstein in the group or may not. Like everything in the college process, it’s what makes you stand out and what is special about you.</p>

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<p>I think you’re missing the key takeaway from message - that being that academic performance is by far the biggest factor in most college admissions. That there is a strong correlation between great grades and those that apply a grade early should not be a surprise. If they didn’t have the grades, they would be crazy to apply early. So, yes, someone with great grades shows performance and results and if that person is a grade or two early in apply AND has those things, it would stand out as a secondary factor.</p>

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<p>^This ignores the key point that has been hammered home to students and parents for the last 10 years. Most schools want more than scores. They want well rounded students. Even the schools that are heavy on the tech/engineering are looking at a far more holistic application process. If you are taking online classes, or are dual enrolled, to meet simply the minimum credits necessary to graduate in less than 4years you are less likely to have multiple years of fine arts (which has a direct correlation to higher math scores), or academic electives that enhance your education and your application such as AP Comp Sci, AP Art History, a forth year of lab science or foreign a language. They are also more likely to have spent summers taking classes, as opposed to taking part in enrichment courses, internships, volunteer opportunities, participating in summer sports leagues, working, or travel.
Can it be done with a superior GPA and SAT scores? Most certainly. Is that student better educated or a more qualified candidate? That goes against what our students have been trying to achieve. A well rounded education and experiences that show they will be a valuable asset to the university community.</p>

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<p>Is this true, does Admission Matters equate URMs with 1st gen and legacies? If so, I’m going to have to stop recommending it to people. I only read an earlier version by Sally Springer and don’t recall her saying something like that.</p>

10

<p>If you can make yourself equal academic wise and extracurricular wise, then i’d say you are a strong candidate. What will set you apart is your reasons, and if you know what you want.</p>

<p>When applying & waiting for admission decisions, don’t expect anything really because it really is a blind shoot. That was my experience, because i recieved some nice Merit scholarships at a top 50 school and another tier 1 school, and accepted at ucla but waitlisted and rejected at lower ranked schools.</p>

<p>Socially, it shouldn’t matter minus maturity. Early grads do participate is all the same senior events, prom, senior meetings, ditch day, etc. As long as one has friends in that graduating class, it can still be memorable and fun.</p>

11

<p>I would like to ask your opinions on my case. I will start by saying that I knew before I came to high school that I would be graduating early, so it will not be a giant hell of cramming classes together graduating with the lowest graduation plan. </p>

<p>High-school: Unknown, public</p>

<p>About the foreign language: I started taking German I in 8th grade. I am now taking German II as a freshman, which means that I will have four years of a foreign language by the time I graduate.</p>

<p>Before I describe my coursework (which is as rigorous as possible) I need to explain the class system here. I will use math as an example. Here is how it goes if you take the most advanced classes available:</p>

<p>Pre-AP Algebra I, Pre-AP Geometry, Pre-AP Algebra II, Pre-AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB/BC. It is like this for all classes. There is the regulars track and there is this (only two levels). If this confuses you, think of the Pre-AP classes as AP. Four years of math are needed for graduation on any plan, and I started Pre-AP Algebra I in 8th grade, so I will have gone through Pre-AP Precalculus by graduation.</p>

<p>Courses:
Pre-AP Geometry
Pre-AP English I
Pre-AP Biology
Pre-AP World Geography
German II (there is an option of Pre-AP for German III, and AP for German IIII)
Orchestra (dropping this next year)
Tennis team
Health & Speech (each half a semester, graduation req.)</p>

<p>Note: In order to graduate early, I will not be able to take every single class advanced.I will not be able to take some social studies classes advanced, and perhaps some English (whatever classes I am going to need to take over summer).</p>

<p>My grades: for the first semester, my average in Geometry was a C+. There is a giant, noticeable trend in Geomtry because my average this semester in Geometry will be an A or A+. My average in English was a B+, it is now an A. My average in Biology was an A, it will be an A+ this semester. My German grades will always be A+. </p>

<p>While taking a class called accelerated World History over this summer, I am going to be studying for the PSAT/SAT, in hopes that I will get a National Merit recognition of some sort. I am also going to try hard to advance to varsity Tennis in my little time left (not a very high chance, though).</p>

<p>My only extracurriculars this year are tennis and orchestra. </p>

<p>I will be graduating with the highest graduation plan, distinguished achievement. I will have 4 years of English, 4 years of Math, 4 years of Science, 4 years of Social Studies, and 4 years of German. (Other things include electives, fine arts, tech credits, phys. ed., and health/speech) </p>

<p>Please give me recommendations, suggestions, anything as to what I can do to increase my chances of graduating early and getting into one of my top choices at the same time.</p>

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<p>What are your top choices? & What do you want to do after high school? Why do you want to graduate early?</p>

<p>and your extra-curriculars are honestly weak-average. Volunteer experience is a must, and freshman grades won’t matter much. you’re course rigor is good, as long as you can handle it and succeed.</p>

13

<p>“I will be graduating with the highest graduation plan”</p>

<p>I beg to differ. You are going to be up against students who have taken MULTIPLE AP classes. And no, pre-AP is not the same as AP.</p>

<p>My suggestion is to slow down and take the full four years of high school. Increase the rigor of your curriculum by taking AP classes (not pre-AP). </p>

<p>You need to understand that graduating early does not make you any more special or intelligent than kids who graduate in 4 years.</p>

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<p>Wahine1314,</p>

<p>I have too many top choices to name. I’m basically aiming for the top (HYPSM, Ivies, Duke, JHU, NW, Rice, Vandy, etc.) I’m planning on doing Pre-Med and trying to get into one of my top-choice med schools.</p>

<p>I didn’t know anything about college before high school, I didn’t even know anything about GPA before high school. I got into a college craze beginning the second semester. Now, it is too late to involve my self in all of the EC’s that I could have. I am going to try to go EC crazy during Sophomore and Junior/Senior. It may be hard, because my courseload will be harder than everyone else’s (doubling on sciences, taking summer courses). </p>

<p>I want to graduate early because it is less time spent in high school, and because I just want to. I know the extra year gives more time for leadership opportunities, and I know there are a million ways to dispute the concept of early graduation, but the decision has been made and I am up to the challenge.</p>

<p>nysmile,</p>

<p>You misunderstood some or all of what I said. We have three graduation plans: required, recommended, and distinguished. Whatever plan you graduate with is based on how many credits you got in what. The difference between Distinguished and Reccommended is that distinguished has one more year of foreign language, and 1 less elective year. The difference between Recommended and required is that required has only 3 years of science, 1 year of foreign language, and 2 more elective years. </p>

<p>I will also reiterate that we have two levels of classes: Regular and Pre-AP. They call classes Pre-AP because they come before the AP class that you take the test on. For example, there is Pre-AP Biology and Biology. Let’s say you take Pre-AP Biology. Then you choose AP Biology as your 4th science. Then you take the AP Bio test. Or, after you take Pre-AP Chemistry, you choose AP Chemistry as your 4th science. Then you take the AP Chem test.</p>

<p>If you take the most rigorous courses, here’s how it goes: Pre-AP Algebra I, Pre-AP Geometry, Pre-Ap Algebra II, Pre-AP Precalculus, then Pre-AP becomes AP and you take AP Calculus.
English: Pre-AP English I, Pre-AP English II, AP English III, AP English IIII</p>

<p>I don’t understand why, any time that I try to explain my class system, people on this website get ****ed and tell me that I am inferior. Please try to understand before firing your lasers.</p>

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<p>The girl who graduated first in DD’s class was 16. She had been homeschooled up to about sixth grade. She was quite bright and very immature. I remember attending an awards ceremony for six kids who had won a rather prestigious regional award. She and my daughter were the first from their school to win it. When the girl got up to talk about herself, she did not realize that she was among peers and came off as very arrogant. She applied to many Ivies including the one that hosted the regional award, and was admitted to Brown, but rejected at the others. My point: I think that she was rejected because of her maturity. She was clearly qualified academically; plus she was an all state musician, NMS, and had all kinds of leadership in the school. I think that you just have to look at the top 15 to 20 schools as reaches. You never know what they want the year you apply.</p>

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<p>I’d take at least one AP class next year, because pre-AP’s are not the same at all. In addition don’t go ‘crazy’ but find 2 or 3 activities and dedicate. Make sure you like what you are doing. As far as the schools you are planning to apply to: if you can’t get above 2100 and your stats are still the same, i’d recommend staying the last year.</p>

<p>I have nothing against early grads since I followed that route as well.</p>

<p>Why do u dislike high school?</p>

17

<p>I know two people who graduated at age 16 (both were in the top 10) and both failed to get into HYPSM.</p>

<p>Really, the age at which you graduate matters far less than what you’ve done by the time you graduate.</p>

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<p>Graduating with only Pre Calculus and next to no AP tests actually taken gives you virtually no chance of acceptance at any top school. I don’t see why you want to graduate early.</p>

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<p>Agree that you should forget about graduating early. I think what you’re missing is that it’s not the age alone that makes a person stand out to adcoms, it’s the incredible amount that one has accomplished at a young age that makes it any kind of a hook or tip factor (if in fact it actually is).</p>

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<p>I understood exactly what you wrote on your post regarding your curriculum. What you fail to recognize is that Pre-AP is not AP nor is it considered as rigorous as a true AP class.</p>

<p>If you are planning on graduating with pre-AP classes as opposed to AP classes,
you don’t stand a chance at the schools you have your list.</p>

<p>To give you an example: the top kids in our public school routinely take 7-9 AP Classes.
Many self-study for additional AP’s on top of the 7-9 AP classes that they attend over the years.</p>

<p>Again, graduating early from high school does not make you more attractive to college admissions offices. What selective colleges focus on is the rigor of your curriculum (the number of AP classes–4 years of science including AP’s, 4 years of math including AP calculus, 4 years of english including at least one AP english course, 4 years of history including at least one AP history course, 4 years of foreign language, 4 years of solid electives such as in art or music), your gpa (needs to be as close to a 4.0 as possible), your SAT/ACT scores, and your teacher recommendations. Next, they look at your EC’s (to see how one has followed through with a passion or two over the course of the entire 4 years) and your essays.</p>

<p>Please remove the chip you have resting on your shoulders and listen to what people are saying. The only time colleges take notice of students who graduate early is when the student is graduating early because they have academically exhausted the courses offered at the high school level. This is not the case with you as you will graduate without having taken many (if any) AP classes.</p>

<p>We are not trying to p.ss you off. We’re trying to help you by explaining the process. Many of us have been through this before with our own kids who are now excelling in college.</p>