So I am a junior in high school but I’m graduating this year. Will colleges view this as being impressive or a “successful way of dropping out”? I’ll have all my credits so I don’t know how they’ll look at it.
In my opinion, students who have problems adapting socially tend to do this. Are there exceptions? Yes.
Just make sure you are doing it because you are running towards something, not away from something. Bad home life being another exception.
It’s the complete opposite with me… I’ve done 4 week long summer programs at major universities the past 2 summers. One at 14 years old & this past when I was 15 (young for my grade). I don’t think a student who has problems with maturity & social skills does stuff like that. Especially because the programs are related to what I wanna do.
Did you take advantage of all advanced classes at your high school or just take what you needed to graduate?
If you’re academically gifted, you probably want to attend a college where most students are dedicated to learning and where you have a good peer group - can you defer graduation so that whatever you do next year, if it involves college, doesn’t make you a transfer? Dual enrollment at a college within a commuting distance would allow you to apply to a competitive college as a freshman. (Transfers get poor financial aid and fewer choices than freshmen).
Well, if you’re a 15 year old senior, that opens a whole other can of worms: what are you going to do next year? Living on campus may not be possible due to liability concerns (16 year old in dorm with 18 year olds = problem, even if academically and in class there’d be no problems.)
Can you do a gap year abroad (highly recommended for academically serious students who graduate early as long as you’ve had 3-4 years of a foreign language… or, if you’re adventurous, you could even take 1 semester of intensive learning and then go…)?
My mother would not let me graduate early because she was scared of me having a terrible social life in my first year.
My guidance counselor thought it was a good idea, but told me to call the admissions offices of schools I was looking at and see what they said.
Many schools do not mind – it will not hurt or help you – but University of Delaware, I remember, was very clear: they do NOT like students who graduate early, or take half day schedules/internships senior year. They would prefer to see someone who loads up on APs, etc.
I’m not sure how many schools are like that. Just a warning. Good luck!!