<p>Because of a family situation, I am moving from my current residence mid Senior year. I currently have the credits for me to graduate early from my current high school or I can choose to finish one last semester at a completely different school. </p>
<p>I'm looking at very competitive schools like University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Cornell, UC - Berkeley, etc. I have finished all of my testing (35 on the ACT) and currently have an unweighted GPA of 4.0. I am enrolled in as many AP classes as allowed and have a very unique and rigorous schedule. </p>
<p>I've been told that I am able to return to my current high school and walk with my current class as well as attend prom if I were to graduate early; however, I'm afraid that it will affect my chances as some of the colleges I am looking at.</p>
<p>Are there any repercussions to graduating early? Will it hurt my chances at UPenn, Cornell, UChicago, etc? If I were to graduate early, should I take on a job or an internship?</p>
<p>Will it hurt? Depends. Have you demonstrated to people who would vouch for you (rec letter writers) that you’re simply *outstanding *? Then a case might be made.</p>
<p>You’ll be competing against the nation’s top applicants. Your transcript needs to to top notch (i.e. having taken the most rigorous courses). </p>
<p>I think you’re in a great spot regardless. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Finishing a semester early is not likely to be a problem at all. The only real difference between you and a typical May graduate would be that the colleges and universities will get your final grades one semester sooner.</p>
<p>Since you are enrolled in a number of AP courses, what is the likelihood that the new high school will be able to match your current schedule? Would you be interested in preparing for the AP exams on your own and taking them next May? Perhaps your best option would be to home-school yourself for that last semester. I expect that you have already explored the option of boarding with a friend’s family for your last semester rather than moving with your own family, and that option has been eliminated from your set of possibilities.</p>
<p>Odd, how many early hs grad threads have been running. Schools like Penn, Cornell and Chi are going to need to see more than that you met hs grad requirements and that was that. Even with the rigor and stats. You should have the complete competitive picture, including ECs with substance and impact. Some worthy challenge, in the interim. Many kids stick around for DE/cc classes (or you could do that at your new location.) In the end, your full picture has to make sense to adcoms. A challenging internship could help.</p>