So I definitely think there’s some clarification needed on the CU Boulder / Mines situation. Based on my current grades, test scores, and extracurricular, I don’t see myself as having a problem getting into either of these colleges. I’ve hosted maybe 15 chanceme’s over the past year and a half on r/chanceme and the general impression I’m getting is that CU Boulder shouldn’t be a problem to get into, whereas Mines is more of a match. You may disagree based on what your perception of my attitude or writing style is like, and that’s perfectly fine. But objectively, from all indicators I’ve seen so far, that’s closest to where I stand.
On that note, when I originally mentioned these schools, I meant that CU Boulder / Mines were where I wanted to apply to if I try to graduate early. In RD as a class of 2020 student, I can definitely see myself as still going to either or, but it’s not my ultimate aim. I realize that any admissions into any top school is a crapshoot. I definitely want to distance myself from the “prestige for the sake of prestige” vibe that I get from schools like HYPSM. I’ll probably want to target practical options which offer decent aid and specialize in the major I’m currently most interested in (CS). Whether this ends up becoming Mines / CU is still unclear.
Your advice is honestly so helpful, thanks for going out of your way to craft a thoughtful response. I think your impression on my post is probably more close to the truth than what most other users on here are gathering.
People can vilify me as much as they’d like for complaining about the academic situation in my high school, but that shouldn’t discount the fact that there’s an issue with spending 8+ hours a day in an environment where I feel unchallenged, isolated, and at times even unsafe. As you mentioned, adolescence is an important time in one’s life and just ignoring my feelings of inhibition is not the solution.
I’m always willing to own up to when I come across in a hostile or entitled manner. It’s such a unique position to be in when everyone is picking apart your individual words and trying to psycho-analyze them. I definitely have not been the most clear, and I can understand why people have been misled by some of my posts on here. That ties back in to why I don’t think it’s productive from this point on to center the discussion around trying to change my attitude or to convince me to “own up to” my situation. No one on here knows enough about me to make that judgement call. Instead, the idea behind coming on here was to try to broaden my perspective on the different options I have. You might not be able to change my attitude, but certainly, I’m open to picking apart your guys’ experiences with non-traditional schooling options.
So it really boils down to how you feel in school. If you’re totally miserable, your best bet may be to graduate early. If you’re OK continuing for two more years, you might be better off looking for opportunities to express yourself outside school and creating opportunities inside it. I know somebody who just dropped out of school after his sophomore year, went to community college and later transferred to CU-Denver, but it doesn’t look like a good option for you.
One of my close friends is pursuing something similar to what you mentioned with dropping out and transferring out of CC. He was in the same boat as me when it comes to our attitude about our high school. The breaking point for him was a building maintenance incident that caused school to shut down for a few weeks. He used that chance to get a digital degree, and is now pursuing community college. What I respect about him is really his “go-getter” attitude. At face value, sure, he might be in community college, but he has a definite blueprint of what he wants to do in life (and has amassed a heap-load of career experience in the criminal justice industry).
As for whether I can put on a “deal-with-it mindset” and grind through two more years of HS, I’m still trying to figure that out. My experience with the grant process I mentioned earlier kind of demotivated my morale.
I would much prefer to graduate early and get a degree from Boulder / Mines rather than take on community college. I just don’t know if the former option is even possible.
It shouldn’t be hard to explore the requirements for admission to CU or Mines. If you want to go into CS and not engineering, CU may be better because of more opportunities to explore related areas, plus Google and tons of startups in Boulder. Mines is fairly narrow focused on engineering.
Also what exactly are the benefits of the public school located .o3 miles from your current one. Specifically. As in, please list at least 10 tangible things that are better than your current academic environment. (I am presenting you with this exercise because this is exactly the sort of information that a parent wants to know when a child is attempting to convince them that a change from what the parents deem is a perfectly acceptable situation in necessary)
^^I can think of a big one “no school shootings”? even if the student doesn’t have 10 reasons, that is a show stopper for me. My wife’s sister is a teacher in the Brentwood school district (Long Island) where recently several students have been murdered by MS-13 gang members. No way my kids will step foot in those schools.
I understand what you’re saying. But Columbine, Sandy Hook and all those other schools were all safe schools until one person chose to make them otherwise. “Safe schools” are merely “safe so far “ schools
@nick3162 Just so you know, I personally don’t think you are coming across as hostile and entitled. I think you are questioning your environment and looking for advice and solutions about improving it—that’s a positive thing. I am confused by your posts though. You wrote: “seeing as how I’m in Junior year I don’t think it’s best to switch high schools”
If it is doable to switch, and then finish out H.S. in two years at another school that you have visited and researched and determined is a better fit for you, then why rule it out? You are now saying your parents will support changing to a nearby high performing high school from your low performing, high dropout rate, unsafe high school. I got the impression that your parents were indifferent to your frustration with your school not challenging you, etc. but now you write that they are okay with a transfer but you are not.
If you have a preference for graduating early, you will need to research that immediately and get signed up for the classes and credits not only required for graduation, but required by ALL of the colleges you plan on applying to. Keep in mind that you will probably miss out on advanced electives as well as a summer internship/activities if you have to fill your summer and senior year with core courses. Don’t forget that you will need to maintain your current GPA with a heavy course load plus complete standardized testing, essays, applications in the fall. I know nothing about graduating early and am not recommending it or advising against. It will certainly be challenging, though a summer internship coupled with advanced online or comm. college/dual enrollment classes sounds like it could make for a stronger college application (if that’s a factor). You need to do the research.
@nick3162 You want to find your identity? Here’s a secret. The real you is not the one complaining in this forum. If you reign in the counterfeit, the real “you” will emerge. There’s 2 sides to every person. The one that emerges is the one we feed.
Thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to comment on the post,
I’ve decided it’s in my best interest just to end the discussion at this point due to how divisive some of these comments are. I appreciate all the feedback and will take the time to analyze your guys’ suggestions (both the positives and the negatives) more carefully.