<p>And you can’t have day-to-day interactions in college?</p>
<p>^ No one’s saying that, but what 18 year old wants to hang out with a 14 year old as their friend? At 18, you could very well be mentoring kids that age. You might have family, or specific circumstances, but it’s going to be very difficult when all your peers have 4 years on you and want to feel mature and adult - ie, not like HS freshman anymore.</p>
<p>As someone who is about to go off to college, I would be pretty upset if I was rooming with a 14 year old. The fact that you are calling your peers children shows that you are not as mature as you seem to think you are. </p>
<p>What I’m suprised no one has called you on is the fact that YOU DON’T WANT TO SPEND THE TIME TO STUDY. What makes you think you will be able to go through college without studying.</p>
<p>I understand how annoying high school can seem, I really do. They say you either love it or hate it, and you sound like me on the not so happy end of the spectrum. However, I promise you, being around a bunch of 18 year olds who are excited for their new freedom is not going to make you happy.</p>
<p>If all these seniors who have went through high school say that it is worthwhile, without any consideration of academics, I would think that that is a pretty strong statement about the meaning of high school.</p>
<p>But I understand if you don’t believe it. After all, you can’t believe it. These people are not you, and they can provide no real indication of what your experience in high school will be. If you were really mature, you would not be basing your decision purely on what anyone tells you on an online forum. Just know that the collective opinion of this board is that the high school experience cannot be replaced by anything.</p>
<p>However, you are not mature. Maturity comes from experience, and you haven’t got that. You may think you are mature because you can see past the foolish actions of your peers, because your caliber of thoughts is much deeper and more complex than the next 15 year old…but that’s not true maturity. How can you say that you are on the same level of maturity with 18 year olds if you have not passed any of the tests of high school, and they have?</p>
<p>It’s going to have to be your decision, and we cannot tell you what the best decision for you is. But take our words into consideration. Good luck.</p>
<p>OP, do you live in a university town? If yes, then you’ve received great advice in this thread for how to proceed now.</p>
<p>If no, here’s a link to some “early college” opportunities around the US. (The Hoagies website is dedicated to individuals like you. Although most of the discussion and resources are aimed at supporting younger children, there are still some nuggets for you and your parents. Be sure to drill down to the stories of student successes in the face of challenges like yours.)</p>
<p>[Hoagies</a>’ Gifted: Early College Entrance Programs](<a href=“http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/early_college.htm]Hoagies”>Early Entrance College Programs | Hoagies' Gifted)</p>
<p>See the description of the Texas schools on that list–I immediately thought of TAMS for you, but these programs are for residents only. Have you investigated whether your state has a similar program? </p>
<p>Hmmm…not on that list is something else I thought of reading your dilemma, the Carnegie Mellon early admission program. Scroll down about halfway on this page: [Admission</a> > Application Plans](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>
<p>I offer the CMU link only as an exemple of the (few) programs out there for students who are ready to matriculate after junior year. You can search the web for others.</p>
<p>Of course, you don’t really need to identify a special program if you simply accelerate your coursework (at school, home school or otherwise) to meet state law requirements for obtaining your HS diploma at the end of junior year (the standard “early exit” point across the US–have you checked your state requirements?). But that means finding ways in and out of school to have a more meaningful life between now and then!</p>
<p>Have you given any thought to addressing your needs by finding a more supportive HS environment, boarding if necessary? The top prep schools are accustomed to supporting students like you and can offer acceleration and flexibility of curriculum, as well as enrichment opportunities that will engage you (research, study abroad, guest speakers, etc.). I think deadlines for Fall 2011 admission have passed; however, late admissions for extraordinary students sometimes occur–it is always worth a shot, especially if your family can pay (if you’d need financial aid, you can still try for 2011, but it is likely they will have already distributed that pie). </p>
<p>Good luck. It’s no fun to be a fish out of water. You’ll do better in another school…literally and figuratively!</p>
<p>I agree with sirgerbil… OP is a late '94, and I’m an early '93 and currently a senior in HS. That puts OP as about the same age as me, and by regular schooling a HS junior or senior. Do I smell a ■■■■■, or did you enroll in HS two years late? If that really is the case, I could see why you would want to speed through high school - you’re supposed to be going to college anyway.</p>
<p>Chobap- I was wondering about that too… I’m REALLY late '94 (dec 29) and I’m a junior. If OP was that intelligent they wouldn’t be 16 and a freshman.</p>
<p>Speculation about the OP’s age aside, I’ll treat this as a serious question. It would be (and I strongly believe this) a mistake to miss so many years of high school. Consider transferring to an elite boarding or prep school instead. Those schools may give fairly generous financial aid (I’m not sure), you would be challenged, and you would also get the HS experience.</p>
<p>I’m a high school senior and there’s definitely lots of value in high outside of classes. I spend and inordinate amount of time at my school, and I’ve grown to love it. Recently, my school went through some interviews to talk about becoming a distinguished school. I’m not a jock, not super-popular, but my involvement means people know who I am (not that I always enjoy that. I don’t really like all the publicity or the shout-outs from staff all the time). But it’s those things that have helped me grow. That the social experience is far more important in life than the academic values. High school itself is a rocky place, and the fact that you describe yourself as an introvert and as not understanding people shows that you have lots of room to grow. You want to challenge yourself and I completely get that. I’ve not done homework assignments or classwork because i’ve found it more interesting to have a discussion about odd applications of derivatives and integrals rather than solving a few problems. You’re incredibly intelligent, probably more so than myself, but I can guarantee you that I’ve gained a lot more towards my life by willing to take challenging social experiences. I don’t say that to sound cocky, but I say that because I’ve been on the opposite end of the social spectrum too, and sometimes I still feel that way. But it’s the people I met in high school that have become some of the people I will stay in contact with for a very long time. That includes adults too. </p>
<p>I would really encourage you to look at all your options. One of my friends moved away for senior year to be with her father and take community college courses halfway around the world. She missed senior year, but also plans to spend 4 years in college when she could get out in less. It’s because she spent 3 years in normal high school and grew. She took senior classes her junior year and was ahead of everyone, but she was at school and participating in school activities. Not as much as me, but she’s a different person. Still, I saw her grow.
Another friend skipped his freshmen year, and moved to my school 2 years ago. He’s incredibly intelligent as well and wouldn’t have missed it.
I’m not trying to pressure you into having or trying to find a relationship, but you learn something from them. My first ended recently and didn’t work out, but I’m still good friends with her. Same with lots of other people I know. </p>
<p>I strongly encourage you to read, and do go find a way to challenge yourself academically. Summer programs and the aforementioned special programs are all great resources. However, I really think you should consider what your school has to offer, or what local activities you could be a part of. </p>
<p>Ultimately it’s your (and your parents’) call. You shouldn’t rush through something like this, but you definitely should do what you can to be happy. High school isn’t for everyone in the same way, but there’s a reason why people who hate schoolwork WILLING show up for school. The best of luck to you in whichever path you may take!</p>
<p>Side note on the parties thing and other high school functions:</p>
<p>In 4 years (or almost
) of high school, I’ve never been to a so-called ‘party’. Well, I don’t think friends’ b-day parties are what we’re referring to here. 
I’ve never taken drugs or felt pressured to do any of that. I don’t really enjoy school dances (because of the way people act) but I’ve been to 4 dances which I helped put on. I’ve never been asked and I don’t care. (Going to one dance can be a not so bad experience if you have the right mind-set or a friend. I just hung out and talked with people and actually followed a USC football game on my phone during homecoming. Ultimately not the point of the dance, but a fun social experience with other USC fans.)</p>
<p>You shouldn’t feel pressured to do anything of illicit nature, or that you don’t want to do because it makes you uncomfortable (though it’s really important to step out of your comfort zone, one of the biggest things I learned in HS). If you do, talk to someone because that’s on the school - not you.</p>