<p>Can I graduate early and still go to a good college? Okay so I was thinking of maybe graduating a year early... I mean I am a sopohmore and I will be able to graduate over 22 credits by the end of junior year, except I will be minus an english credit and econ credit (I can take those in the summer)...
Anyway I was wondering if this an okay option, it isn't like I don't have any friends or anything, I just don't really like high school... also I am way ahead in credits, and I feel like it would be pointless to go for another year, when I can go to college early and get started. I am interested to going to a school like MIT for engineering or going into law... I am not sure what are good schools though.
I have a 4.0, top of my class... etc... I will end next year with 23 credits, but only need 22 credits... isn't it pointless to go to another year of schooling? I could go to a CC for a year then go to a four year University... maybe go to harder classes or w/e... I was thinking of maybe working for a year and earning money while in a CC...
Will colleges still except me if I graduate early? I have good reasons...</p>
<p>“Will colleges still except me”</p>
<p>I’m not sure buddy ;)</p>
<p>Now on a more serious note, i think it would be more beneficial for you to stay in high school and take harder classes (APs or IB). Most people get more credits sooner than they need to. Staying in school also lets you do more in terms of ECs, awards, etc. that will make you more competitive. Certainly not pointless. Also, you still need to take SATs and other standardized tests.</p>
<p>So I say don’t.</p>
<p>Well I will have my ACT’s done by then… and it isn’t like I haven’t taken all the classes,
obviously… </p>
<p>(p.s. I will have 4 years of math including AP calc, 4 years of science including AP physics, 3 years of history with AP World, and 3 years of english with AP composition (will be four by graduation)) </p>
<p>My point is… I already will have what most seniors graduate with! Why not graduate early? It may not be pointless… but if I look good enough there should be no reason… mean my EC’s are good, my grades are good, my course load is good/ course rigor… hmm…</p>
<p>Okay come on… can I rephrase this? What is your guys opinion on graduating early? good idea? bad idea? And why?</p>
<p>If there are more AP classes you can take or college classes you can take, colleges want you to take them instead of graduating early. If they let you in having taken 3 APs how are you going to be as prepared as those who’ve taken 40 hours of college or 15 APs?</p>
<p>Well, if you just want to go to a state university, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t graduate early. My state university even has a program where they accept juniors that haven’t even graduated yet and you just need a 3.5 GPA and an ACT score of at least 25. I know I would graduate early if I could.</p>
<p>Well I have 4 AP’s… and my school is hard to get more than three a year!!! and the average is 3 AP’s by graduation… we don’t have that many AP classes… also, I will have taken english and econ as AP in a CC… so yeah! lol. 6 AP total… also… is there anything wrong with graduating early, then going to a CC for a year, then transfering to a University after that, and the CC will make sure I am prepared. But I am not taking a study hall or anything and maintaing a 97% avg… and my school isn’t the easiest either, I am top in my class, tied with only five others out of 273.</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with graduating early and going to a state school but if you want to go to the likes of MIT you need to take advantage of CC classes that are pretty advanced.</p>
<p>@ I’mnothere: Not relating to this but are you from GA?</p>
<p>No, I’m from UT</p>
<p>Oh nvm, there’s one like that in GA as well.</p>
<p>Try going to an early college.</p>
<p>Simon’s Rock
Early College at Guilford College</p>
<p>there are others.</p>
<p>I know someone who just recently graduated as a junior, going to UCLA. She’s from a pretty bad school and isn’t anything “extraordinary,” though if she had completed HS she would probably be valedictorian. Definitely possible.</p>
<p>ETA: I think it’s a bad idea. Sure, you’ll get a head start but 1) you’ll be missing out on senior year and everything that comes with it! 2) you’ll be missing out on some college experiences for the first year, 3) why?? why not just get a more solid foundation with the extra year? AND, why would anyone want to ditch graduating in 2011??? PFFTTT</p>
<p>You can apply as a junior to top colleges. Just make the case that your school doesn’t have another year’s worth of stuff to teach you.</p>
<p>I graduated high school in three years. I accumulated large amounts of credits from taking dual enrollment classes at a university, which at my school are worth twice the amount of credit as normal high school classes. Staying another year in high school would have been pointless for me because I had already accumulated 55 college credits, almost two years worth.</p>
<p>For me, graduating early had no effect on my college admissions - I was accepted everywhere I applied (including at tippy-top schools Pomona and Carleton). However, I also had a very high GPA in all my high school and college classes and very high standardized test scores. My ECs were pretty strong, recs were very strong, and I put a lot of effort into my essays. Another year would not have added much to my application besides the extra year of ECs.</p>
<p>OP, you sound like you are in a similar situation as me. If you feel that another year of school won’t add much to your application, then by all means apply to colleges in the fall. I wouldn’t recommend going the CC route - you’ll probably just feel like you’re wasting your time. If you do well on your standardized tests and show passion and maturity in your essays, you’ll get in at top schools.</p>
<p>I would recommend taking the SAT Subject Tests, even if you don’t plan on applying to schools that require them. If you do well, it will give your application more credibility.</p>
<p>A good interview can also show the college that you are mature and ready for an adult environment.</p>
<p>I say no.</p>
<p>An extra year of high school is good, if not for your maturity level.</p>
<p>Most students end with more than the credit they need. Shoot, All I need to graduate right now is two Englishes and US History… and I’ve only finished two years of high school.</p>
<p>Stay. Have fun.</p>
<p>i know what you mean… i’m tempted to graduate early, but i’m not going to let myself. take ap classes or take some classes at a nearby college. that way, you’ll get the credit you need, but won’t have to pay as much. even if you get into a top college with only a few difficult classes, you’ll end up in debt because you’ll need many more credits than others who tested out.</p>
<p>Speak to your guidance counselor - seriously.</p>
<p>Consider this option:
If you have your heart set on a school or are going to, apply. I am graduating EARLY only if in April my letter from UF says “Accepted”. If I am denied, my guidance counselor will make it so I graduate my “true” senior year. This is a special situation for me, though. But it can work for anybody.</p>
<p>I totally understand your reasons for wanting to graduate early, though they’re a bit different from mine, it’s still reasonable. A ton of people on here will tell you that you are stupid to graduate early (I’ve looked through all sorts of threads on here when it came to my decision). However, what I’ve FOUND is that they just want you to improve especially if you have potential and apply to maybe more challenging schools. That’s what influence my decision most.</p>
<p>I have potential but I don’t have the finances to go out of state. Therefore, I’m stuck in Florida. That’s why I’m graduating early if I can get into the college of my choice because I don’t like high school or my family situation.</p>
<p>You can apply to a college twice, take that into consideration. Reading your idea about going to a CC and then a four year university, why not do dual enrollment? There are seniors at my high school that never step foot on the campus except in rare occasions, they live on campus for their senior year at a university close by, and they are applying to a four year, their senior year. So think about that too, you have a variety of options.</p>
<p>A disadvantage in scholarships as well, you won’t be able (sometimes) to get as many scholarships as “true seniors”. </p>
<p>Here dual enrollment is free, which my Guidance counselor is trying vigorously to consider doing for my senior year instead of moving on to a university at just 17. However, I’m mature enough to do so and I’m sure there are many people that could. Graduating early isn’t for everyone, but it is for some. Take all of your options into consideration and figure out what’s best for you.</p>
<p>If you want to graduate early to stay in the same area, that seems kinda strange to me… If you want to go to a CC and get money, etc… why not just stay in high school the 4th year, since you will be going to a university the same time regardless if you graduate early or not? Therefore, your chances to universities would increase as well… Hope I understood everything right.</p>
<p>Well… this doesn’t matter much… but the people in my family frown upon those who graduate early.</p>
<p>High school is meant to be four years.</p>
<p>A lot of people see it that way.</p>
<p>The only people I know who want to end school early already have plans that do NOT include more school. They are things like join the military, work an internship, study abroad/travel, get on with a certain career, etc.</p>
<p>Starting college early is …stupid. Go ahead right now and just take as many AP classes as possible and you will save money. (By graduating a semester or two early!)</p>
<p>Starting college early only makes sense if you’re going on to med or law school… and even then… you might change your mind from now until then, especially since you are starting young. A lot can happen from 17-21.</p>
<p>We in the great state above your state think that college is for everyone and students should have the ability to graduate with 2 years of college and 4 years of high school in 4 to 5 years for free. Whether this is a good idea or not is yet to be seen.</p>