<p>My dd has an opportunity to finsh required courses fr graduation after first semester of senior year. She would really like to be out of the high school environment and take classes at a community college until she goes away to college in the fall.
She is applying to art schools in Manhatten. My question is are the colleges going to look favrably on her leaving high school early?
One more thing, she already has 9 college credits (a's) form pre-college summer programs. She obviously does better in a college environment. However, I don't want her to risk her chances of getting into college. </p>
<p>My friends and I (granted, my friends are mostly the top of the class) all came within 2 or 3 classes of graduating early (with an AP diploma) just because we needed the fourth year of english and such, but only one of them actually opted to take it during the summer and graduate early. One person is graduating at semester, but the rest of us are just sticking it out (although we are having trouble filling our schedules - or at least I am - because our school doesn't offer many AP classes that I haven't already taken).</p>
<p>All in all, if the school offers more strong classes, or at least classes she would like to take, stay. If you're going to do early graduation, halfway through the year seems extremely awkward to me and I would have done it before my senior year started all together.</p>
<p>It depends on where your DD will be applying. If it's one school in particular, I would contact admissions and ask them. </p>
<p>I would also check on your DD high school's graduation policy, you wouldn't want her to miss her graduation... especially if by graduating a semester early she would just me mailed a diploma or something.</p>
<p>As people keep annoying me about, I could pretty much graduate this year (Sophomore year) but I'm hoping the state magnet will save me. </p>
<p>Finally, most colleges want those that are graduating early to have maxed out most courses at their high school and have teacher rec's etc that show they are mature enough for college by themselves for longer than a summer.</p>
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she already has 9 college credits (a's) form pre-college summer programs.
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9 college classes or credit hours?</p>
<p>I also swear that a reply just disappeared... "There's a difference between graduating because you've maxed out your school's course offerings and you are just tired of high school" </p>
<p>In any case, I think you're DD should wait. I actually don't know if it will make a difference to colleges... if she applies in the fall and graduates in the fall... however if she takes CC classes in spring she may disqualify herself for the colleges she might be accepted at.</p>
<p>I graduated early from high school. I also took classes at a community college right away. It broadened my horizons, and allowed me to connect with a more adult level of students. Sure, when you start out as a freshman in the dorms and everyone is as young as you are it's comforting. By stepping out of that comfort zone one has an opportunity to expand one's level of awareness and when she does enter an actual university she will have an academic edge that is slightly more honed than average. Professors will notice her more mature level, and that is a great way to make connections. She doesn't even have to take the classes for credit if it would affect her negatively at another institution.</p>