Graduating Early

<p>Hi! This is my first post, sorry if I make no sense. I would love to graduated HS early. Which means I would graduate with the class of 2013 instead of the class of 2014. I would just have to add about three more credits to graduate after junior year. I go to HS online so I have a flexible schedule. My question is it legally possible for me to go to college out of state? I am unmotivated and uninspired with HS and feel that I am ready for college. Thanks!</p>

<p>Yes, it is – it just might cost more depending on the school you choose.</p>

<p>The problem with graduating in 2013 is that you’re already pretty late in talking about college applications. Seniors in general have finished testing (maybe one last re-take or an SAT Subject test that somebody wants). You should know where you’re applying and be working on any essays that are required. You need teacher recommendations. You need a list of schools that you know your family can afford.</p>

<p>I’m not saying that it’s impossible to do, but you should know that you’re behind.</p>

<p>An alternative would be to graduate in 2013 and take a gap year and apply to colleges next year for fall 2014.</p>

<p>One problem I have is my father is afriad to let “a daughter” go to school out of state. If I was a guy it would be different then. However, both he and my mother are on board with the idea of me graduating early and going to college. My mom knows that I would go to college out of state. She is happy as long as I graduate and go straight to college and not take a year off. His other idea is to go to college online from home. I really feel I need to go to a college or university to grow acedemically and socially. Parents: Would you let your newly 17 year old DAUGHTER go to college out of state?</p>

<p>This is a matter of maturity, not age. My daughter went to a college hundreds of miles away less than two month after her 18th birthday, but she spent three weeks in Europe when she was 15. There are plenty of 17 year olds attending college far from their homes. Some, both male and female, are acting like idiots and getting drunk four nights out of seven and sleeping through their classes. Some, both male and female, are totally immersed in their studies to the extent that they forego any social activities. The vast majority are somewhere in between. Which would you be? I also don’t really understand why “out of state” is a issue. If you attended a college in your home state but 50 miles from your parents house, why would that be any different? It sounds like your father is having a hard time letting go, which is understandable, especially if you are an only child. The concern about you being female may just be an excuse to keep you close a little longer. His solution of attending college online sounds terribly isolating, but could it mean that he feels he can’t afford to send you to college?</p>

<p>Have you taken any SAT1s, ACTs or SAT2s yet. (They may not be required at every school)</p>

<p>I went out of state at 17, but I had also secured financing. That goes a long way in the parental confidence department. Do you have a plan?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Make sure your HS education is “complete” in that it meets the requirements for the colleges you are interested in. Many colleges require a HS preparation beyond that required just to graduate from HS.</p></li>
<li><p>So much of the college experience is leaving home and figuring out how to deal with “everything” yourself. I would consider living at home while in college as a huge missed opportunity for personal growth.</p></li>
<li><p>My daughter was a few months short of her 18th birthday when she enrolled in college. She goes to a college on the east coast and we live in California. There was some concern about her being so far away. But in the end, we realized that it didn’t matter that much. She could have gotton into just as much trouble at a school 50 miles away (which was her second choice) as she could on the opposite coast. It depends on the environment in which the school is located and not how far away it is. She was in the dorms her freshman year and has had an off campus apartment (with two other women) the last two years. Her school has a “safe ride home” program which she takes advantage when going to or from school after dark. She is very happy with her choice of colleges and her living situation.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>My daughter is a freshman and will not turn 18 for quite some months yet. So yes, I did let my daughter go out of state (quite far away) when she was just 17.</p>

<p>It doesn’t really matter if someone else would let it happen, though. It matters what YOUR family wants.</p>

<p>I had told my daughter she couldn’t go away any earlier than 17. If she wanted to graduate earlier, she would have to go to a local school. She chose to wait and go away.</p>

<p>To me parents imposing an in-state requirement might make sense for financial reasons due to inexpensive in-state options.</p>

<p>However, in-state requirements for social reasons make less sense to me … a travel time limit would be more logical to me. Depending where you live a 4-hour drive limit, for example, might open up many many more options than a in-state limitation.</p>

<p>PS - I’m not a fan of parents restricting students geographic reach unless they have specific concerns about the student.</p>

<p>It matters nothing what we think or what we would do or whether we think your parents are reasonable. They are your parents, you will need the financial help, I imagine, and they get to set the rules.</p>

<p>Most parents don’t parent based on polls. For better or worse, they parent by their own values, experiences and core beliefs. </p>

<p>Why does not staying in state equate to living at home? Most likely, there are many choices within your own state, with dorms etc.</p>

<p>Being the youngest could also be an issue. D is almost a year younger than some of her friends. There are activities she can not participate in because of her age, like going to bars and concerts where they have an age requirement. Is this something that would bother you? Of course there are non legal ways around this but that is a different story.</p>

<p>I think he is more concerned about me leaving and him having little to no control from states away. I’m the oldest daughter. He is also concerned about me living in a dorm with college aged kids. Mostly kids who are old enough to drink or have fake ids. I have mostly college aged friends from work.</p>