<p>I'm currently a sophomore in high school taking half of my classes at a community college because my high school's academics aren't great. At my current rate, I could easily graduate as a junior. I'm aware of the pros and cons, and am currently trying to figure out which path I'd take if I did graduate early. My goal is to attend college in NYC, but graduating early might hurt my chances- do you think it would make more sense to attend community college there and then transfer into a bigger uni? </p>
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No. First off, some of the colleges you might want to attend may prefer frosh over transfers. Second, attending a single college for 4 years is better than transferring halfway thru college if you have the choice between the two. Its a lot easier to make friends when everyone around you is in the same boat and doesn’t really know anyone on campus. Show up as a junior and most of the kids have known their friends for 2 years already. If you want to take part in research or get to know some profs for good recs for grad school, to name but 2 areas, its a lot easier when you have been there from the start rather than trying to do it all in 1 year (junior year) so you have it to talk about when you submit apps for grad school or apply for jobs.</p>
<p>I’ll offer a counterpoint, OP. A good friend’s daughter did something close to what you’re asking about. She got her AA degree from a community college at the same time as her HS diploma and began at a 4-year college the following year as a junior, age 18. She is not from a family with money and needed significant financial aid, which she got. She did not have trouble finding a profession to work with or get recommendations from, although she DID enounter some who thought she was “uppity” for trying to do too much too soon. She had plenty of friends, though that is related more to her personality than her age or when she started college. </p>
<p>She graduated after two years and is now in a Ph.D. program, also at little cost to her, and has already worked internships in her chosen field. If you are smart, driven and self-directed, your plan can work as it did for my friend’s D. FYI, at many colleges, the profs you have the first two years are not the same as those you’ll have for classes beyond the intro-level courses. The district where my D attends HS has an entire school devoted to kids who want to go the route of taking CC classes and starting college early or as upper-level students. These kids are NOT finding it to be worse than sticking it out in HS when they don’t have to.</p>
<p>Do your research about the situation at the colleges you want to attend and financial aid for transfers, etc.Take stock of your personality and see if you’re prepared for people who think you’re uppity or self-important. Make sure you can be at ease with kids older than you in everything. Then go for it if you still want to. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the perspectives! Both of you make great points. </p>