Hey guys so I am currently a 16 year old and I decided last year I wanted to graduate early as I meet the NYS requirement for a diploma. Freshman, sophomore and senior year I filled my schedule and took advanced and honors classes along with a college research class where I have gone to science competitions and won awards for my neuroscience research. I talked with my counselor and got the “OK” to apply to schools and I have already done my applications but my GPA is a 3.65 and I’m worried that i wont get into any schools. I have a WIDE range (safeties that take 67% to the ivies) but I am still concerned that age will stop me from getting into any schools. ADVICE FROM ANYONE WOULD HELP IM STRESSED.
Your age may pose challenges at some places, but if you truly are college-ready, you won’t be locked out everywhere for only that reason.
67% is pretty safe, but it isn’t perfectly safe. Keep looking around until you can identify at least one place that will guarantee admission for your stats, that is guaranteed to be affordable, and that you’d be happy to attend if all else goes wrong. If you can’t find any place like that, spend some time developing a Plan B such as a gap year or postponing graduation.
Okay i forgot to mention this and it is kind of a major detail anyway;
basically im technically a junior but in the college courses and If i get into a school I like then i leave and graduate with the seniors but if I do not, I stay for my senior year; although I have options I would rather not stay in high school another year, there are no traumatic experiences I just feel that i cant have conversations at the academic level without feeling like Im being judged or it sounds rude because they dont understand, I also just feel ive academically outgrown high school and I dont want to to continue taking random aps- apush, ap english etc- that dont relate to my intended major (Pre-Med)
i checked the schools and i have all the requirements but a 3.65 gpa and only 16?? will it stop me from going or should i definitely apply to another school with like a 89%; also if i did get into a school with the 89% with the situation I stated above (^) would it make more sense to just stay another year and get into a better school?@happymomof1
I started university soon after my 17th birthday. I still feel that this was a mistake. Academically it was no problem at all. However, 17 is very young to start at university.
I think that you should very seriously consider taking another year in high school, or maybe a gap year. If you get into a university that is high on your list you might consider asking whether you can defer for a year.
For pre-med the name of the place you attend means almost nothing provided it is accredited. What matters are your grades, that you take the pre-med courses, that you fit in the volunteer/job shadow hours, and that you get a good score on the MCAT. Med School Admissiona is very much numbers-based. So if you and your family are happy with you going to an undergrad college where the overall admissions rate is even 100%, you are fine. The pre-med program is going to be very tough wherever it is that you do study.
Since you feel done with high school, one possibility for a meaningful gap year would be to pick up a CNA or first responder certificate or the like (usually these are offered in continuing education divisions of community colleges or at the facility itself so you don’t have to deal with college credits ruining your freshman applicant status), and then getting some real hospital/firehouse/nursing home work experience. If your school district offers that sort of thing in Tech Ed you might find that you prefer it to the usual string of suggested AP courses. One other advantage of this kind of certificate, is that you have immediate job skills that can land you a decent-paying part-time job near whatever college you do end up attending. I know several pre-meds (one who now is in med school) who have done this.
Premed, biochemistry major. Graduating early this year as well, already applied to 9 schools, accepted to 2, hearing back from my ED tomorrow. Feel free to PM me.
If you’re aiming for Ivies (or top 20), your GPA will hold you back, not your age. GPA is especially important since you only have 2 years of courses when submitting your transcripts.
Can you also send me what schools you’re looking at? Somewhere like Pitt would nearly be a guarantee with a 3.65, depending on your SAT.