<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I skipped a year and I just wanted to know if the fact of graduating early gives an applicant an advantage in the application process.</p>
<p>Thanks !</p>
<p>Usually its a disadvantage. You might be thinking colleges would be impressed, thinking “gee, this guy is so smart!” and colleges want smart kids, right?. However there are 2 big drawbacks. First off, those who spent an extra year in HS (if that was the year you skipped) means an extra year to take AP and honors classes, participate in ECs, etc. So kids who spend the full 4 years in HS have more to show. </p>
<p>Second, colleges aren’t worried about getting smart kids; there’s more than enough to go around at the top schools, that’s why they rely on ECs and other factors to choose between smart kids with great grades and SATs. But colleges know that for young adults 18-22, each year brings a lot more maturity. Most people when they’re 22 can look back and see how they grew year by year, and point to decisions they made at the time they’d make differently, or recent decisions they would have done different at 18. So why should colleges take a chance on a kid who will enter at 17 when they can find one with similar scores, ECs, etc. who is a year more mature?</p>
<p>Interesting points, mikemac. I would like to hear more opinions on this as well.</p>
<p>OK , thanks for your answer !
But then it according to your arguments, I assume it’s not a disavantage for me since I skipped a year before high school, is it ? Furthermore I’ll be 18 at the time I’ll start college (gap year).
I am asking these questions because on Common App forms (it’s on a supplement), I must tell if I graduated early, on time or late. I assume applicants usually write something to explain why they graduate early/late ?</p>
<p>
With the gap year to bring your calendar age up, and the full 4 years of HS, you should be just fine. BTW colleges usually look favorably at a gap year if you spent it doing something useful, so be sure to mention it and what you did in your apps.</p>