<p>My S felt same as you, and did apply to several selective colleges. The tech schools were very understanding, and he did enroll after jnior year of HS. Other colleges either wanted the HS degree, or encouraged him to go to a state school, which would have meant applying as a transfer.</p>
<p>By end of junior year of HS, S had dozen AP classes and same number of local university classes. His counselor was in favor of his applying. Had S not been accepted into some great choices, he would have continued with dual enrollment, perhaps early graduation, or some other interesting use of time.</p>
<p>Keilexandra, what did you mean by “I would not recommend Simon’s Rock. The atmosphere there is for a different type of early-college student, IMO.”? I have been wondering about Simon’s Rock and would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks, Ms L</p>
<p>I think that Simon’s Rock is geared more toward the “alternative” student who does not fit in socially in HS; euphemistically, the student who is “too mature.” The academics are run-of-the-mill, the level of a mid-tier LAC, and perhaps even less rigorous than tough AP courses or AP-level courses at a top public/private HS. I see Simon’s Rock as the best option for those who really want to get out of HS, not those who really want to attend an elite school early; for instance, the transfer results from Simon’s Rock are uninspiring. The elites do have transfer openings for truly exceptional students (case in point: Deep Springs), but they don’t seem to perceive Simon’s Rock students as truly exceptional.</p>
<p>I will be a HS junior graduating early as well since I am academically ready (10 AP tests after this year) and have always been vastly self-sufficient. I am taking the Oct, Nov, and Dec SATs and I believe that my Oct score will be around 2380. I will be applying to HYPS/Chicago EA and even if I do not receive admittance to any of the above, I will definitely not be staying for another year of HS. </p>
<p>Also, of course, all applications for the colleges you are looking into are due by Jan 1 (preferrably earlier). Thus, you are placing yourself in a very stressful situation by only having one opportunity at the SAT. Despite much practice, many of the top students completely “bomb” their first test. Some colleges will let you take the SAT in Jan of your final year of HS, but this will only delay the evaluation of your application which is not a highly favorable circumstance.</p>
<p>Whatever your decision, good luck from somebody facing the same situation.</p>
<p>I graduated high school in three years and have just started my freshman year.</p>
<p>From my perspective, there are two types of students who graduate in three years or apply as juniors: those who are academically competitive for top schools, as much so as top seniors, and those who aren’t. The first type of student can expect to be accepted to top schools. The second type of student cannot. I was basically the first type of student. I would not have benefited academically from another year in high school.</p>
<p>I chose not to apply to HYP and the like because I wanted to go to a small liberal arts college, but I applied to some very selective LACs. I applied to eight schools and was accepted to all of them, with merit aid at six. I wouldn’t have gotten any better results if I had waited a year.</p>
<p>The second type of student is completely different. This student would not be competitive for top schools after junior year. This is the student that goes to Simon’s Rock, or to a [non-flagship type] state school, or to a community college. However, this can be a valid option if you really want to get out of high school.</p>
<p>However, I would really take a look at your own academic record and really analyze whether or not you have the TOP test scores, TOP grades, and STRONG extracurriculars that you will need to make yourself competitive for the schools you want to be competitive for. If there is room for improvement, stay the extra year.</p>
<p>If your stats are good and you don’t care about missing your senior year AND you KNOW that you are ready graduate early. I decided to come back for my senior year to raise my SAT score, have the Nat AP scholar award upon application, raise my gpa a bit more, and to (laugh) “not miss out on my senior year”. I now wish I had applied a year early to my local university and then transfered after a year. I feel like I’m wasting my time every day I go to highschool/local uni for the few classes I can take (Restricted by # of AP classes available/credit limit for HS’ers at local uni). That’s just my experience, so take it however you want, but I’m bored to death and it’s only October.</p>
<p>I know of several who’ve been accepted in CMU, and for that matter, younger than juniors too. If you’re interested in a top notch engg school that accepts kids before 4 years of HS, this would be a logical choice if you have the credentials. However, I don’t know how your international schooling affects this.</p>
<p>I graduated as a junior and applied and was accepted to my state’s flagship. Looking back, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Even though I could have taken more concurrent courses and several other APs (graduating early made me put off calculus until college, for instance) the atmosphere of college was able to challenge me much better than HS. At the very least I had access to their journal archive when I was interested in researching something.</p>
<p>I personally don’t think acceptance to a top-name school is worth a year of misery (which is what my senior year would have been despite the academic opportunities you will lack). I will say this though, make sure you know you’re ready for it socially because that situation can be rough when you’re less mature than everyone else (sadly there is some level of maturity that can only come with age). If you didn’t like yourself socially in HS now is the time to change yourself, it’s a whole new world and you can create your reality.</p>
<p>I would consider a junior college or community college. You are in a more rigorous and mature setting, where you can start completing some of your basic GE requirements.
I am 17. i have already passed the CHESPE exam but im continuing at my high school, which is hs and college at the same time to rack up some cheap college units before i transfer to a university as a junior.
More time to take the SAT’s a couple times and explore before i really settle down.</p>
<p>I’d personally wait, because high school is a once in a lifetime experience. On the other hand if you have exhausted all the AP classes at your school then you may consider college. The path between the two of these is to go to a community college and start working on your GE requirements. It all depends on what you want to do.</p>
<p>Even though I am fairly qualified, I decided to stay for my senior year in high school. It often times is going to be frustrating and tough to hold out, but I think I will just have to manage. I will make the best out of it, though, that’s for sure.</p>
<p>Again, I really really appreciate it, thanks.</p>
<p>Hello,
As a graduate of Simon’s Rock, I obviously take issue with many of the comments you make. I would definitely agree that Simon’s Rock tends to attract more of an alternative crowd, those who are dissatisfied with high school rather than those looking to accelerate their entry into an “elite” college.</p>
<p>However, the claim that Simon’s Rock academics are run-of-the-mill is simply incorrect. I can only speak to what my friends have told me. I know many people who have transferred from Simon’s Rock to what you would consider “elite” institutions, U Chicago, Wellesley, Stanford, and they agree that the academics at Simon’s Rock are considerably more rigorous. Although I decided to stay for four years, I did apply to some transfer schools, and I am currently applying to graduate schools. Throughout the process is became apparent that people in the field of education do know of Simon’s Rock and hold it in high regard.</p>
<p>If you want some facts and figures, I would look at the NSSE; National Survey of Student Engagement, which places Simon’s Rock well above average in measures of Academic Experience.</p>
<p>I disagree with those who say that high school is a “once in a lifetime experience” or something that is absolutely necessary for everyone. Many kids can do just fine without the high school experience. It’s important to some people and not important to others, just like everything else in life.</p>
<p>To saturnne- Since you are only looking at elite schools, I’d stay for senior year just to make you a more competitive applicant. If you weren’t fixated on really selective colleges, my advice would probably be to graduate early. I don’t know, maybe you should reconsider your reasons for only wanting to go to top colleges. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it if that’s what you truly want, but I would analyze my reasons for wanting to go to only those schools and see if it’s worth it to stay for a 4th year just so you can have a better chance at schools that are already tough to get into. If it’s still what you want, more power to you. But realize that there are schools that don’t have very recognizable names that probably would be glad to accept you as an early graduate, and they would provide you with an intellectually stimulating environment.</p>
<p>You don’t have to keep doing something you don’t like if there’s a more satisfying alternative out there for you. That’s just my view on this.</p>