<p>My S did graduate early, but he did not have the option of taking college classes without a lot of hassles. This is not the case for Timkimcool. My S's philosophy has always been to take the most challenging class he could handle comfortably to prevent being bored in too easy classes. He did not do so to get an edge in college admissions. And though he is eligible for Advanced Standing, he has decided to spend all four years in college. There are just so many classes he wants to take!</p>
<p>Whether or not the classes that TKC will be taking in senior year will gain him college credit, they will challenge him intellectually. They will help with admission; and once he is in college, even if he does not get credit toward graduation, they will enable him to place into higher level classes that will be more interesting to him than introductory ones. </p>
<p>In a way, coming from a family with such low income simplifies things for TKC: he absolutely needs a full ride, either through merit or need-based aid. At the moment, he seems a pretty strong candidate for getting great financial aid. So he should turn his attention to thinking about what kinds of colleges would most fit his needs. And, like every other student, he should make a list of reaches, matches and safeties. He should as for a fee waiver when applying to colleges.<br>
TKC: start thinking about your essay (s). Look up the writing prompts of the applications of the colleges that are of interest to you. Once you've drafted essays, you can ask for feedback from CC parents.</p>