<p>I'm thinking about graduating early because I just don't really like high school that much. I had so many expectations during 8th grade and the summer, but almost all of those have been shattered and now I just want to get on with the rest of my life. It's too late to fix everything I've messed up (academically and socially) and there's not really any other option. And when I say it's too late, I'm not overexaggerating at all. I would transfer, but the only schools available to me are a few Catholic schools that are kind of far away, and I've messed up my relationships with the people who go there from my old school as well. And I don't really want to a Catholic school for personal reasons. My parents won't let me be homeschooled either, because they don't want me to completely isolate myself (which I know isn't true, but I can't change their minds). There's nothing wrong with me in particular and I'm not having any personal problems, I just want to leave and be independent. Please don't tell me to get help or anything, because I'm completely satisfied, I just hate being in the high school environment in general.</p>
<p>Would there be any downsides to graduating early? I would still be on track to take AP Calculus BC my junior year. As for extracurriculars, I'll admit I don't have anything special. But I'm not really planning on going to a super-prestigious university, I just want to go to a decent school and be set for the rest of my life. What kind of things should I do to prepare for this? I can try taking the SAT/ACT sophomore year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! ^-^</p>
<p>Don’t. I was seriously thinking about it last year, but honestly, it’s not worth it. Just focus on your studies and you’ll be fine. Add some ECs if your’e looking for socialness. Believe me, it’s gonna go by SOOO fast…!!! Enjoy it while it lasts!!</p>
<p>(Also don’t blindly fast forward to college… It is made of academics and socialness too, just think of high school as your practice and training for the next level…!)</p>
<p>If you can financially afford college at a regular university, I say go for it. Maybe try a community college to make sure you’re ready for the full university. </p>
<p>I am graduating this year and I am only a Junior. The worst part about it is the social aspect where you can’t have your senior year. For me that means not being able to play my senior year of football and whatnot. If you do it though, just make sure you can pay for college. It makes more sense to do four years of high school for free and three years of college paid rather than three years of high school free and four years of college paid. My parents aren’t paying my college so I am going to a service academy for college so I won’t go into debt. If you want to do it, then by all means do it! And if you decide to, good luck! It isn’t easy…</p>
<p>Edit: I forgot. Sometimes school administration will be jerks about it. For example: I cannot be valedictorian of my graduating class even though my GPA would have me at valedictorian. Also, I can’t even get a senior page in the yearbook lol. So you are going to have to deal with some stupid crap like that, but honestly, it is best just to look past it and take pride in doing something that VERY few people do.</p>
<p>Just a suggestion, maybe you want to graduate early and take a gap year to do an internship/study abroad/volunteer work. Then you can take a year “off” and get out of the typical school environment and learn new skills before going to college. </p>
<p>I think early graduation is a bad idea in most cases. If you stay in high school for four years, you’ll have more time to develop your resume (grades, test scores, ECs, etc.), and this will allow you to get into better colleges and/or win more scholarships. Do you have the option of taking dual-enrollment classes? (Your high school might not advertise this even if it’s available—look at the websites of local colleges.)</p>
<p>I have a friend that’s pretty much in the same position as @autoexec and honestly, it doesn’t sound like it’s worth all of the trouble. He (my friend) would probably be salutatorian, but they won’t let him get ranked. He’s not considered a senior for senior lunches or events either, and he won’t be able to apply for a lot of scholarships that available to all of the other graduating students. It’s pretty stupid. It’s possible that your school would handle it better, so if you’re seriously considering graduating early, talk to your guidance counselor or principle to weigh out the positives and negatives.</p>
<p>Your a freshman, you have probably have enough time to fix any academic or social issues you may have. You shouldn’t consider graduating early until you spend a bit more time in high school. I knew someone who was planning on graduating early during freshman year and definitely had the ability to, but ended up deciding against it allowing him to do alot more.</p>
<p>This is a couple days late but if you’re so determined to graduate early, go for it. Often times people on CC are so concerned about getting into the top universities that something like this is terrifying… But I know multiple people who have done it and love it. Although, a lot of them only graduate a semester early. </p>
<p>One of my closest friends despises high school - she’s graduating in 30 days and she can’t wait. Afterwards, she’s working full time. I think this is a great idea, especially if you (like my friend) don’t have much money saved up for college. By the time college starts she’ll have approximately enough to pay the tuition of 2 years at the college she’s going to (an instate college like yourself, but one that she loves). </p>
<p>However, I also do agree with @17Angel. I’m a senior in high school now and trust me, so much is going to change within the next four years your mind could be completely changed. </p>
<p>If money for college is a concern for you I would probably take as many college credit courses in high school as possible and just wait. I was planning out what courses I want to take for the next years in high school and I realized that I could have all my credits for graduating but one done after the end of my sophomore year if I stuck to the plan I laid out, but it would be a lot better for me to stick with high school all the way through and take as many APs and Running Start classes as I can because that’s essentially free college. There’s also the social aspect too, which I just wouldn’t be willing to give up. So, if money’s a concern for you I would probably wait all four years, but everyone’s different.</p>
<p>I’ve had a couple of friends that graduated early. One graduated early because she thought she was gonna be with her boyfriend “forever,” and obviously that didn’t work out so now she regrets not experiencing prom, homecoming, etc. Another was a huge party girl all of high school and had no regrets graduating early. The third was the most similar to you and loves college. All three of them graduated junior year.</p>
<p>If you have most of your credits already, the thing most keeping you from not graduating is the “high school” experience; this is assuming money isn’t a problem. I’d say give it another year and see if you like high school a little better.</p>