<p>Recently, my girlfriend told me that she's not graduating this year as a senior. She says that she is going to spend another year at high school, like 5 years of high school. I think the reasons are that maybe she is a part-time student (my assumption), she wants more work experience working at a store, and she wants to be prepared to go out into the real world. She isn't in a hurry to graduate.</p>
<p>She told me that she's proud of making that decision and it was entirely her decision.</p>
<p>I didn’t know that was possible outside of Ontario.</p>
<p>Anyway, it’s common here since the schools allow it (my school has at least 100 “victory lappers”). </p>
<p>It’s normal enough. If she doesn’t feel she’s ready for university/college then more power to her for having the ability to recognize that now instead of realizing it halfway through 1st year.</p>
<p>From what I heard from my gf, she told me that she wants to look for a job after high school, then go to college. She told me that she wants to be a nurse when she grows up. However, she never took the SATs/ACTs, so I think she could never go to a 4-year school and I think her only hope is community college, like where I ended up. Is it possible that she could go to a 4-year school like Rutgers as a non-traditional if she never took the SATs/ACTs? I feel concern for her.</p>
<p>I’ve only seen that happen at boarding schools where sometimes students can stay an extra year as a postgraduate (PG). However, most of the time they’re only allowed to do that because they were a year younger than their former grade level.</p>
<p>My school allows students to stay a 5th year to earn an associates degree, but it’s mostly a waste of time and money. I only know one student who plans to do it and he’s almost 17–no plans to get a license…only child. I think students should be going to college earlier, not later.</p>
<p>Gap years are normal. Spending a year or two at a community college and then transferring to a four year institution is normal. PG year at boarding schools are normal. Five years of college is normal. Five years of high school is not, but to each his (her) own.</p>
<p>I think glasses has it right. Most people are ready to sprint out of high school the first chance they get. I don’t understand the connection with working at a store and remaining in high school.</p>
<p>I know 2 kids who have stayed as 5th-year students in HS, but each did so because of academic problems. I don’t think this kind of thing is recommended, especially if she is academically sound enough to graduate.</p>
<p>Her school counselor and her job coach agreed for her to work at a nearby large store. She usually does things like stocking shelves and taking things out from the boxes. The only bad thing is that she doesn’t get paid.</p>
<p>My gf told me that she wants to get more work experience working at a store before graduating.</p>
<p>Legally, at least in MN, a public high school has to let you stay until the school year after you turn 21. There are only a few super seniors at my school I think.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, she doesn’t like not being paid. She told me that she wants to get a job after graduating high school, then maybe go to college later on in her life. At least that’s what I remember.</p>