<p>book_worm, </p>
<p>It is not a "popular" decision to graduate early, but it is a right one for many kids for a variety of reasons. Hundreds of kids graduate early each year, go on to college and never look back. You have to evaluate carefully if this is the right thing for you, and if it is - just do it. It sounds like no matter what you do, you'll not be with your "peer group" next year. If you know what school you want to get into, and your grades/scores are good enough - go for it.</p>
<p>Book_Worm,</p>
<p>The University of Southern California has a program specifically designed for high school students who have exhausted the resources at their high school and are ready for college after junior year but have not graduated yet. I believe that they accept around 40 students, who are all eligible to be part of SC's thematic options program, an honors program that covers all general education requirements in small classes with lots of interaction with professors and other top students. USC also has very generaous merit aid, and all NMF's receive half tuition scholarships. You would also receive a quarter tuition scholarship for being part of the Resident Honors Program. Be sure to check out the application deadlines if you're interested in this program, though, as you might have to take SAT's pretty early in your junior year.</p>
<p>I actually did this, since I started college after my junior year. I went through the National Merit process while I was a freshman in college.</p>
<p>book_worm, there are a bunch of other threads about this on the Parents Forum, do a search, you'll see this discussed ad nauseum, so I won't go through this whole thing again.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I know there was a thread recently about a student with PSAT's that would make him eligible to be a National Merit Finalist in his state, but he was graduating a year early, and wondered if there was a way for him to be a finalist for his first year of college. I have tried the search function endlessly, but cannot find the thread. If anyone remembers where it is, or the keywords, or the screen name of the OP, I'd appreciate it very much if they'd let me know. Thanks!</p>
<p>I though I had read somewhere that it is possible to have the sophomore PSAT count if you are graduating in 3 years. Maybe you have to know at the time you take it? Not sure - but this is the blurb from the NM website.
National</a> Merit Scholarship Corporation - Entering the Competitions
[quote]
<pre><code>* Those who take the PSAT/NMSQT in the next-to-last year of high school will be entering the competition for awards to be offered as they are finishing their final high school year.
* Those who take the PSAT/NMSQT in their last year of high school will be entering the competition for awards to be offered as they are completing their first year of college.
</code></pre>
<p>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Here's a suggestion- instead of graduating early do Youth Options at UW-Madison for senior year. The courses could be tougher than at other UW's and you would be with the peer group of Madison students. You would have to pay for room and board, but would if you graduated early anyhow. A local student did this recently and then went to an Ivy league school. There are many exceptional students at UW but you may want to reach even higher. At worst you would have several UW credits towards your Madison degree. Being younger there is no big deal- son was/is, he had even younger students from a Madison HS doing Youth Options in his Honors Physics course.</p>
<p>My son left high school early (did not graduate) and went to MIT at the end of his junior year. You must be a junior for NMSC. However, about 100 finalists each year hear from National Merit during their freshman year of college (according to the NMSC when I called them about my son's case), so it is neither a big deal or uncommon for students to do that.</p>
<p>I am all in favor of students who have maxxed out the possibilities at their high school moving on to college.</p>