<p>^ Unfortunately I cannot simply test out of it by taking the IB exams, and I would sit through another year of basic calculus. As for "Youth Options" in Michigan, the University of Michigan does not offer a program similar to that offered in Wisconsin to the best of my knowledge.
Regarding Consolation's comment, I feel that I would rather spend a year in college than have a somewhat wasted year in HS, and I feel that by at least applying for the Early Entrance programs I will be able to see how much they will cost as compared with in-state tuition at UMichigan (who knows, with scholarships and/or finaid they could be quite comparable).</p>
<p>I completely understand your desire not to spend a year sitting through Calculus, but is that the only class that would be repetitive? If so, why not just not take that portion of the IB curriculum? Do something else instead. You can't be the only kid who is in an IB program and is advanced in math. There has to be a solution. </p>
<p>By all means, go ahead and look into the cost of such programs. But why trade down in schools? No offense to the University of Iowa, but it is no U of Michigan, and you should not expect much FA as an OOS student. You may get FA at USC, and that would at least provide you with a different environment.</p>
<p>
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you would pay OOS rates at . . . USC
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Just for a point of information - despite its name, University of Southern California is a private college, not a part of the state University of California system. (Unless, of course, the OP meant University of South Carolina, which is a state school . . . )</p>
<p>
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My main concern is that he will say "Go ahead and apply if you want to" but then refuse to take me to campus visits (too much money) and attempt to choose for me which program to attend.
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It sounds, though, like this will be an issue whether you apply as a junior or a senior. And that is a totally different issue than one of Early Admissions.</p>
<p>Have you double-checked with Michigan that they don't have a program that would allow you to skip your senior year? If so, he may be willing to let you go there, and then perhaps transfer if you hate it but can show him that you made a good-faith effort.</p>
<p>My positive feelings for your decision are based on the report of your mother and guidance counselor feeling this is a good option. BTW, Youth Options in WI refers to taking courses, one or more, at any college, public or private, instate, if a comparable course is unavailable at the local HS; something nice here. There is usually no reason for WI or MI residents to pay OOS tuition at each other's flagship schools, the caliber is not that different, nor are the demographics and other factors (eg climate). It can make a difference if the same college courses (especially when considering a transfer to a private school) are taken as a HS student versus as a college student, your GC should know what matters for you. Go for it.</p>
<p>Some colleges will just let you apply early without a high school diploma. (I believe MIT and Caltech are among those that do this fairly regularly.) Some colleges are designed for kids who want to start early Simon's Rock and Mary Baldwin (girls only) are the two I am familiar with, but you might check out more possiblities here: Hoagies</a>' Gifted: Early College Entrance Programs And I've also known kids who manage to squeeze in high school graduation requirements by the end of junior year - often all that is required is to double up on English.</p>
<p>It looks like you should be able to meet UM's admissions requirements.</p>
<p>University</a> of Michigan - Office of Undergraduate Admissions</p>
<p>UMich is an excellent school so I would have trouble arguing with your Dad about going elsewhere. I know that the U of Iowa has excellent writing programs, and it is possible that they could give you some merit money if your test scores turn out to be very good, that might make up some of the differential between UMich and UI. If your sister will still be in school when you start your freshman year, you and she are likely to get more financial aid with both of you in school at the same time which will save him money. </p>
<p>Your test scores will be pivotal in determining merit money and preferential packaging for financial aid, so until you get those numbers it is hard to say where you are in terms of finances.</p>
<p>Mine entered college after what would have been 10th grade, already have 66 college credits under her belt (she threw them all away, and started again). She had no difficulties in admission (including #1 LAC); none of the colleges she applied to required a high school diploma (since she was homeschooled, if they did, we would have produced one on the computer). All schools were very generous with financial aid.</p>
<p>^ Good to hear, especially about the finaid :)</p>
<p>My D decided during her sophomore year in HS that she really wanted to finish up early so she doubled her English class for junior year (the one requirement she didn't have) and made selective apps to those schools willing to admit a young graduate - for she did indeed graduate HS. It was the best decision for her. Like others I have seen here - she was headed on a bad path, bored at school, hanging out with kids who were uninterested in school, etc. So we supported her decision to head to college early and she actually ended up receiving an excellent merit grant from a small LAC. This was some years ago - she hits 30 this year - and she still says skipping senior year was the best thing she's ever done. My S, on the other hand, is just finishing freshman year in HS and will absolutely not be ready for an early college experience. Hope your dad can see the wisdom of your ideas.</p>
<p>A lot of stuff happens in junior and senior HS years that can never be repeated. I would say, what if you have to review a class - sleep though it if you can. At your stage in life, you will not be wasting anything. Getting through high school or college is not the end game. We encouraged our kid to "have fun" in school and at employment. If you are not having fun, it may be your attitude rather than the environment you are placed. So are you having fun? and would changing the environment change your situation? Will you find that even in Early Placement, or after college, will your attitude be any different? Sometimes, going along is getting along.</p>
<p>I had some friends in high school who went to college early, and for them--in my opinion--it was a big mistake, because they went to a college that was--again in my opinion--inferior to the schools they could have attended if they waited a year. Before you make this decision, think carefully about where you would apply and likely go if you don't leave high school early. Don't go to a college you don't really want just to avoid a repetitive math class.</p>
<p>Hunt's advice is very good.
I also wonder about the rest of your curriculum. If IB math SL is going to be so much review--and I believe it would be if you've already taken AP-Calc, you could ask for study hall, and spend the time studying more advanced math through distance learning. EPGY offers quite a few college-level math & physics courses. Another possibility would be to do an independent math study. If, however, the rest of the curriculum was equally unchallenging, then that would be a different story.</p>
<p>I think that you should pursue this if you feel like senior year of high school would be a waste. While it's true that you may get into a better school by waiting, so what! You may get a better education by just going to the best school that you can sooner. </p>
<p>I know Carnegie Mellon has some program to skip senior year. I also agree that you could apply to the honor college at many state universities and get good merit money. </p>
<p>Finally, assuming that your HS senior year is 2009-2010, tell your father that in the big picture, he'd be paying the 2009-2010 tuition rate (your senior year of HS) instead of the 2013-2014 tuition rate (what would otherwise be your senior year of college). That should be about a 20% difference!</p>
<p>^That is an EXCELLENT point! Given that college tuition has consistently increased faster than the rate of return on secure investments like government bonds, pre-paying college tuition is really not a bad investment.</p>
<p>^ I had not considered that but I am sure that my dad would consider this an enormous pro. Thanks so much for the thoughtful responses everyone!</p>
<p>2 things:</p>
<p>-If you overlap with your sister, as in going to college while she's there, this should reduce your EFC considerably;</p>
<p>-If your parents make under $180K and you're a strong student, wouldn't a top college with one of the pay 10% of income iniatives be the same price as Mich?</p>
<p>Will you be able to graduate from your HS a year early?
If you can graduate from HS in 3 years (with HS diploma) you will have many more options - you'll be able to apply anywhere.</p>
<p>There are schools that allow early entry without graduating HS (MIT, USC, Carnegie Mellon are some examples), but your options will be much more limited.</p>
<p>As for CMU, S had to take Physics and Economics again at CMU even though he got very high AP scores which would have been honored at most schools. He also had to take some of the Calculus he had in HS. Slept through the classes and pulled A's. Sometimes you repeat because they say you have to--</p>
<p>He really enjoyed his senior year, esp in IB. He spent 2 weeks in Geneva with one of his IB classmates, something he would not have been able to do if he skipped senior year, which he could have done. He also had skipped an earlier grade.</p>
<p>CMU is a pretty good tech school, and the students are likewise pretty good. Forgot to mention that the first set of midterms for Calc and Physics, he got D's , as did most of the class. He and cohort got a new set of study habits real quick, what was good in HL IB, still wasn't good enough.</p>