<p>Getting pregnant at age 16 isn’t going to win you any points in the selective college circuit. The reason I bring up Harvard, is that it is one school that I am pretty sure won’t hold it against you that you have a child. Other schools may not be so generous. Harvard prides itself in taking the true academic gems and does not have prejudice about other issues. Not so many other schools. </p>
<p>Also getting pregnant and giving up a child or having a child; neither are line items on college applications and giving out that info is not likely to help you. As you can see from the responses on this board, it can hurt you. It is not the college’s business to know about this.</p>
<p>with your parents, well. just go ahead and tell them, talk to them about what you can do. i know its going to be very hard to talk but just let it all out.</p>
<p>Adoption is a wonderful gift to others. But, you no longer have full say in this decision- he has legal rights. Both sets of parents will likely have their own thoughts. </p>
<p>In any case, it won’t resolve the gap in your academics and non-academics. Many women, fat or slim, young or older, rich or poor, have easy pregnancies. But, most require consideration from others- ie, they need extra days off, they need to avoid exposure to others’ illnesses, some have intense fatigue or morning sickness that lasts. All sorts of things. No one can predict for any pregnancy.</p>
<p>Honey, we DO know what pregnancy will do to your hs experience. We are parents. We are not 16. We have our own experiences, those of friends and family behind us. We have lived longer, seen more. You are still a little girl, no matter what you and baby daddy did. </p>
<p>Btw, sorry for the bummer news but someone asked: the age of consent for sexual activities varies by jurisdiction. In my experience it is 16. Not many still call it statutory rape, but if a girl gets pregnant before 16, (that’s pretty sure proof of activity,) the fellow can be in a mess- especially if he is older. I don’t believe anyone, in general, would prosecute if it’s a relationship. But the authority exists.</p>
<p>Would adoption be viewed in the same light as abortion would? You will need to examine your religious upbringing to determine this. C’mon.</p>
<p>do you love the baby’s father, worriedkid??
if you do you might want to start thinking about your future family, thats going to really effect your grades in harvard if you worry about your baby more.</p>
<p>^ I do. We’ve actually talked (albeit briefly/casually) about being together the rest of our lives. I’m not too worried about how he’ll take it; more so, how my parents will react</p>
<p>worriedkid, you need to talk to your parents to figure out their thoughts about adoption. Some parents who are not okay with abortion are okay with adoption, some are not. You should also give your boyfriend an opportunity to take full custody before you go for adoption, as is his right. </p>
<p>Honestly, I’d really push the adoption choice with my parents if I were you. It’s not a matter of life and death like abortion is, so it’s not a moral imperative not to do it, and I don’t think–Harvard or not-- you are ready to be a parent. Which is not to attack your maturity or anything, since I don’t think I’m ready to be a parent either! It seems like adoption would be the best choice for you, since you are going to pursuing higher education, and for the baby since s/he’ll get older, financially secure parents who are prepared to put 100% into parenting.</p>
<p>You’re right. The next step is confronting my boyfriend/parents about this, no question, and then asking for their input. If only I could muster up the courage to do it.</p>
<p>Just throwing it out there, I was adopted, and my parents are incredibly strict morally as Christians. As a family we view adoption as a gift and a sacrifice. I’m so grateful that I have the life I have because my mother made an extremely difficult decision. (my circumstances are different though, my biological parents were living in a war torn country when I was born)</p>
<p>Be brave! But don’t approach it like a confrontation or fight, as you have time to work things out. Just broach it in a nonconfrontational and mature way, ask for their help in evaluating your options together, and hope they end up at the same conclusion as you.</p>
<p>The thing is, I’m still not totally sure what I want. While adoption seems most logical, I’m concerned that when the baby finally comes I’ll be too attached to give him/her up. :(</p>
<p>That’s fine too! In fact it makes it even better than if you were set on adoption, because that means you’re genuinely going to be evaluating and deciding on an option along with your parents Good luck.</p>
<p>In 5 years, you’ll see where the majority of people on this thread were coming from… Until then, you are still a pregnant teenager with a lot of growing up to do (with or without a child and with or without the intelligence to do well in school).</p>
<p>The people on here are not saying things to you to be rude, they are only trying to give “common sense” answers. If you dislike the comments, ignore them and stop responding to them. Easy. Ask this question on a different website if you are looking for different answers. But don’t try to change OUR opinions, just like we cannot change YOUR current opinion. You asked if you still had a chance at Harvard and other top notch schools. We gave the answer that the child will make it that much harder to get into schools with crapshoot admissions. THERE is your answer.</p>
<p>I don’t know what else people could say on here without turning the rest of your thread into a ■■■■■■■■ thread. PM people you want advice from… I don’t know what other people on here can say. Also, I hope your teenaged high school romance works out for the sake of your child or you are able to give your child the future he/she deserves.</p>
<p>I think you see where the thread is going. Once you have a baby, it is not about YOU anymore. It’s the baby that get’s first attention. Not your exam tomorrow or your college apps, but if baby is feeling ok and what the baby needs. The focus goes on the baby. So college, selective colleges, Harvards all recede in importance as the focus is no longer there. Doesn’t mean you should not do your best to keep your school work where it needs to be and keep those options open, but having a child is truly a defining thing, and it does change priorities a lot.</p>
<p>i would say that adoption is right for you.
BUT remember that one day when your going to want to take him back, u wont be able to, its like selling a video game, you’ll never be able to play it again if you sell it</p>
Good luck.</p>