Hi, I’m a 16 year old American girl who is currently living in Germany as part of the CBYX exchange program. I am attending a public high school (gymnasium) and have become fluent in German in the 7 months I’ve been here. When I return to the US, I’ll still have to complete two more years of high school, but at this point, I would prefer to minimize that to one year. Living on my own with a host family, traveling in Europe, attending a very competitive high school and taking all my classes in German has prepared me for a bigger challenge than I think my high school can offer. Most of my German classmates are older than me and heading off to university and I would like to do the same, whether in the US or in Europe. I was ranked #1 in my class as a Freshman (4.5 GPA), I am fluent in French and German and I expect to take several AP courses upon my return to my high school. I’m a 3-season athlete, have won a few art awards and I have a few extracurriculars under my belt. My guidance counselor told me I’m on track to get into an Ivy League college, and I don’t want to ruin that, so what do you think is my best bet? Return for my junior year, excel at my courses and the SAT, and apply to colleges as a Junior? Or stick it out for two more years to improve my transcript? I hate to sound like a brat, but I really want to get out of high school! It’s not really my scene, and I want to jump right into college life. Also, it’s important for me to get a good scholarships, because I live with 3 siblings and a single mom who cannot afford to help me very much.
If you apply as a junior, your odds at any selective university are very low. Just be aware that as of now, your ECs need more depth - the depth you can acquire in 4 years. The CBYX exchange program is great, you need to do something else - perhaps create a German club at your high school, or a MUN club or raise money for German language classes to go visit…
Junior applicants are at a disadvantage at super selective schools because those make the first cut on academics (and they usually make it) and then they look at ECs (and then the missing year really, really hurts).
If you’ve used up all the offerings at your high school, colleges prefer that you take many dual-enrollment classes (or PSEO) junior and senior year.
Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet? The SAT Subjects in French and German? Are you registered for APs in French and German? Do you have plans to take Junior-level classes in German (and sophomore level classes in French) at your local college as to not lose your current fluency?
If your family is lower-income, you can look into two sources of scholarships:
1° merit aid - go to the financial aid forum on this website, and check out the pinned thread “popular links”, with competitive full tuition/full rides, and automatic full tuition/full ride.
2° 100% meet need colleges (out of 3700, only about 60 do, and they’re the most selective in the country).
(Below is a college website for first gen student, with lots of interesting info)
http://blog.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/blog/colleges-that-meet-100-of-student-financial-need/
MYOS, thank you so much for your reply. As much as it’s not what I really wanted to hear, I think you make some very good points. To answer some of your questions, I have not used up all the offerings at my high school. AP classes are not offered to freshmen, and since I’ve been gone for sophomore year, I have not taken any yet. I did qualify to take AP French, and I’m sure I could load up my schedule this fall with several more APs. Luckily, I go to a very good public high school and they offer a broad variety of AP courses. I have not taken the PSAT or the SAT. I have always done very well on standardized tests, and I hope that pattern continues. Again, hoping for the best on that front.
I’m not sure what you mean by “the SAT subjects in French and German.” Do you mean I should take the SATs in French? I didn’t even know that was an option. Yes, I plan to continue with German language classes at a nearby Goethe Institute, one of the closest and most affordable places to take German (not a college, though.) I will likely take AP French at my high school, and maybe I can take the AP German exam (my high school does not offer German.)
Thank you for the scholarship info. I will check it out, but both my parents are college grads, so the green light program is not something I would qualify for. I may qualify for the Questbridge program, but I may have to do a little more research on that program.
My biggest worry is that I go back to high school after having this incredibly enriching, academically challenging year abroad and that I just lose my motivation. If I knew I had only one year to go, I know I could power through it, but spending two years with suburban high school kids seems like torture. Again, I don’t mean to sound bratty, but I believe in my heart that I’m ready for college and I hate thinking that it may be two years away.
I’m hanging my hope on the fact that some schools do, in fact, take high school juniors. I know that Columbia University has a Dual BA program for International Studies with Science Po and they accept a “small number of academically motivated” juniors. Maybe they would be interested in someone like me.
My last question – would applying as a junior and getting rejected damage my chances of applying as a senior?
I suggest you take the full time at your high school. For one, you’d be returning to your school in the fall and jumping right into college apps. Your school counselor likely doesn’t know you well, and your rec letters would be coming from where?
Also there was a thread someplace on CC where it said many Ivy leagues don’t like younger applicants; they want ‘mature’ students
https://sat.collegeboard.org/about-tests/sat-subject-tests
The SAT Subject Tests (or SAT IIs) are shorter tests that asses your knowledge in a particular subject, like German or French. They are recommended or required for many elite schools.
At your age it is normal to to feel like an extra year of HS would be quite possibly a lifetime of torture. But honestly, in the long run, waiting it out and creating your own happiness junior and senior years will be extremely worthwhile for you and your future college applications. So you don’t like the HS scene- no worries- spend your non academic time in meaningful ECs. Take it as an opportunity to explore your interests. And as mentioned above, an extra year allows you more time to develop relationships with those who will write your recommendations. Hurry up and wait can sometimes be the best course of action 
Wait it out and enjoy your high school experience. Flesh out that transcript, work hard in your classes, EC’s and standardized tests. The extra year will help you out a lot and you won’t feel as rushed when college admissions rolls around. Continue working hard and don’t jinx what you got going for yourself!
Thank you all so much. Really excellent advice from everyone. I plan to email a few of my top choice schools and ask them under what circumstances they would accept a junior. If that criteria is unreachable, then I will stay in high school for two more years. If the criteria seems like something I could attain, then maybe I’ll go for it. But I think there is definitely something to be said for staying in HS and adding more ECs to my transcript. I love the idea of starting a German club or a MUN. I’m going to try to enjoy my last few months in Germany without stressing. Thanks again.
Returning “home” can be excruciating after such an experience because you’ve advanced so much, you’ve been in such a different environment (and at a gymnasium students will overall be intellectually and emotionally mature, with a lot of freedom) and it feels your classmates will not have grown much at all.
Is there a college, community college or 4-year, nearby? Have you scheduled your classes? Make sure you’re in as many AP classes as you can. If possible, dual-enroll at the local college for some of your classes and join clubs there as well as at your high school.
Put that year to use - do something with it that will benefit yourself, your classmates, and your community. If you noticed something that worked well in your German town, see if you can draft something and get it passed. Become the student representative at your district School Board. Do things like an adult, surround yourself with older students and don’t stay within your HS (but do stay involved at your HS too.) Become an advocate or an activist for something that matters to you. The person you are now can do things you didn’t think you could - prove it with actions.
GPG: the schools you contact may not be truthful with you. You might get some that will tell you the most competitive applicants are four year grads. Others will say “just apply” — but without seeing your actual app, no one can say. Just know that statistically, you’re in a worse position. Period. I’m calling your line of inquiry into question, that’s all.
If you were just looking at “going to college” then sure, you could graduate early and find schools to take you (as long as you meet the requirements… 4 years English, 4 years math, 3 years science… whatever your colleges of interest expect.) If you are considering an Ivy or high ranking LAC or perhaps a full-ride scholarship, then you really should do 4 years of high school not only to rack up the AP’s or IB’s but to give yourself time for some achievement in your passion based EC’s.
We do happen to know many kids who applied to college young but they’d all accelerated elementary and/or middle school. Our D was applying for college at 16 (she was a true senior.) She hated her magnet high school but we transferred her to a middle college program junior year and she loved it! She met 3 hours a day for honors English and History with a small group of other middle college students then took the rest of her classes at the community college. Some classes were easy and some were challenging but the real benefit was that they were of her choice and there was no micro-managing. She was so invested in her EC’s that she was rarely home. Had she got to one of our in-state public schools, she’d have started a junior with her GE’s done. However, she chose a high ranking LAC and loves it… will be there the whole four years and lamenting that she could stay 8 and still not take everything she wants to!
We know one kid who did a year in Germany like you and unfortunately, found that when he came back, the school district wouldn’t accept many of his credits. He was actually behind. He also went the middle college route, made-up Sophomore year, earned 2 associates, had an elected position at the community college and got into a top LAC.
There are all sorts of routes. Do some exploring before cutting high school short.
I went on exchange as well, between my junior and senior year, but a lot of my friends from exchange had two years to go before graduating from high school. I understand what you’re talking about. It’ll be hard to come back, you’ll have to readjust and yeah, especially in American high schools, you might find your classmates not so mature.
First of all, I wouldn’t worry about this now. As some people said before, you could graduate next year, but it wouldn’t be worth the cost. You’ll have to work super duper hard and you’ll be very stress etc.
My best advice to you is to make the most out of the two upcoming years. Start a MUN club indeed, put into practice the wisdom and knowledge you’ve gained during your wonderful experience. Maybe work a little bit outside of school or in the summer and go on some trips? Get high scores and standardize tests and be admitted to an Ivy or a top LAC.
But please, do not worry too much for now. You have a few months to go before you go back home. Make the most of it. Time flies.
If you need any advice or you just want to talk, I’d be glad to answer your questions or discuss with you!
I was a Rotary Exchange Student from France to Canada (Niagara Falls, ON) last year and will be attending either Hamilton College or Tufts next year!
Best of luck to you.