<p>I want to graduate early. I talked to my counselor last week and he worked out that if I take just 1 more class in the summer, I would be able to graduate before senior year.
Its too late for me to go to universities early (the deadlines have all passed) and I would be depressed going to community college, since its my home life and environment that is making depressed.</p>
<p>So I'm thinking of taking a gap year. Go on volunteer mission trips and travel for a year, gain experience and (at the risk of sounding cliche) try to "figure myself out" and then apply for college next year. The only thing is, my mom isn't as certain.</p>
<p>Let me just outline my high school career for you
Freshmen year, nearly all Bs (I wasn't mentally mature enough to know how to study)
Sophomore year, 2 AP classes, 1 B first semester, 2 Bs second semester.
Junior year, 5 AP classes, 1 B first semester.
SAT score 2190 (I plan on retaking it)</p>
<p>If I take senior year, I (at least I believe this is the case) can take 5 more AP classes, making my total count of AP classes to 12. But I was under the impression that senior grades don't matter that much and you can only take a certain amount of AP credit points to college anyways.</p>
<p>So I was wondering, if I go on with my plan, graduate early and take a gap year with volunteer mission trips and traveling, versus staying in school and lasting through my senior year, how will it look to colleges?</p>
<p>Please be critical. Even though I would be much happier graduating early, I would stay if it meant a better future for myself in the end.</p>