<p>Hello,
I'm currently an incoming junior. I am strongly considering graduating early and going to the local community college. My school is closed now and I cannot receive any counseling so I really need some advice. Well, first off my original plan was to take many AP classes and hopefully finish a year or two of college. I am planning on going to UC Berkeley for computer engineering directly out of high school. I am planning on going to graduate school and getting a Master's degree. After my studies are finished, I plan to work for Apple. I am a nearly straight-A student. My schedule for next year is the following(block 4x4):
Spanish 4
Honors Pre-Calculus
Ap Language
Ap Us History
Ap Statistics
Ap Environmental Science
Ap Spanish
Off campus 4th off</p>
<p>However, I just realized recently I can receive a certificate that is equivalent to a diploma with a simple test. The test is the California High School Proficiency Exam. If I pass, I am allowed to begin college. My plan is to receive the certificate and begin community college for two years then transfer to UC Berkeley for another four years. </p>
<p>My concern is, this all sounds too good to be true and there must be a hidden caveat somewhere in this "certificate".. It is honored the same manner as a diploma in the workforce. My main concerns are if my graduating early will affect my job at Apple a few years down the road? I am aware of the direct transfer agreement I can agree to when I begin community college so being admitted to Berkeley isn't a problem. The main reasons I am considering this plan is:
Money- rather than spend six years at Berkeley, I would spend four
Time- in the time I would be in High School doing AP classes and possibly not receiving college credit, I could be in real college
Preference- I dislike high school... haha</p>
<p>So please advise me.. Should I proceed with this?
Thank you, and sorry about the lengthy explanation.
Sara</p>
<p>Can’t you go to the community college without graduating until the normal time? If you graduated and then went to the community college, you’d be considered a transfer student when you applied to better schools (I think), and admissions would be more difficult. </p>
<p>I’m taking all my senior-year classes at a local university without graduating, and it’s a better choice for me because dual-enrollment is free in my state and taking the classes after graduation wouldn’t have been. It also might be better for you to take classes at a university rather than a community college. </p>
<p>It’s harder to get into some colleges if you graduated early because you haven’t had as much time to prepare and colleges might assume you’re less mature because you’re younger. I’ve just never really seen any benefit to it. </p>
<p>You also need time to grow up and find out more about what you want to do with your life. Your plans could easily change, and I find it kind of worrisome when I see people on here saying they know exactly what they want to major in and exactly who they want to work for when they aren’t even adults yet.</p>
<p>Unfortunately dual enrollment is not offered at my school. 
Thank you for the advice and I will keep in mind when making my decision.</p>
<p>Any other input, please?</p>
<p>People never have good reasons to graduate early. Don’t.</p>
<p>I would consider money a good reason…</p>
<p>I know that Master’s programs do openly discriminate against younger applicants.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know if Berkeley would be that open to a high school junior applying.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do it simply because graduating early does not guarantee acceptance at Berkeley. In fact, like at most competitive universities, transferring is much more difficult and can be rather selective. I would recommend you stay put for your last year of high school and then apply to Berkeley immediately in your senior year. Then you also don’t have to prolong your education for six years if only four are necessary, which may help financially.</p>
<p>Oh… That’ll be a problem… :(</p>
<p>If I graduate early, I’d go to a community college but if I graduate early, I hope to get accepted at UC Berkeley. There’s no way I’ll be accepted as a junior, haha.</p>
<p>^This is pretty true. Also, maybe if you get a job in senior year, you can save money for college.</p>
<p>In fact, this might help you get more money for college, as well as open you up to more scholarships</p>
<p>Most colleges accept less transfers/have a low transfer admissions rate compared to their undergraduate applicants.</p>