I’m a junior in high school and have been talking to my counselor recently about graduating early. I will have 23 credits by the end of the year and will only have to take 3 classes during the summer to graduate early (26 credits is actually the advanced schedule.) I’ve wanted to graduate early for a while because I find school completely unchallenging. My school is extremely small (only 72 student total) and while I’m active in every single afterschool activity, take 2 dual credit college courses, have taken 4 college courses, and am in advanced classes, I’m still very bored. Graduating early by taking a few more courses during the semester and summer to accomplish this seems like the kind of push and challenge I need and want. I will be valedictorian of my class for sure and so I am also wondering if graduating early will effect this. On a more personal level, all my friends will be graduating this year and I live in an extraordinarily small town (we aren’t even officially classified as an actual town.) Once my friends are gone I will have no one really to hangout with (which, I am aware isn’t a reason to graduate early), and I won’t even have much school to keep me busy as I will have already taken most of the classes available at my high school. I also like the idea of having a “gap” year without all the pressure of actually taking a gap year. I plan to go to college and I don’t really have to worry about tuition cost because my grandparents are going to pay for my tuition (and I am exceptionally grateful for this.) I would use my gap year preferably to travel, get a job, and learn how to be independent. I know graduating early is a big decision and most people say to stay in high school, “you’re only young once”, “it’s the best years of your life”, but I just feel like it will be a serious waste of my time academically and socially. Any thoughts?
As a parent, I see kids that go to college early are disadvantaged.
So doing a “gap” year might be a good idea…One way to do it is to do a foriegn exchange program like Youth for Understanding or AFS.
I would not graduate early just to get a job…if you aren’t challenged at HS you will not be challenged at a minimum wayge job. A structured student exchange program is a great way to travel and to learn a language. You have plenty f time to learn to be independent…don’t hurry.
Another option is an early college prgram like The Bard at Simon’s Rock.
Does your school offer full-time dual enrollment? It’s when you don’t show up to your high school at all, and take 4 classes a semester in a CC. This could be more challenging for you and give you more freedom. I agree that taking a gap year to get a job isn’t a good idea. Most teens only get fast food jobs they don’t enjoy. If you’re under 18, you legally can’t live alone in a dorm at a public university, so I’m not sure how that will work out. Perhaps you can take a semester off, instead of a whole year. Skip the job, and just travel.
I don’t know if you care about this, but graduating early affects college admissions in a negative way. Colleges want a high retention rate, and this shows lack of loyalty for your school. They want alumni that donate to the school, not students who see their school as a waste of time.
I agree with the dual enrollment as being the best option. The other poster says you cannot live in a dorm under the age of 18 is complete nonsense.
“get a job” sounds so wonderful…until you realize that your job will be minimum wage serving food or working retail.
Why not look for a more productive gap year/exchange year? Check out Youth For Understanding or AFS and do an student exchange year and live in a different country and do a year of HS there?
I’m not sure if this program is nationwide but if you are a high schooler and want to get dual enrollment you can go to a community college and as long as you are enrolled as a high schooler the government will pay for everything except transportation. its called PSEO, post-secondary enrollment options
Dual enrollment programs vary by state and probably in some states by the district.