Should I graduate High School early?

<p>imscared: please forgive me for hijacking your thread…</p>

<p>As a teacher, I know that parents generally are the best source of information on their kids. Not always…but usually. They know your capabilities and want what’s best.</p>

<p>As the parent of a child who had not only skipped grade(s) but also taken college-level writing and math (through discrete, differential eqs, and linear algebra) before the end of middle school, the “one size fits all approach” really doesn’t. We struggled with deciding whether to enroll him in college directly after high school (yes, he had the necessary offer) but decided to forego that option for a different high school with more rigorous coursework. He did skip 9th grade, but he is generally challenged and is happy about the opportunity to have a more “normal” high school experience…and he’s generally excelling.</p>

<p>So I’m sure your district has other ways to meet your needs. Just ask. And if you have any questions, please pm me. Cheers!</p>

<p>Pton, I have looked at my school’s program of studies. I found none that really seemed to interest me or challenged me enough (from what I have heard about them from others). About changing your major, I personally think that’s because a lot of people follow something for money but realize it’s not worth it or some other reason. Are you sure that that’s for the people who have loved something their whole life. About Asians being better at math, I know that’s not true, its the dumbest stereotype I have ever heard. I think it’s because Asian parents push their kids more, and the kids are more willing to push through the work. And I Didn’t say they don’t date, I said I’ve noticed MOST in my school do not. Also, I got that you were Asian from your user name.</p>

<p>Lookingforward, I know its about execution, and I’ve already started the execution. I still have a plan to go along with, and I am working on it.</p>

<p>Rykun, I know there is more to high school that planning for college. But College is a big part of your life, and for something to big is it really ever too early to plan. I don’t want to get into Jr. year and realize I’ve been doing it all wrong or I’m not taking the right courses. Anyways, becoming a pothead isn’t something that just happens, you don’t just wake up as a pothead, its making choices.</p>

<p>I’m curious, how did you deduce that I was Asian by my username? Not only Asians go to Princeton, you know… It seems like you’ve already made up your mind before you made this post. In that case, there is nothing we can say or do to influence that so consider your question answered. </p>

<p>In a completely different line of thought, I do not agree with your statement that “you don’t just wake up as a pothead, its making choices.” Students who have not taken higher level sociology classes often make the mistake of thinking that we ALL have a choice. But we don’t. There is definitely the ILLUSION that we have a choice. Have you ever heard of the Stanford Prison Experiment? If you haven’t, you should definitely look that up - it’s intriguing. It demonstrates that people make choices based upon their environmental stress and who they perceive themselves to be. This perception of self is very powerful - do not underestimate it. Take a thought experiment, for example. Consider a high school student living in the inner-city, where all his life, people have treated him as a “pothead” because he lives in a drug-infested district and dresses in poor, tattered clothes. This projective labeling will eventually cause him to come into the role of a pothead. If you see it from his perspective, that abuse, coupled with his environment, where everybody (let’s say even his parents) are doing drugs, becoming a pothead to “fit in” would be a viable choice. Compare this student to someone like yourself. You are clearly motivated and have the drive to succeed. To you, becoming a pothead is much less viable as a choice because you are in an environment that is unconducive to drug use (your peers don’t do it, you aren’t “labeled” as a pothead, and your parents don’t do it). Do you see how the choices we make sometimes aren’t entirely our own?</p>

<p>Oh, I actually didn’t know the tiger was Princeton’s mascot. I don’t know how I KNEW you were Asian, but i felt as if you were. As for me already made up my mind, I REALLY would like to graduate early, and even though I know you guys said, “don’t do things based on if you think MIT will like it”, I still wanted to know if colleges like early grad or not. You guys keep saying, “make the most of it” and to get the whole “high school experience”, there isn’t really much different in Senior year (other than maybe prom and being the oldest or something, thats from what I know). If I can make the most out of 3 years, I don’t see why I NEED to have the fourth one. I think I should end this thread, I have other questions but I’ll ask it elsewhere.</p>

<p>@imscared6: This is kind of off topic but, if you go to the main High School Life page/forum, go to “Search Forum”, and then type in Desi Thread, you can post in a thread full of Indians!! I’m Indian by the way, so I totally understand your parents. Most Indian parents are strict on certain things, and I understand why you and your parents want you to graduate a year early. Indian parents always want their kids to aim high(as do the kids)!! By the way, I’m a rising freshman too!!! You should also post on the Class of 2016 forum!!! :)</p>

<p>Thanks Foodlover, I’ll go look up that thread. And yeah, I will. What I don’t understand if why they are just attacking me for wondering about college and stuff where there is a whole thread of people who are freshman, on freaking “Collegeconfidential.com”, what do they want me to ask about, Pre-school?</p>

<p>@imscared6: HAHAHAHAHA!! LOL! That’s funny!! I think that it’s fine if you want to graduate early…it’s your choice…if you can handle it, then that’s great!! Also, most people don’t really understand Indian parents. No offense to anyone or anything…it’s just that Indian parents really do push their kids…I was on CC from early on, trying to look stuff up about future classes and all.</p>

<p>My parent’s aren’t pushing me to grad early. It was my own choice, but they do push me a little to do more courses and lots of work (volunteering, summer courses, etc.) I complain a lot about it, but I still eventually power through the pain and get it done with (I’m that kind of person)</p>

<p>^Okay…yeah, my parents want me to do stuff over the summer too…I bumped up the Desi Thread. You should read through all the posts. You’ll feel better about wanting to get ahead…most people there went through similar things, and since it’s a Desi Thread, you’ll get other Indians’ opinions.</p>

<p>We arwnt yelling at you because you have questions. Thinking.about college is really important but you asked for others opinions and got irritated at people for giving you advice that wasnt exactly what you wanted.to hear. You werent open to both sides of the argument and got mad cause people disagreed with you. I have no doubt that if you want to graduate early you can, and will successfully. But look at both.sides of this topic as well. This is the internet. anyone’s voice.can be heard</p>

<p>Well, the thread did get off topic to something like “how to enjoy your high school experience”, and I was open to other’s opinions. I just wanted to know why they don’t like it (colleges).</p>

<p>

Please show me where we attacked you. </p>

<p>

It’s true that Ethnic parents are different from the traditional American family. When I live in another state, the majority of my friends were Indian and it was like no other trying to coordinate events and whatnot because of their strict rules.
Plus, I’ve seen Degrassi. I know what Indian parents are like. </p>

<p>

And defensive. Maybe I could’ve sugar coated my responses a little, but that isn’t me. At the end of the day, it’s your life. Don’t take stranger’s words so close to heart next time.</p>

<p>I don’t understand. Did you want opinions that you wanted to hear? Because I can tell you that there’s nothing wrong with graduating high school early. And that’s the truth. But here’s the part where you need to listen carefully. I think you said you were looking at MIT. I strongly believe that MIT would look down upon an applicant who completed high school early versus an applicant who took advantage of all his resources to the end. For instance, how could MIT be sure of your commitments? I had four years experience playing two varsity sports and lettering in them. They knew I was committed to what I was doing. Likewise, I took a research internship designed specifically for entering seniors that resulted in getting my name on a poster presentation and on a paper submitted for publication. That’s commitment. Can you demonstrate this sort of commitment in four years? Perhaps you can. But it’s a hell of a lot harder and that would take time away from your classes. Remember, your transcript is an important part of your application but ECs and passion are also important. </p>

<p>So, there’s nothing inherently wrong with graduating early. But it’ll be harder to get into MIT if you do so. If you wanted to go to a state university or community college, then my response would be completely different. That’s an honest response as I see it.</p>

<p>Ok, well this thread is over. Apparently, my school requires 7 semesters to graduate, so thats 3.5 years. I don’t know If it would be worth it to graduate a half year early. I’ll see though. However, I am also considering Purdue, its number #9 undergrad engineering and #10 graduate, but I mean, you can switch schools for grad so as of now its just undergrad. I’m in Indiana, so maybe Purdue would be a good choice.</p>