I am currently in 10th grade and attended a small private school in GA. However at the end of next year I will have enough Credits to Graduate, I am torn on weather or not to do so.
I have a GPA of 4.0
I have already taken 2 honors course
and will take an advanced Science class next year
and Pre calc
Taken serval art classes
and played varsity volleyball, basketball, tennis and soccer
I am a Native american female
My senior year would be almost all AP classes and my main reason for wanted to graduate early is that I will have to take these classes in collage, why take them in high school? I am defiantly mature enough to graduate early. My other concern is how this would look to collages? partially places like GT, Cal poly, UGA, and other selective school
You should graduate when you can spell whether** and college**
Just kidding If you think you are prepared for college experience, and if you determine that the value going to college early over-weighs the value of leaving your friends, I’d say go for it.
If you take AP classes in high school, they’re free. If you take them in college, you pay $25,000. Wouldn’t you rather save the $25,000, take one full year of APs, and graduate from college early (or give yourself some leeway in case something goes wrong)?
In addition it gives you an extra year to improve your SAT or ACT score, develop^leadership and extracurriculars, etc.
Places like GeorgiaTech will expect you to graduate with Calculus and at least one AP science, preferably 3 honors science classes plus two AP science classes, plus the obvious (AP English Language junior year, AP US History, AP Foreign Language…)
I’m not a fan of early graduation. Especially since there are still classes in your HS available to take – most top schools want to see how you fare in AP classes so not taking them might hurt your application. In addition, I know you said you are mature, but there is so much more to college than academics (social, time management etc.). I went to college with someone who graduated early and while the academic part of college was not an issue for her, she just was not ready for the rest of college life. Take the extra year to take APs, mature, try to take on some leadership roles in your ECs, and be sure you are ready.
Your peers who are taking the heavy AP load (and doing well) will be very attractive to many colleges. Your transcript in comparison, will look much lighter as you’ve not proven yourself. 2 honors classes? One advanced science class? Pre-calc? That’s not very impressive at all for the schools you’re targeting.
Yes, you may be re-taking some of the same subjects in college – but why should colleges risk admitting you when there are others who are submitting top grades and high AP test scores?
And you’re not unique whatsoever. Most high achieving HS students fulfill their districts’ minimum grad requirements very early. Being an early HS grad has more downside than positives. and re-read Myos’ reply to you in post #2.
EDIT: I don’t know if you’re typing from your phone but your single post is rife with typos. ** whether, definitely, college, several, partially (particularly) ** – if this is emblematic of your schoolwork, you need to have a serious re-evaluation of what you’d present to admissions offices of selective schools.
Why is Cal Poly in the mix if you are in GA? Are you able to be full pay for a CA public? While I’m sure you guidance counsellor will be the best source of whether you will be competitive instate, CA publics have very rigorous requirements, did you check if you meet the a to g requirements? Also, CA publics don’t give weight to honors for OOS students, only for AP classes. I don’t think it makes you an attractive candidate to do the minimum, I think you will be decidedly weak. Do you have one each of chem, bio, physics? Colleges classes are often much more comprehensive than the AP equivalent, and are you sure you would actually repeat all the Sr year classes? My daughter took AP Bio sr year and never took bio in college. She did take Chem and AP chem was just a prereq for her college chem. I can’t see at a tech school like GT that you would be prepared. Often if you reach 4th year foreign language that will excuse you if you don’t want to continue and you will satisfy Fgn Lang requirements.
Why not enjoy one more year living at home, doing all the things that Seniors get to do.
I know you realize that graduating early means you’ll be a year younger than your classmates. But I’m not sure you really understand the difference in maturity that year brings. Your classmates won’t be other kids, they’ll be legal adults. Their rights, and responsibilities, under the law will be vastly more than yours.
Two honors classes and Precalc don’t scream “I"m far beyond high school” to me.
And of course, there’s all that money you could save by taking those AP classes.
Personally, I don’t see a single convincing argument in favor of early graduation, and several for staying at home in high school for your Senior year.
Frankly, early graduation isn’t impressive. Many people could graduate early from high school if they decided to make that choice, but staying in school gives you the opportunity to take much more challenging classes. Considering that most of the other applicants applying to those schools will already have taken those classes, you will be on a major step down from your peers. Generally, unless you have a home life that you need to graduate early to escape from (and considering you’re going to a private high school, that doesn’t seem to be a problem), I would advise against it.
Is [free] Dual Enrollment (DE) an Option for Private School Students in GA? If it is, I would enroll in a local Community College for that semester, while still technically a High School Student. In fact, maybe start taking DE credits starting the start of your Junior Year. You will end up with both AP and DE credits, which can reduce your course load once you start College or graduate college a year or two early.
Even if you meet the graduation requirement of your HS, it may or may not meet the admission requirement for certaom college. In addition, getting AP credits may potentially save you money. Also think about dual enrollment. One less year HS would not save you money but one less year college will. Also, you may miss some scholarship opportunities.
If you really want to leave high school early, look into the Clarkson School of Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY). Another early college is Bard at St. Simon’s Rock. or take a look at United World Colleges. These are all opportunities for students around 16,17 years old.
If you think you are prepared for college experience, and if you determine that the value going to college early over-weighs the value of leaving your friends, I’d say go for it.