Trying to graduate a year early?

I’m a freshman right now and I’ve been thinking about trying to graduate after my junior year.

In 8th grade, I earned 8 high school credits.

This year, I’ll have earned 18 credits.

In my sophomore year, I’ll likely complete 14.

I’ll probably take economics over the summer between 10th and 11th grade, giving me 1 credit.

11th grade I should earn 14 as well.

This adds up to about 55 credits or so.

At this time, I will have completed all of my requirements and would have enough credits to graduate with an Honors diploma.

Is it a bad idea to try and reach for this? Should I just chill out?

What is your reason for doing it? What are your college expectations? My general take – for heaven’s sake, being an adult comes soon enough, and it isn’t NEARLY as much fun as you think it is gong to be! Unless you have a compelling reason (like family needs you to earn money or something), my take is to stay in high school. Focus on getting good grades, ECs you like and can develop deeper skills in with another year of high school, and take time to study for your standardized tests.

No college will be impressed with your early graduation, and it won’t help your admissions (can hurt them). Do you have any dual enrollment options (eg, at a community college or something)? But be sure to get good grades if you do it – you don’t really get a break from colleges if your grades are lower in dual enrollment courses.

@intparent We actually do have an option to dual enroll the last two years, I completely forgot about it.

I went down to my sister’s college yesterday and visited her and realized how much I want to go to college and just be independent.

Personally I think that you should just chill out for several reasons:

  • Getting into a "good" university (for most definitions of "good") will be easier with better grades and better SAT or ACT scores. Piling up more courses on top of each other make it more difficult to get good grades. Taking the SAT when you are year younger makes it more difficult to get a high SAT score.
  • One way to make high school more difficult is to pile up more credits on top of each other. Another way is to take AP classes. AP classes give you credit that you can use in university. It is probably worth showing up at university with at least a few AP credits (universities will vary in terms of accepting and giving AP credits, but you can check up on this when considering which universities to apply to).
  • Going to an academically challenging university at a young age is not a lot of fun. I have some experience with this: I started at a very demanding university the week after my 17th birthday. Academically it was fine. In other ways I was just too young. I would have been better off taking a gap year or finding something else to do for a year, then starting university closer to a normal age.
    • Life is not a race and most of us are not in a hurry to get to the end of it.

Obviously this is a personal decision. However, my personal opinion is that you should plan to graduate in 4 years with a high GPA.

Thank you for the advice @DadTwoGirls!

There’s only 6 AP classes at my school. I plan on taking 4 because (English Lang, US History, Calc AB, Gov) that’s like all we have. If I take a few dual enrollment classes as well then would that be good for credits going into college?

When should I plan on taking the SAT/ACT? I was going to take it early junior year. Should I wait until the end of junior year?

“If I take a few dual enrollment classes as well then would that be good for credits going into college?”

We didn’t have dual enrollment where we live, but I am pretty sure that the answer is yes.

“Should I wait until the end of junior year?”

That is when my kids took it, and they did well. However, some SAT preparation ahead of time can be very helpful.

Alrighty, thank you!

I have an SAT book that my sister gave me. I’m not worried about it now, but I have it for preparation if necessary.

First just to clarify - how do your high school credits work. At our school we get 1 credit per 1 year long class and 1/2 credit for 1/2 year class. It would not be possible for someone here to take 8 high school year long classes before starting high school here. Actually our district doesn’t give high school credit for anything taken before high school starts nor list them on a transcript.

When it is time to pick classes for 10th grade it is a good time to find out more about your school’s dual enrollment program. Ours are free but some places they cost money. Our books are free book rentals but some places you pay for books. If you would like to do full time dual enrollment there may be classes like gym and health that have to be finished first. It is perfectly fine to take a mix of dual enrollment and AP classes. Depending on your personal interests you may be able to take a dual enrollment course in a subject not offered as AP. Just be aware that with both ap and dual enrollment classes each college decides for itself what they will accept and how they will use them.

For our credits it depends on the class. For example, this year:

English 9 (2 period class)- 4 credits
Spanish 2- 2 credits
Algebra 2 Adv- 2 credits/Pre-Calc 2 credits (I’m doing both)
Environmental Science- 2 credits
Theatre Arts/Health- 1 credit each
Biology 1- 2 credits

My middle school credits were-

Algebra 1 (2 credits)
Geometry (2 credits)
Spanish 1 (2 credits)
Prep for College and Careers (1 credit)
Intro to 2D Art (1 credit)

My kids took the SAT the first opportunity after winter break their junior year. That left them time to study & retake if needed (but they did study before their first attempt, too). Regard credits applying to college, it depends on the college. Some will accept the dual enrollment or AP credits, some won’t.

Many kids wait to take PSAT results from 11th grade then take the SAT’s. Some have been studying all along and just take the next one that works for them. Some may take a spring SAT prep type class then take a May or June SAT in their junior year etc. Also after you take your PSAT in 10th grade you can use your results to help with free studying through Kahn Academy. Personally my daughter quickly lost interest in Kahn Academy but some people love it.

Other thoughts on “being independent”…

I agree that graduating early and being a younger person in college isn’t ideal…but there are otherways to get that independence you seek…have you ever thought of doing an exchange year? For example, Youth for Understanding has a student exchange program as well as AFS. You would live with a host family in another country.
Another idea is to go to an early college program like The Bard College at Simon’s Rock…it is an early college program. “If you’re on the verge of 11th or 12th grade and certain you don’t want more of the same, Simon’s Rock can show you what education is like when everyone shares your love of learning. We’re the only residential college experience designed for thoughtful, exceptionally motivated students who are ready to start college early.”

Thank you @bopper!

I’ve been thinking of applying to a 2-year residential high school down on the Ball State U campus. I’m not 100% sure if I will, but I’m leaning towards it.

But as you strive for that independence…are you acting independent now? Are you helping take care of the home you live in (household chores)? Do you do your own laundry? Do you have your own spending money? DO you know how to drive? Do you know how to cook? How to do your own banking? Make appointments and get any prescriptions you might need?

I do household chores- put dishes away, vacuum, take garbage out, dust, and clean the litter.

I do my own laundry and I work scoreboard for my school so I get about $50-100 a week. I can’t legally drive (14 years old) but I do know how to operate a car well enough to drive somewhere in an emergency situation. I know how to cook simple things, like Pasta Sides, grilled cheese, and egg sandwiches.

I don’t really know how to bank, I know the terms and technically what to do but I get all my money in cash so I’ve never had to encounter it. I don’t make appointments and get prescriptions, but I know how to.

I would open a checking/savings account and start saving a percentage of the money you make each week.

What would a good percentage be? 25-30%?

Whatever you’re comfortable with. I’m doing 50% bc I have no expenses besides spending money.