<p>Hi! I am currently a freshman in high school in Texas, and I am unsure of whether to attend TAMS (Texas Academy of Math and Science) a year early. I haven't made it in yet, but I applied a year early just to see if I would make it. I was invited for an interview, and I hear that everyone who makes it to the interview gets accepted to TAMS. Anyways I am confused on whether to attend TAMS a year early cause then I would almost skip a grade since everyone attending is considered a junior. BTW if you dont know what TAMS is here is the website: <a href="http://www.tams.unt.edu/%5B/url%5D">www.tams.unt.edu/</a>. TAMS is basically a residential program where a high school student earns two years of high school and college credit at the same time. It is pretty cool. I am pretty sure that I will attend the program, but I am not sure whether I want to attend it a year early. I need to develop my EC's, which is the main reason keeping me from attending a year early. Do you think that I should attend the program early? Will it help me become more competitive for colleges if I attend TAMS early? Any other opinions? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!! Btw my dream college is prolly MIT. Will attending TAMS early make it easier for me to get into MIT? Once again thank you!</p>
<p>Generally, skipping a year of high school isn't actively encouraged here on CC. By skipping a grade, you are effectively saying you are more than ready for college, and have exhausted your resources. However, by skipping a grade, you also forfeit an additional year of high school that could have been used to look into more ECs, take more advanced classes, etc.</p>
<p>I say wait until next year.</p>
<p>Meh. While far from being a top prep school along the lines of Andover, Groton, etc, TAMS is at least as good if not quite a bit better than most of the public high schools in Texas. (What high school do you go to?) Chances are, it's not going to put you at a disadvantage with regards to MIT admitance. There are at least 3 admits from TAMS this year. Not bad. Quite good in fact. </p>
<p>As for going there a year early, do you have solid reasons for doing so? Graduating from high school one year early won't necessarily put you at a disadvantage for college admissions. I'm planning on going to MIT next semester after spending less than 4 years in high school. It really all depends on whether or not you can prove that you HAVE taken advantage of all available resources and are ready for college, both in terms of intellectual knowlege and maturity. </p>
<p>If you're dead bored with high school and need a challenge, out of classes to take, or in need of a better school because your high school is abysmal, then sure, TAMS seems like a great choice right now. That said, being a year younger is common enough that it won't put you at an advantage for college admissions so there's really no rush to graduate. "Developing your ECs?" Look. If you do have interests that you would enjoy having an additional year to pursue, please do by all means. If it's JUST for the sake of getting into MIT (or any other similar school), then, meh. Why?!</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice every1! I am quite sure that I will not go to TAMS a year early. Actually, I have already skipped 3rd grade. BTW I attend Jasper High School in Plano, TX. I think that I should wait a year to work on my SAT's and EC's. I will most definitely go to TAMS though. Even though the PISD schools are good, I want to immerse myself i math and science courses. Consequently, I will attend TAMS in my junior year. Once again, thank you.</p>