Will Early Graduation Destroy My Chances?

Applying to College
1

I’m looking at applying to top schools like Duke, Vandy, Rice, Ivies, BU, etc. (I’m a US domestic applicant, btw)

I’ll be graduating after my junior year because I’m maxing out of the classes my school offers. Well not ALL of them, but my senior year would have anatomy and then 7 extra blocks for me to fill with ceramics, drawing, a bunch of other blow-off classes (at my school they’re blow off at least)

I don’t want to delve into my stats or anything since this isn’t a chance me; if anyone wants to know I’ll be happy to share. Just know they’re good (well I think so, they could always improve though). They’re within the 25-75 percentile of accepted students for the schools I want to apply to.

Though I will only have 2 years of high school when I graduate, it’s full of pretty impactful activities like starting clubs, winning awards at state levels, winning awards at Duke, starting a nonprofit, and more (which again I’ll share if anyone wants to know or needs to know to give me a good answer)

However the elephant in the room still remains, I’m graduating early. Will schools understand this? Will I get a chance to explain myself? If so will this chance be enough or will my chances still be ruined? How can I make up for this in my application?

I have so many questions yet my school isn’t really equipped to answer. Most people from my school go to the state school. No one at my school has ever really applied to the schools I want to apply to, let alone in the current position I’m in.

Thank you for any help, advice, reassurance or anything you can give. There isn’t too much info on this online, so I’m pretty worried and confused, to say the least.

2

If your guidance counselor writes the letter stating that you have pursued the most rigorous program available at your high school, there won’t be any problem.

3

How old will you be when you graduate? That may be an issue.

4

I’ll be 17 when I graduate

5

Why will you “…only have 2 years of high school when I graduate…”?

Bear in might that most colleges will want/expect you to have four years of English and recommend at least 3 years (preferably 4) of science, math, etc.)

You might want to use dual enrollment to most/all of your junior/senior classes through a community college. You’ll get a bunch of credits under your belt and put yourself in a much more competitive position for college applications.

Also check out USC (California)'s Resident Honors Program designed for early entrance to college. (also Bard’s Simon’s Rock).

6

If you are finishing 10th grade now then listen to @LoveTheBard and check out those 2 programs she mentioned as it might be a better option than graduating early and trying for those top schools.

7

I meant when I apply, since they’ll be seeing only my grades from 9th and 10th grade and then my 11th grade first semester grades, sorry for the mistype. Thank you for the advice! I’m pretty sure I have those credits but I’ll double check and definitely check out that program :slight_smile:

8

Does your school district have an agreement with a community college or other college where you can remain in high school but take college classes for credit?

9

Yes if you want a very selective school. At the time of applications, you might not have the AP test scores and your GPA (UC GPA) won’t be as high. My son went for a state U so it was not a problem by graduating early.

10

Unfortunately not. I’m really hoping that I’ve just taken enough classes. When I graduate I’ll have up to AP Calc in math with AP Stat and I’ll also have 4 years worth of English as well as 4 years over 4 years of science with AP Chem and Bio included. Social Studies is where i’m really nervous about

11

Just because it’s seemed to come up a few times, i’ll list the classes I’ll have taken my the time i graduate.

Math: 6 years worth. Up to AP Calc including Stats
English: 4 years worth. English 9 honors, Classical Literature honors, AP Lang, AP Seminar
Social Studies: 4 years worth. Geography, APUSH, Gov and Econ, AP Psych
Science: 8 years worth. AP Chem AP Bio Biomedical Sciences Medical interventions Physics 1 and the necessary Prerequisites

I started taking HS classes in middle school, or i would double up on classes especially in the case of sciences.

If anyone needs more info on my academic history, EC’s or anything else let me know :slight_smile:

12

What have you done in terms of a foreign language? Is there an arts or a PE requirement?

Will all of the HS classes that you took in middle school show up on your HS transcript? Will the grade you received be included? Will they be calculated into your GPA? (At my D’s school, only classes that she took as a high school student were included on her transcript; HS classes that she took in middle school did not appear. They did, however, include transcripts from university classes that she took during summers, and had she taken any during the school year at a CC, those would have been sent along as well.

My D’s minimum HS graduation requirements were that she fulfill the University of California a-g class requirements that would allow entry into a UC.

So you are saying that your school will not let you take any college classes? How can they stop you? Is there a minimum number of classes you can take at the high school and still be considered a student there?

13

I’ll have 3 years of foreign language and I’m also fluent in a few other languages. I’m not sure if that’ll help me at all but being that I want to study linguistics I thought that may help. I also have all my PE/health requirements. The middle school things show up with my grades. So far I have a 4.0 unweighted and a 4.35 weighted including my middle school things.

My schools community school policy is weird. Based on what my councilor told me, if I take the community college classes over the summer they’ll be included on my transcript and everything which I’ve done for a few classes already. But to be considered a full time student at my high school I have to take a full day of classes (8 courses). There isn’t really a dual enrollment opportunity. I suppose I could go to the community college during the late evening, but I would still need to take my 8 high school courses and the evening classes at the community college are pretty limited. Basically their rule isn’t no community college, it’s that I also have to do all 8 of my high school classes too

I’ve also taken a few classes at Duke University over the summer which I have a separate transcript for.

14

My good junior friend is graduating with us seniors this year and he took a math and English course over the summer, enabling him to meet graduation requirements. He recently got accepted to Cornell and Emory, and waitlisted at Princeton. Cornell is where he’s headed.

So I say go for it! As long as you have proof of leadership & rigor (and have your graduation requirements checked off), you’ll be all set. If anything his graduating early helped him in the admissions process.

15

Congrats to you and your friend!! Thank you for the encouraging advice, I’ll make sure I demonstrate those elements in my app.