Graduating one year early from high school, any anecdotes?
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Anonymous
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Kid is *well aware* of the standard advice not to graduate early so that the college application will be stronger.
Interested in mid-size to large universities with a fun vibe, some D1 sports. Likes big cities. Not interested in small schools, not thrilled with rural, though a big school in a smaller city/decent college town might be ok. Probably a social science major along the lines of econ (not undergrad business) or maybe something political/international. Does anyone know a high stats student (think 4.0uw/1550+, 10 APs/DEs total) who actually did graduate one year early from high school and what were their admission results like? Any specific T50s that have admitted junior applicants/early high school grads? And since this is DCUM, anyone hear of UVA or Georgetown accepting an early high school grad? |
Anonymous
| Yes, kid I knew, went to U of Kansas. I think they had an early entry program. Sibling of the kid did the same thing. |
Anonymous
| 30 years ago, my brother graduated a year early and went to a top 10 school. |
Anonymous
| OP here, forgot to add, will be OOS for everywhere. In-state flagship is a safety but not a top choice. Unlimited budget. |
Anonymous
| Your kid should do a gap year of doing something productive. |
Anonymous
| YCBK podcast recently answered a listener’s question about the implications of graduating early and competitive admissions. |
Anonymous
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TJ has occasional students who do this, but they have stronger profiles. More college level courses, and EC achievements.
And it's not just about admissions. It's about being comfortable as the youngest / least mature person in the class/school., by a stretch. Strongly discouraged. Also, even though those stats are high, they aren't out of realm of normal for a 4 yearstudent, so a more important question is why you want to do this. 10 AP/DEs isn't enough to exhaust NoVa high school opportunities. If you want to rush through school, why skip high school instead of doing an early Masters? Why prefer an awkward and expensive college experience over a more fitting and free high school experience? Or do some online college-forHS-srudent courses like Stanford's? But I guess you are posting from out of area, probably a non-metropolitan area, in a state that doesn't have a strong flagship university. So you don't know a lot students like the ones who attend the schools you are reaching for? |
Anonymous
It was much more common then, before high schools and colleges had more of the advanced offerings. Now, early college is more rare and students have less of a cohort. It's mostly done by extreme math/physics special-interest kids, not well-rounded students. Going to college early to do... social science at a party school .. is bizarre. Total mis-fit. |
Anonymous
| I graduated early, went to a top 15 and took a gap year - it made me realize how annoying many college freshman are, since I’d been working and doing my laundry, making my own food etc. and they could barely function! But in all seriousness, it was the best decision ever - high school was awful (and we did not have APs), I got to pursue something I loved, and I was a capable human as a freshman. The one thing I do remember vividly was a rejection from Stanford that specifically said “we do not take three year high school students for the class of XXXX”. |
Anonymous
| Way back when, my friend in high school did this and went to Michigan undergrad and then med school. She knew how much schooling she had ahead of her and wanted to cut out a year. All of the teachers at our private school told her she would not get in and it was a mistake. Has her own pediatrician practice now. |
Anonymous
This is why some kids skip a year BEFORE high school. My brother and I skipped one and my younger sister skipped two. Traditional school is not for everyone. |
Anonymous
Where did you live on your own as a minor? Most colleges, especial top 15, don't even allow students to make their own food. Becoming capable happens whenever you start to do things on your own, whether that is gap year, during college, or summer in HS or college, or after college graduation. Needing to do simple things earlier isn't a flex. |
Anonymous
| Could try Simon's Rock and then Bard..., |
Anonymous
More directly skipping a year of elementary or middle school is much less disruptive to college preparation than skipping a year of high school. And the effect of skipping a year also varies by how old you are relatve to your grade. Oldest in K class skipping a year later is different from a youngest in the K class skipping a year later. |
Anonymous
| USC (University of Southern California) has a special program for kids who graduate a year early. A friend of my child did this a few years back |