Graduating one year early from high school, any anecdotes?

[Anonymous]

"So that the college application will be stronger" ... no, that's not it imo. It's so ... don't be such a weird outliner. Why work to be such an outliner, socially, developmentally.

Even if academics are fine, it's just odd. The kid can work on something, for another year, about themselves that will do them some good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could try Simon's Rock and then Bard...,

Great program for sexually precocious teens

https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/great-barrington-simons-rock-bard-college-sexual-assault-rape-title-ix-allegations-complaints-students/article_6f5f87da-ea13-11ed-8d1d-679c7fe87bd3.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Was looking for this program a while back, but couldn't find it - guessing it ended. If anyone knows otherwise, please post.

[Anonymous]

I know a kid who did this.
She wound up going to Duke and then Stanford.

My 2 cents (as a parent), is why would you thrust your kid into the social challenges of college/adult life early? They will not be as mature (and possibly experienced) as others. What exactly is the rush to grow up?

I would discourage this strongly. It is no big achievement, and can be risky for their mental health/human development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"So that the college application will be stronger" ... no, that's not it imo. It's so ... don't be such a weird outliner. Why work to be such an outliner, socially, developmentally.

Even if academics are fine, it's just odd. The kid can work on something, for another year, about themselves that will do them some good.

Kid's friend group is all a year older, so no, they don't feel like an outlier. Is one year really that big of a deal? Certainly one year might be a big deal for some kids, but is it a one-size-fits-all judgment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a kid who did this.
She wound up going to Duke and then Stanford.

My 2 cents (as a parent), is why would you thrust your kid into the social challenges of college/adult life early? They will not be as mature (and possibly experienced) as others. What exactly is the rush to grow up?

I would discourage this strongly. It is no big achievement, and can be risky for their mental health/human development.

Been discouraging strongly. Right now, just trying to figure out what is realistic for admission outcomes.


Plus a corollary question, what happens if a junior applies, decides not to graduate early, and reapplies as a senior? If anyone knows...

[Anonymous]

I think you have to assume it’s a negative for admissions, but even assuming it’s an admissions hit and the kid will not get into as-competitive schools, it still could be worth it if the kid hates HS (there is more to life than maximizing college prestige).

I think your kid has to commit to the decision if she chooses this. It’s not fair to the rest of the family or the school or your kid to go through the admissions cycle twice in two years. It’s too stressful, and her applications have implications for her classmates too. And asking teachers to write recs 2 years in a row—no. Not reasonable.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the situation. If your kid is older for the grade, I'd allow it. If your child is younger, like mine, I have considered it, child doesn't want to but will have most graduation requirements done by junior year. We will do the community college or local college route for some classes senior year.

[Anonymous]

I think it comes across as a negative because it suggests social or emotional difficulties in HS. The kid needs a good narrative to counter that.

[Anonymous]

A 16 year old girl started my college as a freshman. Brilliant humanities major but was immediately partying with and dating guys as old as 21. If there was some sort of specific academic goal I’d consider it, but if the plan is to have a general college experience with parties and dating, I look at my 16 year old and say hell no.

[Anonymous]

Honestly OP, I don't even think admissions officers will care. What makes the news is 11 year olds going to college, or 16 year olds graduating and going to med school. A difference of a one year either way is not going to stand out.

The advice to not enroll early in college is more about student maturity, in terms of not getting into trouble once there (DUI, date rape, etc). It has no bearing on admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly OP, I don't even think admissions officers will care. What makes the news is 11 year olds going to college, or 16 year olds graduating and going to med school. A difference of a one year either way is not going to stand out.

The advice to not enroll early in college is more about student maturity, in terms of not getting into trouble once there (DUI, date rape, etc). It has no bearing on admissions.

Me again. Both my husband and myself went to college at 17. Our admissions outcome would probably have been the same as if neither of us had been accelerated. In terms of maturity, we were both nerdy introverts and didn't participate in drinking and partying, but then, that's our personalities and we wouldn't have done it at 18 either. I've never been drunk in my life. Never smoked, etc...

So you know your kid best, but really, this is probably a non-event, and will stay that way. In 20 years, no one's going to care either how old he was when he went to college.

[Anonymous]

This is generally frowned upon at the top 50 level.
Loads of kids could do this…so unless there is a real reason, it will hurt your child. Don’t listen to anyone who gives a story from any time before 2022.

Friend’s kid tried this and failed so kid tried again in a year after another year in HS. Better results then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
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?

Because high school is awful for a lot of kids. Why would they want to stay in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could try Simon's Rock and then Bard...,

I know someone who did this and they are one of the most successful people I know now in our 40s.