Graduating one year early from high school, any anecdotes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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”.

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.

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.

My kid is the youngest by age and skipped K. We were at a private and kid could clearly handle more so we moved them up. No big deal.

I think starting school early (which is essentially what skipping K amounts to - I did this and started college at a young 17) is a very different scenario than not doing 4 years of hs.

I grew up with the same peer group from 1st grade on. Other than the age-limited milestones, it was barely noticed that I was younger than my classmates. Other than being small, I was always one of those mature for my age kids. I also think my parents did a good thing sending me to camps every summer so I learned how to be more self sufficient. I graduated college just after my 21st birthday and it never felt weird or out of place.

I think shortening HS would be difficult for most maturity wise and difficult for college admissions. I mean, yes, everything is kid dependent, but it just feels strange to rush through HS requirements.

[Anonymous]

When the kid gets to college No. One. Will. Care. An even younger and less mature freshman isn't a prodigy; they're a burden on a system that isn't set up to parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to bump an older thread, but I the same question as OP. Also looking to hear about high stats applicants who graduated feom high school after 3 years, just one year early, and what their admission results looked like. 4.0 uw, 1570, 13 APs.

Sounds like this just isn't done often, which is why few, if any, recent admission results were shared above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is what I think.

My kids have a friend who did this. She was "so miserable" in high school, she just HAD to. Was sure that college would be better. Spoiler alert: She's just an unhappy person, and college was not better.

Her outcomes were the same as they would have been had she stayed for four years. A couple of state flagships, a few well-regarded SLACs.

[Anonymous]

I think if you have a kid autonomous to decide they want to do this - and able to figure out how to do it - then you sit back and let them take the wheel. No need to interfere. I might offer the option of a gap year.

[Anonymous]

I know a kid that graduated early and was accepted to Penn State. I think the kid did fine academically but not as well socially......

[Anonymous]

These kids always struggle socially.

[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

Same here. Had a friend who skipped senior year and started at USC early. Also heard of a credible parent story whose kid got into Vanderbilt during junior year.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add another idea to the mix. I know at least two kids who were just done with their high school and wanted the chance to go to college with their peers. Both kids were sent to "senior year abroad" programs where they lived with a host family and became fluent in another language. Also applied for colleges at the same time and I'm sure their applications were more interesting than someone applying junior year with only 2.5 years on their transcript.

[Anonymous]

if you can afford it, there is also the option of going to a couple one-semester school programs, such as the High Mountain Institute in CO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Gap year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Plenty of big, expensive state schools that will be happy to take his money. Look at UGA, OSU, UCSB (bit of a reach, this one), MSU, ASU, UArizona

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Gap year.

College at a fun school is probably more fun than a gap year for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Nothing bad, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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”.

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.

Dormitories.

Back in the day, before gifted and talented programs, the smarter kids just skipped grades. I spent the first 2 years of college in a dormitory with a cafeteria on the 1st floor.