Graduating one year early from high school, any anecdotes?

[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.