Graduation

[Sleetfoot]

Ok, I have a serious delema here and I need advice from people who are, in no way effected. AS a result STARRY YOU HAVE NO PLACE HERE!!!

I have been on track to graduate a year early from High School for almost a year now. I really want to get out of high school and into college so i can start working on my degree. But then i heard Orchestra was being canceled next year. Well I talked to my BD today and he said we are going to do strings as an independent study with his guitar class. As a result, it will be available year round. Unfortunately, if I want to take it year round I wont be able to graduate as a junior.

Pros To Staying:
One more year with my friends
Four more semesters of orchestra
One more year of High School drama
Senior experiences *Prom*
Seven more electives
College credit classes in High School

Pros To Leaving:
College sooner therefore doctorate sooner
College experiences
Cheaper now than in a year
Out of state/abroad experiences
Get out of the house /More internet time
Classes from real professors *Rather than High School teachers*


So. I need advice from people who won't be biased in anyway. Please help me!!!

[Wildstar]

xD Well, just as long as you and your parents have enough money to get you into college, I think you should go ahead with it.

For me, once I leave for university, I may have to give up Anatheria, MountainClan, and everything I hold dear (not that this really has anything to do with your dilemma).

[Starlight]

I promise I'm ignoring the "one more year with my friends" part and the fact that I'm one of those friends when I say: stay. One more year of school won't kill you and you'll get all the other stuff (professors, out-of-state experiences, college experiences) either way. It's just a matter of sooner or later. Leaving college tuition as the only pro on the 'leave early' list. Also, last I heard your parents (mom) wanted you to go through high school.

And I'm a friend and totally not ignoring aforementioned point on the staying list when I say:
STAY, STUPID! I LUVS YOU!

And I totally have a place here. I have a place anywhere I wants 'cuz I kicked the sun out of the center of the universe and claimed the spot as my own. Now y'all revolve around ME.

AND a person who can't spell college doesn't belong in there yet. Pssh! Collage . . . . *shakes head*

[Willowfoot]

I think you should stay, if for no other reason than to get the classes for college credit.

It's wonderful that you have been offered this opportunity, but I think it would be best if you got the information you needed from your senior year. Also, I will say I'm very happy that you're aiming for a doctorate. There are too many people who won't even consider college.

...

I will take this moment to say YOU GUYS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE AN INFANT.

I seriously think I'm the youngest active member here. I'm going into high school next year. D8

[Sleetfoot]

Aw...*Hugs* I love likkle eitiets


Seriously though...STARRY!!!


Oh, I also forgot to put on the pros list for college that I can take Fencing as an actual class/ be on a team. Also, I get a $500 scholarship for graduating a year early.

[Willowfoot]

$500 scholarship? This changes everything!

Actually, it doesn't. $500 is not much of a scholarship. It won't do much for you.

I know a few ways to get a much bigger one in elective-type stuff by going to All-State in UIL, but I live in Texas, and I don't know if it works in other states. My dad happens to be a teacher so he knows these things, but you'll probably find a good source somewhere.

[Sleetfoot]

Yea, I know it isn't but it is still /some/thing. Probably...

[Willowfoot]

In Texas when you're in high school, if you get Best Actress at UIL All-State, you get a scholarship that pays for everything (Free ride).
If you make Al Star Cast at All-State, then I'm pretty sure it pays for your tuition. Not sure though.

These terms familiar? If not, I can't help you.

[Sleetfoot]

That's amazing! To bad I'm a techie...

[Bluesky]

Well, I say graduate early. o:

LOL Wills, I'm younger than you. Just thirteen a month and a half ago. xP

[Willowfoot]

Apr 22, 2009 17:26:39 GMT -5 Bluesky said:

LOL Wills, I'm younger than you. Just thirteen a month and a half ago. xP

OH RIGHT I TOTALLY FORGOT.

[Bluesky]

THANK. C:

[Lightfur]

Opening statement: It definitely depends on your high school.

--

My situation, which may or may not be relevant: I was going to graduate a year early, but I decided against it because my school offers a LOT of AP courses, and so by the time I graduate I'll have college credit for Biology, US History, World History, Psychology, French, English, Calculus, and possibly Chemistry. If you exhaust all courses in a subject area you can also do an Independent Study- I plan to do an Independent Study in Biology senior year, since my bio teacher says that he can 'sponsor' me so that I can do a genetics program from MIT over the Internet.

--

General conclusion and advice: So, if your school offers AP courses, don't go to college early. You can get college credit for only about eighty-five dollars a class, from your high school! Also, if your high school offers Dual Enrollment or Independent Study, see if they'll pay for you to take classes at a local community college or online courses from better colleges. I don't know how your school works, but at my school there are oodles of way to get college credits cheaply or for free, while remaining in high school.

If there is no AP program at your school, it's a tougher choice. Personally, I don't see the attraction in rushing out of high school at all. (The only reason that I wanted to graduate early was so that I could study in France for a year or so.) You have to leave your family. (Unless you go to a nearby college, which totally limits your options) I guess that might be an attraction for some people, though. I'm just really attached to my family. xD

In another year you'll be more well-rounded, have more experience, be more mature and ready. Plus you can apply for other scholarships. Sleety, someone as smart as you can get a nice scholarship or two, I'm sure. That'll make financing college much easier, and if you can get involved in a lot of extracurriculars or do well in some challenging courses, colleges will like you better. Also, I don't know what kind of SAT/ACT scores you got, but you can work on those and improve them as well.

I say don't grow up any faster than you have to. You're going to have to go to college and get a job eventually, but why rush that? You can learn in high school, too.

(Also, I approve of your aspirations towards a doctorate. =D You can totally do it, Sleety m'dear!)

[Sleetfoot]

Well, I've been thinking on this a lot, mostly about what you where saying, Lighty. My school does offer tons of duel enrollment/AP classes and I'm going to talk to my mom but I think I'm going to stay. I'm going to in role in Marching band first semester which is something I've wanted for a really long time. If I do that and take my orchestra classes I'll have room for three additional classes open that I can take college credit. I was thinking math and science and I want to TA for my Bio teacher.