I am thinking about graduating high school early, any advice and/or suggestions?

Question

*I am number 10 in my class.
*I am bored with my teachers and classes.
*When I graduate I plan to go to college.
*It is possible to do this at my school.
*I need a challenge.
*I just need someone else's opinion.

Answer 1

As someone who was so bored in high school that my parents were afraid I would drop out, I can sympathize. But I think whether this is a good idea depends upon what you plan to do after high school.

If you are not planning to go on to college, unless you are currently working and your family really needs the money, I wouldn't advise it. It is hard enough to find a decent job with only a high school diploma, and if you graduate early, you add another handicap to your ability to find something worthwhile.

If you are going on to college, are you planning on going right on to college early, or do you plan to do something else?

If you are going to college directly, the field you want to go into might determine whether or not this is a good idea. If you are in the sciences, you might be fine. There seem to be a lot of people there who graduated early, and it doesn't seem to be a problem for them. In business, however, or other fields in which credibility is important, I've heard students say that they had trouble finding jobs when they graduated before the age of 21 or so.

If you are planning on taking time off before college, make sure you have a specific plan for what you want to do - travel, volunteer, work, etc. You don't want to rush things, miss the high school experience, and then waste time with nothing to do.

Answer 2

I did not like high school. I was bored with it and did not like the rules, and my grades were pretty bad. My district had an independent study program that I enrolled in until I could take and pass the California High School proficiency Exam (you can be 16, you need to be 17 to take the GED). After I passed the CHSPE I enrolled in college. You really have to know what career path to go after so that you know what degree you want to pursue in college. It took me a long time and I wasted a few years not knowing. But you will like the flexibility that college offers. The independent study program in high school was at a continuation high school. I went once a week to have a teacher look over my work and get assigned new work. I got to choose my classes and I earned credits faster. You go at your own pace which can be pretty fast since you are not spending all day in school you can work faster. I enjoyed it but you need to have interaction with people during the day so that you don't get cabin fever. So plan on having some kind of activity even if it is getting a part time job. Once you start college you will meet people and get involved on campus.

Answer 3

If by 'graduate early' you mean 'drop out', then don't. Really, it will all end in tears.
If, on the other hand you are academically advanced and considering an early entry into university or the workforce, then you have more useful options. Several people I know who got out of high school early took a year off before entering university aligned with the rest of their age group, and found great benefit in the extra year. One smarty-pants got his degree at age 18, and apart from being a precocious asshole, is doing rather well for himself.

Answer 4

I don't know if you can graduate earlier, but I would suggest you take classes in community college so that you can graduate college earlier and you get more credits for your high school. Moreover, you might get higher GPA for your honor GPA..