Graduation or GED?

SteslaS · 09-09-2008, 01:54 PM

Alright, this is my dilemma.

Due to a certain incident at school I am forced to stop taking classes at my high school, instead, because I have all the credits needed to graduate, I am giving the option of taking classes at a local CC.

My classes and grades (highest/lowest possible)
Speech A/B
H Physics A/B
Info Processing A/B
AP Lit C/F
AP World A/B
work Exp A

My rank is 169/874 which puts me in the top 20%
My UW GPA is around 3.39
W GPA is around 3.7, +/-1
My HS transcript is 2x longer than the average person - I took much more classes, independent study and community college.
My financial situation is terrible, even with financial aid more then 5k in loans each year is out of the question.

Considering all of these what would be more appealing for colleges and the best choice in general?
-Graduate in April while taking CC classes.
-Get my GED, apply to spring semester for colleges
-Get my GED, attend CC for two years then transfer to a 4yr college.
-Take a CHESP (I'm not sure on the name), basically California test to graduate early but it does not count out of state.

Thanks for reading and serious advice greatly appreciated.

v.1.1, I am posting this multiple subforums because I don't think everyone browses this whole forum.

v.1.2, My prospective colleges are mostly composed of those found on the 'Colleges that Change lives' list, UC's. added one more option.

karajanhra · 09-09-2008, 03:34 PM

Graduate while taking CC classes. Graduating is almost universally preferred over a GED. (I don't know anything about the CHESP, so I don't know if that would be the same as graduating normally.)

happymomof1 · 09-10-2008, 09:10 AM

Within California, CHESP is considered to be equivalent to graduating. I have no idea whether it is useful anywhere else in the world. I say Graduate while taking the CC courses. If you don't get into any of your schools (or don't get enough financial aid), then you always have the option of spending a year or two more at the CC and then transferring. If you stay within the California public system, you will be guaranteed a transfer.

Good luck!