I have been looking at acceptance rates, data and stats but I haven’t looked into that specifically. Thanks for the advice though.
Hi! I’m graduating early as a result of completing credits before entering high school early.
At first I wanted to apply to Harvard, but why? Recently, I’ve been looking at schools at Yale has seemed a better fit. I love the campus firstly, but also Yale’s English program is one of the best and they have a great student run journalism program, that I’ve read can provide great connections due to its alumni. I just think it would be a great option. Although, It wouldn’t be devastating If I did not go to Yale, would be just as happy going to Emerson or Syracuse, equally great schools.
I have extra credits from middle school and I really wouldn’t be doing anything substantial in my senior year.
Student loans: the Federally funded Direct Loan in your name only is $5500 for freshman, $6500 for sophomore, and $7500 each for junior and senior years. That will not fund the costs of most colleges.
You would benefit from attending a college that guarantees to meet full need for all accepted students. Most of these are highly selective schools with very low acceptance rates. Your application needs to be top notch to gain acceptance. Graduating early might not give you the edge you need to be accepted.
For merit awards, you need to be a superior applicant at most places. Even with that, there are not a lot of full ride merit scholarships.
Neither Yale nor Northwestern give merit aid…it’s need based aid only…IF you get accepted and are eligible.
Not sure what loans you think you can take, and in what amount.
Emerson, Syracuse and Mizzou do not guarantee to meet full need. And you will need to be a top applicant to get significant merit aid.
2 Likes
I’m aware it will most likely not cover my expenses, which is why I’m also taking dual credit this summer and next year. I’m trying to cover all my bases. I’m also thinking of doing a year of community collage here locally, which I think could give me some leverage, in regards to expenses. I also appreciate the advice as I’m trying to figure out my next steps.
How will you pay ? @thumper1 noted b4. Do you have a budget? Has your family run the NPC for any schools?
1 Like
Also, I’m sure if this makes sense, but I am my sophomore year of highschool, not my freshman year, I will be completing high school early on account of credits I completed early.
I really already will be completing all the credits I need and extra ones next year, which is when I will be graduating.
Can’t you take these classes in HS, 12th grade? In many districts, Dual Enrollment classes are free or reduced cost as compared to the CC price you pay after you’ve graduated HS. And that preserves your freshman year status. Transfers often receive less financial aid then incoming first years.
7 Likes
I am currently a sophomore, not freshman. I completed extra credits in middle school and I would have no credits I need in 12th grade. (will also be graduating with more credits than the necessary) Next year I will be my junior year, in which I will be doing free dual credit classes. I am also planning on taking some during the summer which could save me anywhere from 2,000-8,000 dollars, considering the amount of classes I will be taking.
Yale is not likely to give credit for multiple DE courses…
Based on what you’ve written….slow down!
5 Likes
That’s what I’m mostly figuring out right now, I’m planning on having a meeting with my parents about financial stuff. I plan to work this year and during the summer, and I am also taking dual credit which, (If I go to a school where it’s accepted) could save me money. I also asked this as a hypothetical question, as right now I am trying to decide what my next steps will be, I might go to community college, I might do some internships, who knows?
I would, but I’m not trying to speed up persay, I just happen to have many credits from before and I don’t have any credits left to do in senior year. I also wrote this as a hypothetical question, as I’m still exploring my options and whether I would like to attend community collage, or maybe gain some experience with internships, go into the workforce or travel!
Also, I’m aware Ivy’s do not take APs or DE but I just listed Yale as one of my options, not all of them, I’m planning (if I do decide to apply to colleges next year, to apply to only a small selection of Ivys, and apply to some other much less selective and DE taking collages.)
(I’m pretty sure I’m eligible for biased need)
So some schools are need aware - meaning they may find you but you may also be rejected if you need too much.
Some are need blind.
Your test score will tell a lot. We also don’t know about your course rigor. What’s your highest math level ? Science ? Foreign Langiage ? Social Science ? English ? Will you have four years of credit of each and what’s the highest level of each ?
I don’t think you can be chanced until then.
If your family makes less than $65k, you might consider Quest Bridge.
You are clearly driven. As a journalist, that matters far more than Medill, Newhouse or your local state school…so thinks this Newhouse grad.
1 Like
Thank you. I do consider myself driven, as my family has experienced many hardships and I have had to learn maturity and resilience the hard way. I will definitely be reporting back when I take my SAT’s and get them back, My dream is to be a Journalist, and I heard somewhere to be one, you must be able to take rejection and adversity head on. Let’s just say I am working on that. As for my courses, next year I am planning on taking 2-3 AP’s, many english elective and Pre-Cal, Although, considering your advice, I might just take some Math classes during the summer to be able to advance in making my course rigor stronger, and be able to take more AP’s. I am also fluent in Spanish and have three credits from that. As for english, I am not worried about that, as if needed, I can take more english classes.
Don’t take math in summer. It’s foundational.
You will need four years of language -some won’t take fluency.
Journalism is poor paying, today many are on contract. Many schools will require a minor or double major due to the lack of opportunity - supply far exceeds demand of talent.
I say driven because of this … I run my own News site with 15+ staff, from 10+ countries, entirely teen run, I ran my own summer camp generating hundreds of dollars,
You don’t need a journalism degree to be a journalist. You don’t even need a college degree.
I wish you luck but given what you are describing yourself academically, you should stay four years. It sounds like you’ll need graduation standards, but not elite college standards. You didn’t list science and social science. I’ll assume that means you’ve not taken four years of each.
It doesn’t sound like you are close to ready academically.
And you’ll need a 1500+ SAT for Yale/NU in addition to strength academically.
Sorry - just how I see it. Maybe I’m wrong.
Are any of these credits from actual HS coursework? Or is it all credit by exam? If the latter, it won’t make a competitive application. Colleges are looking for coursework taken in HS.
2 Likes
Actually, I meet requirements for each subject, and I only mentioned the ones I most excel in, and in my district, only two years of language are required, and the credits I have will be from being taken in high school. I have also communicated with counselor about all of this and she has assured me I qualify for every subject, otherwise how would I graduate? I have already have created a plan with my school that ensures I graduate with honors, and with more credits than I need. Also, I will ensure I prep for the SAT’s as much as I can, so I will not be coming out with something I am not satisfied with. Also, I would (if not Journalism) apply for an English Major, which is the case for many of the schools I am looking at.
This an important point and I don’t want it to get lost. If you take Community College classes any time from the fall after your high school graduation on, in most places you will be a TRANSFER applicant, not a freshman applicant. That both changes your likelihood of admission, and your likelihood of merit aid. It’s a different ballgame. If you want to be a freshman applicant to colleges, you can not take classes after graduation (often with the exception of summer, but not beyond).
If possible, this is a much better plan.
3 Likes