Wow! Que bueno es saber que puedo hablar con otra latina aquí! (It’s good to know I can talk with another latina here!) It sounds like you have a lot of experience in this matter. My dad is a Veteran who did not finish college, and my Mom did not finish because of financial issues, but is now a teacher, I have talked to them both about my options regarding student loans, payments, where I want to go, and what my situation is, yet most of the time, my parents do not have experience in the matter and are not able to provide guidance although they try.
Thank you for your advice and examples, I will certainly keep this in mind.
My parents have always raised me to have good morals and to treat everyone with respect and dignity, no matter what. I always try my best to follow their advice and lead with that when being in leadership positions.
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Good to know. Thanks, I will try to take classes that are just taking up time, but are requirements, so I can focus on AP’s and Honors classes.
Yes, there are a lot of us here on this website, but we’re not allowed to use other languages on this site but here goes: Espero que tomes nuestros avisos en serio. (For my non-bilingual posters: “I am hopeful that you take our advice in a serious vein”.)
Later on, you may want to take French, because it was very helpful when I traveled to Barcelona to meet my daughter in Spain. I could read the Catalán language on signs, because it was French/Spanish with some Moorish (daughter could interpret the Moorish parts).
(French is Latin-rooted so it’s a pretty easy, fast subject to learn. It’s been very helpful with my Portuguese interpretation.)
Yes, I think taking French next year, as it would be very helpful, and then I want to look into maybe doing an exchange year. (if I can find a affordable program)
I also think I’d be open to staying in state if I have to, but I would much prefer out of state.
Stick with getting as much Spanish credit as your school will allow, because most schools tell you they want two years of a foreign language. That’s bare bones and an admissions committee will bypass your transcript if other bilingual kids have more.
The CSU’s and UC’s in California expect students to have at least three years, but four years is “recommended”. In real conversation, it means they expect you to have four years of foreign language recorded on your transcript.
Open up the UC application and look at what they require for admission into the schools. They have it spelled out perfectly. Don’t apply to the UCs, because you can’t afford it. It’s $90,000 a year for out-of-state students without any kind of funding. This is the guide that the students and families use to plot their high school coursework. It fits overall, with schools like HYPS.
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Since you mentioned this, you should look in to the GI Bill and other military college assistance programs that are available.
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Well, I have three Spanish credits, hopefully four next year, and am looking to take the AP Spanish exam. I just think taking french would be beneficial since I am already fluent, and I don’t know how only Spanish, as a bilingual kid may look on a application.
Good to know, he served for 12 years, is disabled, and we have usually always gotten some sort of help from them, but I did not know they offered stuff for college.
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I agree. The very huge majority of high school graduates never take a summer school course at all. They complete their course requirements AND electives during the regular academic year.
Summers could be spent doing something else…working, volunteering at your local newspaper, etc.
It sounds like you would not have completed all four years of HS credits without summer school. That says to me, that you made a choice to rush high school graduation.
I’ll agree with the above poster…you will never get these teen/hs years back. You should try to maximize what HS students do…not rush going to college.
It sounds like you really haven’t had any guidance regarding this graduating early idea, and that you are floating the idea. I would strongly urge you to consider what that fourth year of high school will do to positively impact your college admissions. There is plenty you can do staying in high school.
I know a number of journalists who worked for outlets that are common household names. One actually founded a very well known newspaper. Every journalist I know was the editor of their HS newspaper, and was active in producing their yearbook as well. As under classmen, they were news writers, and contributors in some way to other literary groups in HS. I don’t hear that you have done any of these things. Now is the time to get involved.
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I would have graduated without having to take any summer classes, I wanted to look into the idea to maximize the potential honors classes I could take next year. I was planning on volunteering or working anyway, as summer courses are not every day, 24/7, for the whole summer, although they are time-consuming. I will be in newspaper next year, hopefully as at least a officer, and am planning to be involved in Yearbook as well, not to mention I am already editor and president at my news site.
As for making a choice to rush my graduation, at first, during my freshman year, I was really into the idea that, that would help me further on. Now, I am aware that it would harm me in most scenarios rather than help me, so I am taking it slower, and not forcing anything. Do I have a plan? Sure. I am I absolutely sure I will be taking that path further on? No.
I just don’t need to take any additional classes to graduate, and if I do graduate, I am graduating with honors and even additional credits. So, I don’t think I’m “forcing” anything necessarily really.
All said, I still really appreciate all the advice I will definitely take into account when applying/deciding if I’ll be staying all four years.
In addition to the scholarship opportunities with AFS, look into the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which funds everything but airfare, documents/insurance, and spending money. https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges I don’t know whether a PG year is possible with Rotary, or whether you must still be in high school - I suspect the latter.
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I actually email Rotary, a few days ago, waiting back to hear their response. I am hopefully they get back to me as I would love to be part of that program if I do my senior year.
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I don’t think Yale, in and of itself, gives a huge leg up. (Although the “name” alone may get one noticed slightly more than some others.) I would contend that being able to say you were Editor In Chief of the Yale Daily News would be a genuine resume-booster… but that’s because there’s a lot of competition for a role like that, and anyone viewing your resume will know that you earned that spot over quite a few very-highly-qualified students. Attending a school like Yale gives one the opportunity to compete for such a distinction, but no guarantee that it’ll happen; the flip-side of that coin is that a student who might have set the world on fire at their public flagship could get shut out of competitive EC’s altogether at Yale - we hear about this happening at tippy-top schools all the time.
This is what I advised my students. You can contact the Veteran Affairs office, with your Dad, at whatever university you hope to attend. Ask them what paperwork would need to begin to use his GI bill and to be listed as his beneficiary.
As his daughter you may receive a number of other perks provided by the Veteran Affairs office. My former students got computers, free tutoring, school supplies, and got help with arranging their class schedules. Every university system is different, so you never know how they provide for the beneficiaries of veterans.
My dad was a veteran, as well, but I had no idea that I was eligible for his benefits because no one at my high school asked me about it. They all just assumed that I was this poor Mexican kid and that my Dad didn’t have any benefits.
Plus, as you get older and get a car, you are eligible for USAA insurance. They only serve Veterans and their dependents. Their rates are very good.
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Unless rotary has changed in the x years since I was familiar with it, you complete high school in your own country and then spend a year abroad essentially repeating (but very differently) a final year of high school.
Good to know! I thought my daughter’s friend who did Rotary went abroad junior year and returned for senior, but I could be mis-remembering.
That is what our friend did…maybe 8 years ago. Went abroad with Rotary for grade 11, and returned for senior year.
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Yeah, I see what you mean. I am trying to look at lots of options but being an editor at the daily news would most likely help me later in life, As would other schools too, but Yale is a especially eye-catching in my opinion. Although, I don’t want to have my hopes up too high.