I am deciding whether or not to graduate high school after 3 years - I’m currently at the end of my sophomore year. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and I plan to maintain that throughout high school regardless of which path I decide on. If I graduated early, I would end high school with 9 or 10 AP classes and 2 honors classes. I want to give myself lots of good options after I apply to college; this means that my applications list spans from state universities to the Ivies, but mostly centers around schools with 7 - 15 percent acceptance rates. I have a solid list of extracurriculars - national qualifier in Debate and BPA (business professionals of America), 2x state champ in BPA, Academic All State, Key Club, Mock Trial, Newspaper. I have leadership in debate, mock trial, and newspaper. I also started my own interview radio show with over 100 interviews, produce another interview show, and am trying to finalize a summer internship with a digital journalism magazine in my area. I want to go to school for English or journalism. The prospect of staying in HS for two more years is really grim, but tell me, do you think that it would be worth it in the long run to wait it out and graduate on the normal path? Am I set up in a solid position to be accepted to top schools or Ivies if I graduate early? I’ve heard both answers but need to settle on a decision soon. Thanks in advance, Elijah.
I also recently attended a fairly selective program (1 of 8 selected from pool of 64) through a local university in South Korea aimed at immersive Korean language learning and cultural immersion.
Will you meet all district and state requirements to graduate?
Will you have 4 years of English, math, social science, science, and foreign language?
You should talk with your HS counselor about this.
Do you have an SAT/ACT?
Why schools with a 7-15% acceptance rate - when there are fabulous J schools with 40%+ acceptance rates?
What’s the difference between a BU - 11% and a Pitt at 50%? Or Syracuse of 40%+
Not much…well except SU is arguably the best J School in the country.
Focus on fit and not acceptance rate.
Yes, I have met with both my counselor (extensively) and school post-secondary advisor and will exceed my school’s requirements. No SAT or ACT yet, waiting on pre-ACT and would take ACT in the summer, which I have been studying for. I will have 4 years of English, math, and social studies and 3 years of foreign language and science.
I have other schools on my list (in fact a majority) that are not in that 7 - 15% range. The reason that I included that range is because I want to be admitted to some of these schools as well to give me a good range of options. Yes, SU or the Cronkite School to add another name are great options, but Medill at Northwestern is as well and I don’t want to be boxed out from either end of the range.
We all want that.
I suspect you will have less chance at those with just three years - but you need to talk to an expert - including the schools themselves.
But again, what does a Medill give you that a Cronkite doesn’t, etc.
Forget the slectivity.
But if you want a range, you have it backwards - that would be the bottom end.
I’m not a fan of this - and I think three years language and science could hurt at the tippy top. Even an SU - Newhouse will be more competitive than the school - but programs like - depending on the type of journalism, an Ohio U, Ithaca, etc. would be more reasonable as back ups.
The other issue is maturity - everyone will be a year older - and some schools may not allow you to live in dorms…but you’ll always be a year back age wise / socially.
I’m not a fan but of course, I wish you best of luck if you pursue this route.
I’m not sure what this means and you don’t have to answer here. But your safety and mental health are most important.
Generally those with only three years of HS are at a disadvantage in admissions to the types of schools you are talking about. Schools with below a 20% acceptance rate are reaches for all unhooked applicants. And with only three years of science and FL that will put you at a disadvantage, not to mention you will have fewer ECs and less time to make an impact/grow into leadership roles as compared to many of those with an additional year of HS.
So, I wouldn’t recommend graduating early, unless there are reasons that staying in HS is not safe and/or conducive to your mental health. As long as you would be happy attending a school with higher acceptance rates you would be able to go to college after three years of HS.
For journalism, Northwestern, Syracuse, ASU, and U Missouri should all be given serious consideration.
Since you will have all of the typical requirements completed after 3 years of high school, then moving on to college is fine if your letters of recommendation include positive comments about your maturity.
Many who major in journalism double major so as to develop an area of expertise (such as economics or foreign affairs). Proficiency or fluency in another language can also be helpful for one’s career prospects.
Based on your shared information, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to prolong high school as your accomplishments are substantial.
U Missouri welcomes qualified non-resident journalism majors with a $1,500 per year scholarship and the chance for additional scholarships.