Interesting Debate

Colleges & Universities Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>Heh, so my friend and I had a rather interesting debate today, and I am curious as to what others think. I’ll put it in context of my situation, since this is an idea I have toyed with, though mainly for hypothetical purposes. Seems like an interesting idea to consider though:</p>

<p>So, my senior year at school seems rather pointless - I’m just taking 4 classes at school because school has basically run out of interesting/challenging classes for me, and doing a lot of independent study. I’m self-studying math, my major, because I’ve kind of run out of affordable classes to take (local state U is really expensive). Though doing independent study is worthwhile, it’s hard while I also have classes to devote myself to independent study, because there are always those required things that I have to do before doing other things that are not for grades/not for credit/etc.</p>

<p>The question is: what if I were to, assuming colleges would not reject me/rescind acceptances, just drop out of school in this situation, and instead completely dedicate myself to pursuing really interesting independent projects - do research, dedicate myself to those interesting/crazy piano pieces one has been wanting to learn, prepare for math competitions, use Open Course-Ware to learn college classes that interest me, volunteer, work, etc. Would it be worth not graduating (school requires 4 years of english+history), but having the time to just completely delve into awesome experiences? Or is it worth it to stay in school for four classes, doing less-cool things, in order to graduate, be with friends, not take the risk that individual projects would not work out, etc? Or what about a mix, like taking english and history in order to graduate, then leaving and pursuing really cool projects?</p>

<p>I’m just saying this to spur debate - I’d like to stress that it’s more of a theoretical question than anything. But interesting to see what people think. I mean, people always say, don’t burn out your senior year, and don’t slack off. But what happens when staying in school seems more like slacking off than pursuing independent projects? I’ve read about people who quit school to study X for their senior year, and it’s always sounded like a rather dangerous but interesting choice. What would you say?</p>

2

<p>Well if you’re really into getting out of high school I would just take the 2 classes you need to graduate and then leave. No sense leaving without graduating.</p>

3

<p>i’m pretty sure you have to graduate. i like the idea though, but you have to be pragmatic- not graduating WILL get you rescinded from college.</p>

4

<p>if you were ABSOLUTELY SURE colleges wouldn’t rescind (and i bet they would…) then it sounds like a really good plan.</p>

5

<p>Well if this were anything more than hypothetical, I’d obviously ask colleges before doing it, and explain VERY CLEARLY the independent study plans. But some colleges (MIT, I believe, for example), do not REQUIRE a high school diploma in order for you to attend.</p>

<p>But it’s mainly just hypothetical :-D</p>

6

<p>According to the Common Data Set, which can be found here
[MIT</a> Office of the Provost, Institutional Research](<a href=“MIT Institutional Research”>MIT Institutional Research)
one does not need to have a high school diploma or GED to come to MIT.</p>

7

<p>do it do it do it!!!</p>

8

<p>I will say that I was in a similar situation. My senior year was a joke – I was taking:
AP Physics B (i cut school on Nov.1 when my stanford EA wa due, my teacher failed me on a pretty big quiz and refused to let me make it up, and I still got an A in the class)
AP Pysch (yeah total bs)
Weight Training (required to graduate as I had only taken PE freshman year prev.)
Gov/Econ (required)
AP English Lit (only hard class)
Journalism (my fun class. I frequently cut my other classes to go to the journalism room to mess around, use the computer, play games, oh and of course, work on the paper)</p>

<p>I will say that Journalism, and being able to spend a lot of time chilling with my friends, as well as my academic competition (quiz bowl, science bowl, etc.) teams, was really the only reason I feel that my senior year wasn’t a complete waste. I sure didn’t learn anything in any class except AP English Lit. </p>

<p>Enjoy slacking off while you can – college, no matter where you go, will be intense. I took that philosophy senior year – just mess around doing absolutely nothing. I don’t regret it now because I won’t have that kind of chill time until I retire from my career (whatever that may be) 30-40 years down the line.</p>

9

<p>I suggest that you don’t drop out (even hypothetically). The end of your senior year is a great time, since like you, others are getting into colleges, and the pressure is lessening. You’ll have all summer to learn the things you want to, but you’re running out of time for being a HS’er. Once you are in college, you’re sorta in the real world. You’re just another person in the spectrum of all adults. So as weird as it must sound, enjoy HS while you still can, and enjoy being a kid.</p>

10

<p>Can you just take english/history and spend your spare time on OCW/projects? Or do you need to take more classes in order to graduate?</p>

<p>I just code and design drivetrains in boring/non-challenging classes :P</p>

11

<p>My perspective may be somewhat different, because I’m the parent of an MIT freshman and a college professor.</p>

<p>I would strongly recommend against dropping out of high-school the senior year after having fulfilled the graduation requirements. Here’s why:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Dropping would require some lengthy explanation to college admissions officers who might not understand. You’d have to overcome the perception that you succumbed to a severe case of senioritis, did not have the capacity to finish high school with flying colors, or that you lost your focus. MIT’s admission letter states quite clearly that the Institute expects seniors to continue to apply themselves throughout the school year. Because dropping out could imperil your admission at MIT and some other selective universities, it could be viewed as an act of self-sabatoge. I’d have to say that is how I would view it, having served as a faculty member on an admissions committee at my university. Some individuals, young or old, unconsciously set themselves up to fail in some way. I’ve seen it again and again.</p></li>
<li><p>Given that you are only taking 4 classes in high school, what’s to stop you from engaging in the creative endeavours you describe? Why not just drop the independent studies and spend your time doing other things? Over the years, I’ve often found that the most creative and engaged individuals are the most busy. I’ve had many students who believed that they could not undertake a project unless they had a huge block of free time, but when that block of time became available, they still procrastinated. I think your courseload offers you lots of time to pursue your interests, and I’m not convinced that leaving high school would be a necessary first step to engaging in other activities.</p></li>
<li><p>Take a gap year. The MIT admissions website has links that discuss this, and MIT actually recommends it. After gaining admission to the Institute, take a year off to travel, explore, invent something, learn a new language, and so on.</p></li>
</ol>

12

<p>Since this is all hypothetical , here are my add-ons to this hypotheses:</p>

<p>You took the year off, b/c High school’s run out of interesting classes. You plan to do something you really like (btw I have been wanting to master some piano pieces too but caught up with school). Now:
so far you have been under a system… of constant testing and evaluation in school. Plus, you might have had a steady routine at home too to suit ur school needs. Now, what might happen if all of a sudden you found yourself…free…unchained…??
My point is ‘discipline’ is something you do not want to lose. And by taking things into your own hands, you risk losing it.</p>

13

<p>sounds nice plans…but I’d rather be safe and graduate out of HS…u never know how u might get caught up and receive less scholarship or stuffs even.</p>