<p>I’m starting to write an essay about my decision to take all of my high school classes at the University of Minnesota rather than my high school. My academic records at both schools are really good (3.9 UW GPAs roughly), but in the essay I talk a lot about the lack of academic freedom/stimulation at my high school. </p>
<p>I was wondering if this would discredit my record from my high school and hurt my chances or whether admissions officers would see that I took it upon myself to seek out a difficult curriculum and performed just as well. If it helps, I got a 32 on the ACT my first time with no studying, if that provides any mark of my aptitude/ability.</p>
<p>I shouldn’t be done with it for a few days yet, but if anyone wants to read it then, I’d be happy for any constructive criticism you can provide.</p>
<p>Do you mean you want to “graduate” early, take courses and Uni of Minnesota your senior year and then start college after graduation? If you feel you are not being challenged enough at your high school and have absolutely no courses to take, then you probably should take classes at the college. However, if there are any high school courses you can still take, you should take those while taking some at the college. Usually you are not given credit for college courses prior to graduation; however, you are given credit for AP scores. I’d be happy to provide any constructive criticism when you’re done.</p>
<p>Bad mouthing your high school is unwise imo. </p>
<p>Better to talk about the good things at U of Minn rather than the bad things at your high school.</p>
<p>Better yet to find a topic that allows you to be the most personal, detailed, honest and revealing about yourself as possible. Are you sure that talking about U of Minn allows for that type of essay?</p>
<p>I’ve taken all of my academic classes at U of Minn. since my junior year. I chose to do so not because I wanted to graduate early, simply because I didn’t like the curriculum available to me at my high school. It seemed as if neither teachers nor students had much interest in learning. Grading was based primarily on busy work, and, although I completed it successfully, I didn’t really think I was learning much. </p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll graduate early from college considering where I am looking: mainly private colleges in New England.</p>
<p>I realized that making statements such as “My high school was terrible” or “Thank god I got out of there!” won’t really get me anywhere with the admissions officers. If I focus on my decision to leave the high school education system and the independence that I gained because of it, could it work? I’ll acknowledge that my decision to do so was just that, my decision. As with most essays, I figure that the most successful assessment would probably result just from reading the essay itself.</p>
<p>Colleges are mainly concerned with whether you will be successful there, fit in, and like the college. Writing anything negative about your current school may give them reason to think that in a few years you will also be complaining about them and also that you won’t fit in socially. They may peg you as a whiner and complainer. </p>
<p>I would suggest writing in detail about a single experience that changed you. It could be from a university class that you took (which would also highlight your university coursework). For example, you could focus on a particular assignment or a class that you really got passionate about. I think that would be more interesting to read than a rather broad essay about education. When I read articles or books I prefer to read specific stories and examples rather than generalizations.</p>