Graduating from high school early will not be easy. Graduating early takes a lot of hard work and making sure you have everything in place to pursue a college degree.
If you’re thinking of trying to graduate high school early, first think carefully about whether it’s really right for you. If you ultimately believe it is, the sooner you start formulating a plan to achieve this goal, the better off you’ll be. And when you find out, rely on resources like your parents, high school counselor, and other academic advisors.
Keep reading as we cover how to determine if graduating early is a good option for you and then how to create a plan to do so.
Understand if graduating early is right for you
Graduating from high school early isn’t for everyone. As you weigh a decision, it is important to consider whether it will help or hurt you in the long run.
Here are some reasons why this is the right choice for you:
- Your high school classes don’t challenge you
- You already have a nascent career, and early graduation will help advance your career
- You expect to enter a technical or highly specialized field with a long education and want to get a head start
- Want to take college classes before starting college full time
While there are many reasons why this is the right choice for you, it is not the right choice for everyone. The high school years are crucial, both socially and developmentally. In other words, don’t rush out of high school just because you think it’s too easy.
Steps to take if you want to graduate early
There are a few steps you should take to prepare to graduate early from high school while also evaluating whether it is the right option for you.
Talk to your high school counselor
High school counselors are there to help you navigate your high school years and the college admissions process. When you start thinking about graduating early, go to a counselor for advice and ideas on how to go about it.
You’ll want to speak to a counselor as soon as possible, as there is a lot of planning that needs to be done before graduating early. Here are some things you’ll want to find out during your meeting:
- What are the requirements for early graduation?
- Is there a workable class schedule that can help you achieve your goal of graduating early?
- What are the minimum academic requirements for early graduation (such as if I need a certain GPA)?
After meeting with your advisor, you should come up with an idea of what’s possible when it comes to graduating early. From there, you can begin to outline your plan for graduating early, including which classes to take and how they fit into your schedule.
Make a plan
Once you understand the requirements for graduating early from your high school, you’ll be able to begin formulating a plan for doing so (this may involve more meetings with your high school counselor).
Planning to graduate high school early means you’ll likely have an intense course load, and that may involve being creative. For example, can you take classes online, attend a summer school, or are there alternative educational opportunities that will help you meet your requirements?
Sketch it all out, and have a plan of how you can meet all your requirements. Even if you’re just a freshman in high school, you might want to consider scheduling several years of schooling as soon as possible.
Consider all options
As you consider what you need to do to graduate early, be sure to consider all options. If the reason you want to graduate early from high school is because you want to get a good start in college, there may be other options to consider, such as dual enrollment programs that allow you to earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. school. In some cases, you can enroll in one of these programs and graduate with a high school diploma and associate degree.
Final thoughts
Graduating from high school early takes a lot of hard work and dedication, not to mention the determination to know the logistics of where and how to take all the required courses. If you feel this is the right move for you, be sure to talk to your parents and your high school counselor to put together the right plan.