
5 Pros of Graduating High School Early
- Be Done with High School Faster. Of course, the most obvious benefit of graduating high school early is simply being done faster. ...
- Skip Senioritis. ...
- Pursue Opportunities Before College. ...
- Finish College Ahead of Time. ...
- Find More Intellectual Challenges. ...
- Get an Early Start on Your Career. Not every rewarding career requires a college degree. ...
- Start Your College Career Early. ...
- Challenge Yourself Academically. ...
- Gain Independence. ...
- Stand Out to Colleges. ...
- Take a Gap Year. ...
- Tailor Your Interests. ...
- Avoid “Senioritis”
What are good reasons to graduate from high school early?
You may only need to take a few classes, leaving the rest of the day open to:
- Explore job opportunities in your expected major
- Sign up for volunteer work in your area of interest, which can lead to scholarships or class credit in college the following year
- Earn money at part-time jobs to pay for housing or other necessities when you are enrolled full time in college
Is it worth graduating high school a year early?
You can get an early start on your career. The most significant advantage you receive when graduating from high school early is the opportunity to get started on your career. Even if you only get an extra year available from this process, that gives you an opportunity to pursue an internship doing something you love.
Should high school graduates take a year off before college?
This is due to many reasons, but the main factor is that having a year of time off between the end of high school and the beginning of college will cause you to take your education more seriously.
What are the benefits of starting school early?
What Is the Advantage of Having School Start Early?
- After-school Activities. The earlier students are dismissed from school, the more time they have to participate in after-school programs and activities.
- Jobs. Many students take on after school jobs at a certain age. ...
- Homework. Completing homework is a burden for many children, especially after a long school day. ...
- Other Responsibilities. ...

Is graduating HS early worth it?
Pros To Graduating Early Here's one of the biggest advantages of graduating high school early. It is that it allows you to get a head start on your career. The sooner you graduate from high school and then college, the sooner you will be able to start working and earning.
What is a good reason to graduate early?
Graduating a semester early can save money and soothe financial stress. Entering the job market in December or January, rather than waiting until May when you're scheduled to graduate, not only saves you tuition money and means fewer potential loans, but means you can start earning sooner.
Does graduating early look good for colleges?
In reality, colleges don't view early graduates any differently. In the end, the transcript will look the same as someone who took four years to earn their diploma aside from their being fewer semesters on the list.
What are the benefits of high school graduation?
Why finish high school?Earnings. With a diploma, you're likely to earn 40% more income than someone without one.Employability. Your chances of being employed rise by 33% when you finish high school.Advancement. You need a high school degree to go to college, and for most good jobs.Satisfaction. ... Being a role model.
What are the pros and cons of graduating early?
Pros & Cons of Graduating From College EarlyPro: You Could Start Grad School Sooner. ... Con: You May Miss Out on Learning Opportunities. ... Pro: You Can Enter the Workforce Sooner. ... Con: You May Miss Out on the Full College Experience. ... Pro: You Could Save Money. ... Con: You May Have to Start Paying Off Student Loans Sooner.More items...•
Is graduating in 3 years worth it?
More industry experience – Earning a college degree within three years will allow you to gain more industry experience. You'll begin your post-graduate career path, whether working for a big corporation or starting your own company.
Who is the youngest person to ever graduate from college?
Michael KearneyBornJanuary 18, 1984 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Known forChild prodigy, youngest person ever to graduate from college (age 10 years)
Can you graduate high school 16?
When we hear of someone graduating from high school at fifteen or sixteen we naturally think, “Wow, that must be some whiz kid!” But how about typical students: can they graduate at age sixteen and still have a quality education? The answer is, “Yes.” Read on.
Why should students not graduate early?
Graduating early may have some downsides, too. It can be overwhelming trying to finish your graduation requirements ahead of schedule. It can also be socially isolating to be on a different path from your friends and peers. Additionally, you will have less time to develop a competitive college application profile.
Is it worth finishing high school?
By finishing high school and going on to further education, you are far more likely to get a better job, as the best and most interesting jobs tend to require applicants to have at least an associate's degree, if not a bachelor's degree. You're also far more likely to earn a better salary over your working life.
What are 5 benefits of a high school diploma?
Take a look at 6 reasons you should consider earning your high school diploma.Better career opportunities. ... Higher pay. ... Most colleges prefer a high school diploma. ... An education improves your skills. ... Less risk of being unemployed. ... Earning a high school diploma is easier than it was in the past.
How does graduating high school affect your life?
Increased educational attainment provides individuals with the opportunity to earn a higher income and gain access to better living conditions, healthier foods, and health care services. Overall, high school graduation has the potential to improve population health.
Who is the youngest person to ever graduate from college?
Michael KearneyBornJanuary 18, 1984 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Known forChild prodigy, youngest person ever to graduate from college (age 10 years)
Why should students not graduate early?
Graduating early may have some downsides, too. It can be overwhelming trying to finish your graduation requirements ahead of schedule. It can also be socially isolating to be on a different path from your friends and peers. Additionally, you will have less time to develop a competitive college application profile.
How many high school credits do you need to graduate in VA?
22 standard(Word). To graduate with a Standard Diploma for students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2018-2019 and beyond, a student must earn at least 22 standard units of credit and five verified units of credit.
Get an Early Beginning on Your Career
Not every rewarding career necessitates a college degree. Like electricians, construction workers, and plumbers, many traders begin with on-the-job apprenticeships and other forms of training. Nevertheless, as U.S.
Start Your University Career Early
Most high school students who opt to graduate early do so to pursue their postsecondary education at an institution that enables them to enroll midyear or even a year early. Getting a jump-start on earning a college or university degree allows learners to enter the workforce a year or more ahead of their classmates.
Academically Challenge Yourself
The one-size-fits-all curriculum of most high school programs fails to engage advanced learners and make the best utilization of the time they spend in the class. A major advantage of graduating high school early for these learners is the chance to study topics and material that will enable them to progress faster in their chosen fields.
Gain Independence
The maturity needed for pursuing early graduation is also a major reason for wanting to make a quick exit. Notably, high schools tend to be rigidly structured learning environments since most high school learners aren’t yet capable of being responsible for their own academics, let alone the duties that come with life after high school.
Stand Out to Universities or Colleges
Learners who test out of high school courses and finish ahead of schedule can make an impression on potential employers and college recruiters.
Take a Gap Year
Not all education takes place in classrooms, study halls, libraries, and labs. Attaining a high school diploma earlier opens opportunities for graduates to pursue interests outside of school.
Tailor Your Interests
A small number of high schools can match the range of subjects that universities and colleges offer their learners. Once an individual has discovered the field they intend to pursue as a career, they may tailor their elective programs to match their interests.
What are the downsides of graduating early?
Downsides of Graduating Early. The last year of high school may seem to drag, but it is also filled with activities for seniors as they launch into the future. There is a sense of excitement as the group of graduates get ready to exit the final years of basic education and enter the adult world. Graduating early also means leaving ...
Why do people graduate college early?
There are many reasons to graduate college early, from gaining access to excellent career opportunities to getting a jump start on a master's or doctoral degree.
Why do parents worry about graduating high school early?
They worry that they may miss out on important social elements that senior year can bring as well as jumping into the adult world before being ready and truly mature enough.
What makes you stand out to college admissions officers?
Graduating early with high grades and high test scores on the ACT, SAT or both makes you stand out to college admissions officers
What does it mean to graduate early?
Graduating early also means leaving the protection and community that a high school setting can provide. Entering the adult world requires maturity and an ability to work and make decisions independently.
Does taking AP classes help you get a year off of college?
Students who take AP classes with college credit can shave a year of college off their tuition.
What are the pros and cons of graduating early?
List of the Pros of Graduating Early from High School. 1. You can get an early start on your career. The most significant advantage you receive when graduating from high school early is the opportunity to get started on your career.
What states give scholarships to high school graduates?
If you live in the state of Indiana and you graduate from high school early, then you will receive a $4,000 reward. Idaho, Minnesota, Utah, and South Dakota all provide incentive scholarships to students as a way to encourage them to get through their high school studies faster. Once you have covered your tuition and living expenses ...
Why is school so challenging for teens?
6. It gives you an opportunity to set your own schedule. Going to school is challenging for many teens because of the hours that are set by the public school system. Most young adults have a biorhythm which has them feeling more away at night, and then sleeping longer in the morning.
How to get rid of school based anxiety?
9. You can take college courses through your high school without the tuition costs. Some high schools provide you with the option to take college courses at the same time you are pursuing an early graduation.
How old was Michael Kearney when he graduated high school?
He attended high school in Novato, California for just one year, and then graduated at the age of 6 in 1990. He then studied at Santa Rosa Junior College, earning an associates’ degree in geology at the age of 8. He then earned a Bachelors’ degree at the age of 10 in anthropology, a master’s in chemistry at 14, and then a second graduate degree in computer science at age 18.
What degree did Kearney get?
He then earned a Bachelors’ degree at the age of 10 in anthropology, a master’s in chemistry at 14, and then a second graduate degree in computer science at age 18. Despite setting these records, Kearney’s accomplishments are more game-show related than academically relevant.
Why is it important to graduate early?
7. Graduating early gives you the opportunity to leave behind peer pressure issues. There will always be some form of peer pressure that you face throughout life. When you look back at your high school years, the issues that happened in those hallways are far different than what you experience later in life.
Early Graduation Basics
Every school district establishes its own requirements for high school graduation. Students who meet these requirements prior to their senior year may be able to apply for early graduation. Some schools, however, may discourage early graduation and instead encourage you to take Advanced Placement classes.
Early Graduation Options
The simplest way to graduate early is to take extra classes. You might, for example, take another math class rather than signing up for a study hall or elective. Some schools, however, allow students to take college-level courses at local colleges and universities.
Additional Requirements
You may have to do more than simply take additional classes to graduate early. Your school might have a minimum GPA requirement for graduates or mandate that you complete a graduation project. In some states, such as Alabama and Georgia, you'll also have to take a graduation test before you'll be able to get your diploma.
Early Graduation Benefits
Graduating high school early can give you a head start. If you go straight to college, you'll likely graduate college before your high school peers. You may also be eligible for additional scholarships.
Why is it important to graduate early in high school?
By graduating early and beginning college, you can provide yourself with the mental challenge you desire.
Why do people start college early?
I’ve known people who graduated a semester early and then took courses at a community college in order to get gen eds out of the way before transferring to a different school. This method allows you to possibly stay at home (no room-and-board fees or rent) while earning college credits. It also opens up the opportunity to work and start saving money for when you move out or go to school.
How to get college credit in high school?
Another way to earn college credit in high school is to take AP courses and the corresponding tests. By earning a certain amount of points on the tests, you can apply that as credit in college (usually toward gen eds). Therefore, it is not necessary to graduate high school early to get a jumpstart on college.
Why is it important to go to a place that challenges your intellect?
If the coursework in high school is simply not stimulating, then perhaps it is time to go to a place that will challenge your intellect. This is especially useful if your school does not offer Advanced Placement courses. A lack of stimulation in high school can lead to a lack of motivation and poor study habits. By graduating early and beginning college, you can provide yourself with the mental challenge you desire.
What is the brain development in teenage years?
It is when our frontal lobes, where our impulse control and the ability to plan come from, are finishing development.
Do high schools have dual credit?
CON: Many high schools offer dual-credit courses. Many high schools are working with local community colleges so that students can take dual-enrollment classes from the college and have it count toward their graduation requirements. Students save money this way, as they graduate high school with college credits.
Is high school a step in life?
Graduating from high school is a large step in life, as many view it as the doorway to adulthood. It often signals the beginning of a student’s first prolonged stay away from home, whether the student goes to college, vocational school, or begins working right away. So graduating high school early—and therefore taking that first step ...
Pro: No Senioritis
The term “Senioritis” is often thrown around high school, especially for those in the latter part of their high school. It refers to the lack of motivation to complete schoolwork knowing that the end is around the corner.
Pro: Get a Jumpstart on College
When leaving high school early, you get the chance to get ahead of others by starting college a year before. If you map out your credits correctly, you might be able to skip some extra classes and speed up your degree track.
Con: Miss Out on Senior Year Activities
Although your last year of high school can be strenuous, there is also a list of activities that generally happen for seniors, such as the following:
Con: Lack of Maturity
Adolescence is an integral part of development because brain development continues throughout this period. You’ll need enhanced critical thinking and decision-making skills when you go to college.

Benefits of Graduating High School Early
- From getting a jump start on your chosen career path to cruising through college to enter the professional world with a degree in your preferred field, taking on the adult world a year early can be beneficial. Good reasons to graduate high school early include: 1. Avoid the last year of school agitation, often labeled as "senioritis" 2. Able to att...
Downsides of Graduating Early
- The last year of high school may seem to drag, but it is also filled with activities for seniors as they launch into the future. There is a sense of excitement as the group of graduates get ready to exit the final years of basic education and enter the adult world. Graduating early also means leaving the protection and community that a high school setting can provide. Entering the adult …
Financial Considerations For Early Graduation
- Graduating early can launch you into the adult world, where you can earn more money by working full time. You can find a position that includes health insurance and benefits, such as a matching 401(k) program, and begin to build a financial foundation that will ensure a more stable future. For students who are hoping to continue their education in college, there are a few ways that gradua…
Continued Benefits of Graduating Early from High School
- Students who graduate high school early also tend to finish all of the college coursework and get their degree early as well. There are many reasons to graduate college early, from gaining access to excellent career opportunities to getting a jump start on a master's or doctoral degree.