What college has the best archaeology program?

Should I leave my current high school for this college prep program?

• I'm a sophomore in a really good high school, it's one of the best in the county and it's A-rated. There's lots of AP classes, I've taken 2 so far and I'm planning on taking many more - I'm scheduled to take 4 or 5 of them next year. It's just your typical suburban high school, very spirited and I just love it there. There's this college prep program at the community college down the street from where I currently go where I could go for junior and senior year and I'd earn an associate's degree and essentially complete two years of college simultaneously while finishing my last two years of high school - I'd get both the degree AND my high school diploma from them. The thing is, this program would require for me to leave my current school, so it's basically like transferring schools. I know it's a great opportunity, but I also love my current school lots and lots, and I seriously don't know what to do. I've gone back and forth on this decision so many times that my parents think I'm crazy. They've been pushing me to switch to the prep program, and I have to decide in May. There's a lot more to it than this, but I'm not going to sit here and type forever, but if you want additional details that might help you answer then just ask questions and I could answer them. The way I see it, there's no "wrong" decision although a lot of people think it'd be stupid to stay, but hey it's my choice and not theirs. I could end up in a good college either way (kids from my current school have gotten into Ivys and other top schools, but kids from the prep program also go to top schools) and end up with a successful, happy future either way. Honestly, I'd be happy with either decision in the end, although I might have regrets I'd have them regardless of what I choose. But a huge part of me reeeally wants to stay where I am now, and I need to convince my parents to let me if I choose to. Also, although I can only enter this program now, as an incoming junior, I could always do this "early admissions" program as a senior if I stay where I am. Early admission would mean that I go to the community college full-time in my senior year, which is similar to the college prep program except it's only for one year, not two, and I wouldn't get the associate's degree, or be with the other college prep (high school age) students, or have the guidance counselors that the college prep program has. So I'd be more on my own. And there's also dual-enrollment classes available at this community college, so if I stay at my current school I could technically take ANY class that's offered at the community college, PLUS the ones my current school offers (AP classes, mostly), but the downsides are that transportation would be more of a challenge since I'd have to go back and forth between the schools, and that I wouldn't have time to take as many of the classes so I'd have to stick to my favorites/priorities. I'm completely reliant on my parents for transportation until I graduate high school and leave for college. (The prep program would still be considered high school.) One last thing: I'm going into the medical field, so I have YEARS of schooling ahead of me either way, but if I do the college prep I could potentially cut out a year or two. Technically I could probably cut out a year with early admission and/or AP credits and/or dual-enrollment credits, but it's more likely that I'd save more time and money with the college prep program... or so my parents like to believe, anyway. They believe this college prep program is extremely wonderful, and they're just eh about my current school. Also, lots of people say that they regret not going, but no one really seems to regret going... I hope I didn't confuse you :P Here are my three main questions: 1) In your opinion, what should I do? As in, what would YOU do if you were in my situation? 2) In your opinion, what do you think *I* REALLY want to do, deep down? 3) If I choose to stay in my current school, how could I convince my parents to let me do so? Thanks a bunch (: kaliesq: OH MY GOODNESS. I love you so much right now. You wrote like an entire essay and that really helps a lot. But, there's a few things you don't understand about the prep program. I'd be placed in classes with ONLY other high-school aged kids (that are also in the program) for half of the day. They have social events, such as their own dance that's like an alternative prom. But I totally see your point, and I liked your unique argument. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Also, I've never been in a relationship haha but theoretically if I went to the prep program I could date one of the other high-school aged kids, I'd be with other people my age in addition to the college-aged people (and honestly, I'd consider dating a college freshman or sophomore as a high school junior, for sure. It just depends on the person). This also goes for friends. I'm a gifted student, and one of the oldest in my grade (because I was born a few weeks past the grade cutoff date in my d (sorry it cut me off so I'm reposting that second part) I'm a gifted student, and one of the oldest in my grade (because I was born a few weeks past the grade cutoff date in my district), so I'm generally more mature than many of my peers, but at the same time I also fit in well with people my age, I have quite a few friends, and I get along with generally everyone. It all evens out to me basically "acting" my age overall. I don't feel entirely out of place with my age group, save for the fact that sometimes I'd like to be a year ahead, but not necessarily two or even three years. As it is, in my junior year some of my classes (science, math) would be mixed with both juniors and seniors, and my other classes would only contain the top-achieving juniors at my school, who are also generally the more mature ones of our class.

• Answer:

  2) You want to stay in your current high school 1) & 3) Stay at your high school. One very important part of school is social development. Child geniuses often go to college early because they can do the academics, but they struggle with the social aspects. This means more than having fun. It means developing the social skills one needs in life. Part of what is necessary is time, which cannot be compressed. If it could, 50 year-olds would routinely have 5-year-olds and 90-year-olds and 20-year-olds as their best friends. We learn social skills and develop as part of a group of peers -- it just doesn't work when we are the only one who is older or younger, and the consequences of that experience are lifelong. Your (everyone's) brain is still developing until the mid-20s. The continued development of the brain after birth is why only certain things are taught at various ages. It is easy to see young children's motor skills develop: grab a ball with stiff hands and arms; later be able to hold a thick pencil; later be able to hold a thin pencil. It's the same with the human brain, just harder to see. One example: small children take every comment literally. Observe a group of 7th or 8th graders interacting socially. You wouldn't be caught dead acting like that. You probably have a few kids in your class who do, and others snicker or roll their eyes at them behind their backs. The college kids will be snickering at you because you haven't had the time they've had to develop. You won't fit in with your current classmates because you won't be sharing their classes or encounters between class, and you won't share their teachers or school assignments and activities. What's left? You won't fit in with the college kids because you're too young for some things, have an earlier curfew, and are less socially developed. You simply have not had the extra time and life experiences that they've had. Do you want to date an 8th grader? Why would a college freshman or sophomore want to date a high school junior? After a few months, you wouldn't want to date a 17-year-old high school boy and your parents wouldn't want you to date a 20-year-old college man. If you didn't date for two years, you'd have a 19-year-old body but only the social knowledge and experience of a 17-year-old, which could get you in serious trouble. You would clearly be an easy mark for the unscrupulous. Don't retard your social and personality development, which is what will happen, by trying to skip two important years of growth. You can't do without them, and you shouldn't do them alone, as you will, because that will skew your development. You, like everyone, simply need the time. As you said, you have years of school ahead of you, and you can take excellent classes in high school that prepare you for those years. You can never go back, and you gain SO much from full participation in high school. I vote for staying at high school, taking challenging courses, and immersing yourself in activities -- so you learn as much as possible about what you need to know to succeed in life, which is more than academics. I'm smart and old and have seen what I'm writing about. Show this to your parents and tell them that this is what someone older, more experienced, and at least as smart as they are thinks. I hope it helps keep you in high school because I know it's the right choice. If you were an off-the-charts genius who couldn't relate to her peers and would always have some difficulty relating to mere mortals, I'd have different advice, but that's not the case. Good luck to you!