Should I Drop Out Of High School?

[luke]

GEDs are for "Drop Outs" that is the way people see it.

Graduating High School is more about following through on commitments than the little bit of education you are getting.

[ShooterJM]

First off, I speak from experience. I started taking college classes as a sophmore in HS and dropped out before my junior year. I got a GED that summer.



Now, as long as you're getting a full on HS diploma that is indistinguishable from the standard diploma, your plan seems to be an ok one. However, if you're going to get a GED keep in mind that you're going to take yourself out of the running for a LOT of scholarships and grants you may be otherwise qualified for. This includes when you transfer into ASU. I dropped from a full tuition scholarship to a 50% just because I had a GED and an associates instead of a HS diploma and an associates.


Would I personally make the same choice if I had to go back? I really don't know. There are some definate positives, but some definate negatives. The academic world is largely compartmentalized and you'll probably have to do a lot of explaining and fighting to get people to recognize your not a prototypical dropout.

I was big into Econ and Finance as well. Thats what my undergrad ended being and now I'm currently getting my MBA with a concentration in finance.

Shoot me a PM if you have any questions and good luck.

[Automaggot68]

Don't.
Finish that stuff up.
I screwed around during school.
I dropped out.
When I realized what I had done, I re-enrolled, and finsihed my junior and senior years in a matter of 9 nine months.
It was worth the hard work, and the time.

[Lohman446]

If you have a college degree I highly doubt anyone is going to go back further on your resume and say "Hey, well you were attending college you got your HS degree online" nor do I think you would even disclose it on a resume.

That being said... I did HS in three years rather than four, walked, everything. It put me in college quicker, etc. Don't do it... you will miss the time you lost and never have the chance to have it back....

[slade]

That being said... I did HS in three years rather than four, walked, everything. It put me in college quicker, etc. Don't do it... you will miss the time you lost and never have the chance to have it back....

two of my friends are doing that. i realize now if i had just double enrolled in english this year i could have done the same... but i dont want to. it ruins the experience, plus senior year is the best year when you have the best classes.

[Aggressive Rooster]

there are plenty of ways to make it through college without the help of parents.also two years isnt gonna set you that far behind in life.i think that people that do go to college are sometimes farther behind than those thta just work due to student loans.

[AutomagBoy]

I just talked to my high school counselor, registrar, and senior principal. I will still walk with my class, i will still get the premium diploma (scholastic compared to standard compared to GED). Im going for it.

[oldsoldier]

Well, you have a plan. In my experience, if you take a year off, the chances of you going back to school are slim. But, you have your plan, stick with it.

[Bluestrike_2]

Stick it out man. You've spent 11.5 years - why drop out on the downhill? The finish line is in sight! Don't try and grow up too soon - I will bet you my LIFE that you WILL regret it.

[slade]

I just talked to my high school counselor, registrar, and senior principal. I will still walk with my class, i will still get the premium diploma (scholastic compared to standard compared to GED). Im going for it.

good job man, sounds like the right decision then. keep us updated.

now... whats all this about a GED?

[Cameo]

in some states (mine included) there is a law that says you must be 18 years of age, you must have notifications from the military, or your graduating class must have already graduated in order to even take the GED...
But that does not matter as he is planning on walking with his class..
the question I have is are you doing this to further yourslef? Is highschool not challenging enough? If not try different coruses. Every school has programs in order to challenge the "gifted" students.
Be leary of taking classes at the college level in order to get high school credits, this backfired for me and I found out that I didn't have enough credits to graduate from public school (I had come from a private school). I opted to drop out tyhinking it was the best thing at the time.. Turned out it wasn't, and now I regret my decision.
I personally wish I would have just stuck it out and stayed in highschool. I missed out on so many important moments in a teenagers life. I worked worked worked and at the ripe age of 26 I wish I had gone a different route. The "what if's" come up constnaly. It is so easy to get "burnt out" when you take the alternative route.
I hope that you and your parents are able to work together the make the right decision for your life... Remember the easy way out usally ends up alot harder then you imagined.

[trains are bad]

I'd hate to recommend dropping out of highschool, but it worked for me.

I didn't even go to highschool, get a diploma or a GED. I'm now cruising on free ride to a private college and majoring in physics and math.

Getting a 34 on the ACT probably didn't hurt me though.

[Lohman446]

My HS offered advanced classes to the seniors who wanted them - classes at the Community College that the HS paid for during the senior year.