6 answers
Ariana
Student
McRae-Helena, GA
1
Question
Asked
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When is the best time to start going to college?
If I graduate High School early is it best to go to College as soon as I graduate or wait a few more years
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6 answers
Fred Rosenberger
Data Analyst
392
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Fred’s Answer
"It depends" - probably not what you wanted to hear.
Why would you take time off? What would you do?
If you have a plan, and you believe you will stick to it, there is nothing wrong with taking time off. Some countries even have a term for it - a "gap year".
Do you think you are mature enough to go straight to college? I probably would have benefited by taking a year off, but I didn't. It probably harmed me in some ways. On the other hand, had I taken a year off, I might have never gone. If I had gone straight into my career, I may have thought "I have a job where I am learning, why bother with a degree, incurring debt, and losing all that time?"
Sometimes, an employer will pay for your degree, at least in part. My current employer has very generous education benefits. I've been going to school part time to earn a masters degree.
Ultimately, YOU have to weigh the pros and cons of going vs. holding off. YOU have to make that decision based on what you want, what's important to you, and what you thing you'd gain/lose with each option.
Why would you take time off? What would you do?
If you have a plan, and you believe you will stick to it, there is nothing wrong with taking time off. Some countries even have a term for it - a "gap year".
Do you think you are mature enough to go straight to college? I probably would have benefited by taking a year off, but I didn't. It probably harmed me in some ways. On the other hand, had I taken a year off, I might have never gone. If I had gone straight into my career, I may have thought "I have a job where I am learning, why bother with a degree, incurring debt, and losing all that time?"
Sometimes, an employer will pay for your degree, at least in part. My current employer has very generous education benefits. I've been going to school part time to earn a masters degree.
Ultimately, YOU have to weigh the pros and cons of going vs. holding off. YOU have to make that decision based on what you want, what's important to you, and what you thing you'd gain/lose with each option.
Jacob Taylor
Production Manager
523
Answers
Stafford, Virginia
Updated
Jacob’s Answer
The decision of when to start college is a personal one, and it depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and preferences. Here are some factors to consider when deciding the best time to start college after graduating high school early:
1. **Academic Preparedness:** If you've graduated early and feel academically prepared for college, starting right away can be a good option. You'll likely retain more of the knowledge you gained in high school and maintain your academic momentum.
2. **Career Goals:** Consider your long-term career goals. Some professions require specific degrees or certifications, and delaying college might prolong your journey to achieving those goals. Research the educational requirements for your desired career path.
3. **Financial Readiness:** College can be expensive, so evaluate your financial situation. If you have a plan for funding your education, whether through scholarships, financial aid, or savings, it might make sense to start college sooner.
4. **Gap Year Consideration:** Many students choose to take a gap year before college to travel, work, volunteer, or gain life experiences. If you're uncertain about your career path or need time to save money, a gap year can provide clarity and financial stability.
5. **Personal Growth:** Consider whether you feel emotionally and personally ready for the college experience. College involves independence, responsibility, and navigating new social dynamics. Some students benefit from taking time to mature and gain life skills.
6. **Academic Goals:** Think about your academic goals and ambitions. If you're aiming for competitive programs or scholarships, starting college early might give you an advantage.
7. **Extracurricular Activities:** If you're interested in pursuing extracurricular activities like sports or clubs, check if your college of choice offers these opportunities. Some students wait to start college to continue pursuing their passions.
8. **Support System:** Consider your support system. Are you mentally and emotionally prepared for the transition to college life? Family and mentor support can be crucial during this time.
9. **Gap Year Plans:** If you decide to take a gap year, plan it strategically. Use this time to explore your interests, gain work experience, volunteer, or travel. Ensure that your gap year activities contribute positively to your personal and professional development.
10. **Personal Goals:** Lastly, think about your personal goals and aspirations. What do you want to achieve in the short and long term? Align your decision with your aspirations.
Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some students thrive by starting college immediately after high school, while others benefit from a gap year or waiting a few years to gain clarity about their goals. It's essential to make an informed decision based on your unique circumstances and aspirations. Discuss your options with a trusted advisor, mentor, or family member to help you make the best choice for your future.
1. **Academic Preparedness:** If you've graduated early and feel academically prepared for college, starting right away can be a good option. You'll likely retain more of the knowledge you gained in high school and maintain your academic momentum.
2. **Career Goals:** Consider your long-term career goals. Some professions require specific degrees or certifications, and delaying college might prolong your journey to achieving those goals. Research the educational requirements for your desired career path.
3. **Financial Readiness:** College can be expensive, so evaluate your financial situation. If you have a plan for funding your education, whether through scholarships, financial aid, or savings, it might make sense to start college sooner.
4. **Gap Year Consideration:** Many students choose to take a gap year before college to travel, work, volunteer, or gain life experiences. If you're uncertain about your career path or need time to save money, a gap year can provide clarity and financial stability.
5. **Personal Growth:** Consider whether you feel emotionally and personally ready for the college experience. College involves independence, responsibility, and navigating new social dynamics. Some students benefit from taking time to mature and gain life skills.
6. **Academic Goals:** Think about your academic goals and ambitions. If you're aiming for competitive programs or scholarships, starting college early might give you an advantage.
7. **Extracurricular Activities:** If you're interested in pursuing extracurricular activities like sports or clubs, check if your college of choice offers these opportunities. Some students wait to start college to continue pursuing their passions.
8. **Support System:** Consider your support system. Are you mentally and emotionally prepared for the transition to college life? Family and mentor support can be crucial during this time.
9. **Gap Year Plans:** If you decide to take a gap year, plan it strategically. Use this time to explore your interests, gain work experience, volunteer, or travel. Ensure that your gap year activities contribute positively to your personal and professional development.
10. **Personal Goals:** Lastly, think about your personal goals and aspirations. What do you want to achieve in the short and long term? Align your decision with your aspirations.
Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some students thrive by starting college immediately after high school, while others benefit from a gap year or waiting a few years to gain clarity about their goals. It's essential to make an informed decision based on your unique circumstances and aspirations. Discuss your options with a trusted advisor, mentor, or family member to help you make the best choice for your future.
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1515
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. There is no fix time to go to college. You can attend the college later as a mature student indeed. However, you have have age gap with your other classmates. In fact, college days is one of my memorable period in my life.
On the other hand, you can consider to take a gap year during your college period.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Attend the first 1-2 year in the college
2. Explore any intern opportunities or overseas exchange / working opportunities in these first 1-2 years
3. Take a gap year to work as an intern or study/work overseas. This will give you exposure to international real life working environment. It will be beneficial to your future career path
4. Continue your study and complete the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
On the other hand, you can consider to take a gap year during your college period.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Attend the first 1-2 year in the college
2. Explore any intern opportunities or overseas exchange / working opportunities in these first 1-2 years
3. Take a gap year to work as an intern or study/work overseas. This will give you exposure to international real life working environment. It will be beneficial to your future career path
4. Continue your study and complete the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Alan Weber
writer and retired teacher, teacher educator and academic advisor
207
Answers
Woodstock, New York
Updated
Alan’s Answer
Ariana, I agree with the other responses. There is no "right" answer to this question, you have to decide what's right for you. If you go straight into college, you might be missing out on opportunities to earn some money that might come in handy, to get some experience in the "real" job world to give you more perspective, perhaps to mature a little so you'll be more ready, or just to experience life as an adult. The down-side might be that you'll get out of "school mode," forget things you've learned that you'd need to relearn, or be seduced by some money-making opportunity that causes you to not go college and not fulfill your greater potentials. So why would you consider waiting? Do you have a thought about why you might not be ready or how you would use that time constructively? It doesn't have to be "a few more years" either. It can be a year or even a semester. My best advice would be that if you don't have a worthwhile plan for the time between high school and college, go straight in. College is a very different experience from high school. It's not only one you can handle, it's one you might even enjoy.
Nafisa Arain
Data Scientist
9
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Nafisa’s Answer
Everyone's path is different. If you graduate high school early you can always take classes at a local community college. This will be a good transition to learning how to navigate college which is quite different from high school. Especially if you are graduating high school early, you might be much younger than many of your classmates in college and community college will be a good adjustment period.
You can eventually transfer to a 4-year university. Students starting at community college typically transfer after 2 years. But again, everyone's path is different and it's not bad if you take a longer/shorter amount of time.
Most community colleges have agreements or programs with universities to help you transfer. This route is also good if you're not sure on which major to select. At community college you can start with the "general education" requirements that will be helpful for whatever major you end up selecting.
AND community college is much cheaper than university for the same material as far as general education courses.
I myself passed the exam to graduate high school early but ultimately decided to stay in high school. The clubs and programs available in high school were important for the social aspect and growing in my self-confidence. I simultaneously took 1-2 courses at the local community college while in high school. This helped me transition to the college landscape and navigate the process of applying, signing up for courses, etc. After graduating high school, I continued full time at the same community college before transferring to a university after a few years.
Overall I would recommend starting at community college then transferring to a university.
You can eventually transfer to a 4-year university. Students starting at community college typically transfer after 2 years. But again, everyone's path is different and it's not bad if you take a longer/shorter amount of time.
Most community colleges have agreements or programs with universities to help you transfer. This route is also good if you're not sure on which major to select. At community college you can start with the "general education" requirements that will be helpful for whatever major you end up selecting.
AND community college is much cheaper than university for the same material as far as general education courses.
I myself passed the exam to graduate high school early but ultimately decided to stay in high school. The clubs and programs available in high school were important for the social aspect and growing in my self-confidence. I simultaneously took 1-2 courses at the local community college while in high school. This helped me transition to the college landscape and navigate the process of applying, signing up for courses, etc. After graduating high school, I continued full time at the same community college before transferring to a university after a few years.
Overall I would recommend starting at community college then transferring to a university.
Christine Ferguson Graham
Marketing
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Christine’s Answer
I agree with the other responders who noted that ‘it depends’.
For me, I graduated High School ‘early’ (one year earlier than the norm) and I went directly to a 4 year University where I later earned a bachelors degree. I went to college early because I was eager to learn more academically, meet new people and expand my horizons beyond the city/town that I lived in. Frankly, I wanted to be financially stable and believed a college degree would create more opportunities for me to accomplish this goal. This was a long time ago. Today, I understand that earning a college degree (while extremely important!) is one of many things one can do to achieve financial stability.
There are a lot of pros and cons to going to College ‘early’:
Pros
- You get a jump start on your education
- You get a jump start on potential job and internship opportunities that come from attending college
- You create a new network (new friends, teachers, classmates, co-workers) of whom you can lean on for support earlier than ’typical’
Cons
- If you were like me (attending way before you are legally considered an adult), it is unlikely that you will be able to participate in some social activities due to your age. As example, some parties may require you to be 21 or older to attend
- You may miss out on the opportunity to graduate with - and celebrate with - your friends who started High School with you. This may include walking across the stage with them at graduation or even going to the prom, if that’s something that takes place at your school
- You may miss the opportunity to rest or relax for a bit, which is essential to everyone’s wellbeing
Here is what I would recommend:
Consider what your personal goals are. Dig deep and think about who you are, your current circumstances and where you hope to be within the next few years. Key questions for you to answer include:
1) What are your dreams/goals?
2) What would you like to do with your time if you graduated early? And why is that important to you?
3) What resources do you need to accomplish those goals?
Finding your personal answers to these questions should provide you with some clarity in making a decision that is right for you.
Wishing you all the best!
For me, I graduated High School ‘early’ (one year earlier than the norm) and I went directly to a 4 year University where I later earned a bachelors degree. I went to college early because I was eager to learn more academically, meet new people and expand my horizons beyond the city/town that I lived in. Frankly, I wanted to be financially stable and believed a college degree would create more opportunities for me to accomplish this goal. This was a long time ago. Today, I understand that earning a college degree (while extremely important!) is one of many things one can do to achieve financial stability.
There are a lot of pros and cons to going to College ‘early’:
Pros
- You get a jump start on your education
- You get a jump start on potential job and internship opportunities that come from attending college
- You create a new network (new friends, teachers, classmates, co-workers) of whom you can lean on for support earlier than ’typical’
Cons
- If you were like me (attending way before you are legally considered an adult), it is unlikely that you will be able to participate in some social activities due to your age. As example, some parties may require you to be 21 or older to attend
- You may miss out on the opportunity to graduate with - and celebrate with - your friends who started High School with you. This may include walking across the stage with them at graduation or even going to the prom, if that’s something that takes place at your school
- You may miss the opportunity to rest or relax for a bit, which is essential to everyone’s wellbeing
Here is what I would recommend:
Consider what your personal goals are. Dig deep and think about who you are, your current circumstances and where you hope to be within the next few years. Key questions for you to answer include:
1) What are your dreams/goals?
2) What would you like to do with your time if you graduated early? And why is that important to you?
3) What resources do you need to accomplish those goals?
Finding your personal answers to these questions should provide you with some clarity in making a decision that is right for you.
Wishing you all the best!