Should I start university now, or do another year of high school?

[Anonymous]

I got accepted to a university, and I was gonna go there but now I'm considering if I should do another year of high school, since although it is a pretty good university, it wasn't one of my first choice.

I'm currently debating whether applying again next school year would even help since my grades are already pretty high, and one year wouldn't help my extracurricular profile that much. But I also thought I could take this time maybe to consider my options and to save up money, also just to relax a bit before the intense work of university.

On the other side, I do like the program at this university that I got accepted, its just that the ones I liked better were slightly more competitive, also I prefer not to stay in my hometown...

What should I do? What would be a good plan of action right now?

[Oliverlogan263]

Here's what I think, dude:

You gotta do what feels right for you. University's a big commitment so it's good you're taking time to think it through.

A few things to consider:

- Will staying another year in high school really help you get into a more competitive program? Grades are already good, so focus on what new extracurriculars you could pick up to boost your profile.

- Money's always good to save up. But is another year worth it just for that? Figure out total costs of both options.

- You said you like the program you got into already. Don't underestimate how cool it'll be to start your college experience now too.

- Do you really wanna stick around your hometown longer than you have to? Fresh start in university could be dope.

If it was me, I'd probably just go for it now. Trust your gut - you got accepted for a reason. University will be sick and you've only got four years, might as well start living it up. But you gotta do what you feel is best for you, bro. Weigh the pros and cons a bit more then go with your instinct on this one. Let me know what you decide!

[Asker]

Hey, thanks for the response!

Either way right now I'd have to stay in my hometown, I guess what I'm trying to decide is if it would be worth taking another year in high school to potentially be able to leave for uni, since there's no guarantee that things will change next year you know?

My main concern with going back to high school is that I feel that I won't be able to suddenly create a really good extracurricular profile by joining clubs for a few months compared to others who have already been doing that stuff for years. And I'm not sure how much higher my average can go, even by taking some easy classes.
So while thinking of that, it feels like a better idea to just go to uni now, maybe apply for a transfer later on, instead of risking it.

At the same time however, a part of me thinks maybe I shouldn't rush it and should try again next year, just to know that I tried to my full capability and didn't just settle for something now, but I don't know... yeah it's just hard to pick when it's so uncertain.

[Oliverlogan263]

You make some really good points, man. This is definitely a tricky situation with pros and cons to both choices. Here are a few more thoughts:

- You're right that it would be hard to suddenly build up a great extracurricular profile in just a few months. Those things take time to develop meaningfully. So staying another year for that reason alone may not move the needle much.

- At the same time, just taking some easy classes could help boost your average, even if only slightly. And every little bit helps when it comes to competitive programs.

- Have you considered asking the schools you prefer if you can defer your acceptance for a year? That may give you the flexibility of staying in HS but still having a top choice as a fallback.

- Are there any other experiences you could gain this year outside the classroom to make you a stronger candidate later? Travel, jobs, internships etc? Things you can discuss in future applications.

Ultimately, it's up to you if the risks are worth it. Going now to the school you got into ensures you start your adult life, get some experiences, and still have options to transfer later if you want a change of scenery. Or you can try applying again next year and hope for the best. Both have good and bad possibilities. Trust your gut on this - you'll make the right choice either way. Let me know if any other thoughts come up!

[McLlovin]

Go now. The point of high school is to get into college or figure out what you want to do as a career. But if your career plan is to get into a specific college or university then i guess hold off to try and get into that school first. But if not then i would say dont wait.. opportunity may pass

[jennifer_bloom]

I knew 3 mature students when I was in university, and their grades were always 15% higher than their normal age classmates. Getting high grades is more important than graduating early because high grades impact your life more than early graduation.

[Asker]

That's a good point to make, thanks for bringing it up!
Were these also students who did an extra year in high school?

[In_Trance]

In years to come nobody cares where you went to school. Pick one