Comment by timwiseman | Hacker News Reader

Comment by timwiseman | Hacker News Reader

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Good points, and good reasons to graduate early.

I think the short answer is, "It depends."

Personally, I learned a lot in high school, but I learned more faster in college, and that had more to do with the college environment than it did with me being more mature. I thought about attempting to graduate early, but it could come with some big drawbacks.

The first question is when do you turn 18, and do you plan on living at home while going to school?

Trying to move out before you are 18, even to a school dorm, creates complications that simply vanish when you are 18. (For instance, you generally can't enter into any legal contracts at all until you are 18).

So if your plan is to live at home (at least initially) then graduating early might make sense, but if you want or need to move out to go to college, then I would wait.

Next is how is your savings. Do you and or your parents need that extra year to save before you start college? I did and then I worked thoughout all of my college to keep my debt low.

And then, to echo so many other posters, how is your social situation? I personally consider this the lowest point on the list, but you really don't get many chances at senior prom or some of the other unique social events.

Thanks for the response.

My social situation. Hmm. In the past year, I've gained social skills, so I have a lot of friends - however, I have no problem maintaining contacts or gaining new friends. I feel that while my current friends are very important to me, I could make new friends easily (while keeping in touch with high school friends as well).

I think that my parents do not need the extra year to save for college.

I'm interested more in your point about being over 18. I'd be 17 for the first year of college - but where would that limit me? Where are binding contracts necessary? What complications are there?

Thanks.

Necessary? They aren't to get through college, there have been cases (albiet rare) of people entirely graduating before ever turning 18. There are certainly ways of dealing with it.

It does however create a great many inconveniences that simply vanish the day you turn 18. For instance, if your finances are such that you need a job (as mine were), there are many employers that will not even consider someone below 18. In most places you cannot own a car. Few landlords will let you take out a lease in your name. Most places will not extend you credit without a cosigner.

All of this can be overcome, and if you are planning on staying at home with your parents at least initially then dealing with it is quite easy. But if you are planning to move out, it is still a series of challenges/inconveniences that simply vanish the day you turn 18.

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