Early graduation suggestions

good_dad

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Our DS will be completing all AP offerings from his school end of junior year and will graduate a year early (3.8 gpa uw). He will turn 17 a few days after July 1 age requirement to apply for USNA. What should he do for the "senior" year? Apply for NROTC? Attend local community college? Would NAPS consider him? He does have the option of staying in HS for "self-design" and online courses.
We are not informed of the process should he start at a local college. Do you still go through the MOC nomination process or is it different once you start college?
 
My DS did the same thing. He graduated at the end of his junior year. He is attending Greystone this year and celebrating his recent appointment! I think another option would be to apply to universities who have late application deadlines.
 
There are several options. If he is very strong academically, the best approach would be to attend a 4-yr college (if financially viable). Take the plebe courses both to demonstrate ability and to be in a position to validate courses at USNA. Also, if for some reason he doesn't earn an appointment, he's in a good place to continue his education.

If he can't afford a 4-yr college, a community college is an option.

I'm not a huge fan of prep schools and the like for those who don't need additional academic prep. If he does need it, there are lots of good options out there. NAPS is also for those who need additional academic prep so, if he's good academically, not really a viable option.
 
I would just point out that Greystone is college - not a year 13. DS has taken 36 credit hours of coursework. He is a National Merit Finalist and he found the college work challenging.
 
Early grad

Take the opportunity and also not lose the momentum, enroll in summer classes at a local college. Take classes the are close to first year. Chem with a lab, calc 2, english comp. Take a look at applying for SLS and boy State.

You still need to get a MOC nom every year.
 
The nom process is the same for college and h.s. applicants. Typically, the college applicant remains a legal resident of the district/state in which his parent(s) live, regardless of where he attends college.
 
DS had opportunity to grad early but decided he wanted to have a senior year and run cross country one more year. He has a Aug birthday and was 16 his jr year so we agreed and he has done dual enrollment classes with local college to keep up his academic profile. It was great decision because he has had the chance for his personality to come out instead of being buried in academia all the time.
 
My DS finished his graduation requirements in first semester of his Senior year but is taking some classes in his local high school and the local college. Your high school probably has a similar program so ask at the guidance office. Our high school actually foots the bill. I would counsel against skipping senior year and going off to a full 4 year college. You're only in high school once and some of our fondest memories come from senior year. I would focus on Extra curricular activities that would improve the competitiveness of my file and taking some of the Plebe courses at the local college. Stay challenged but keep the grades up.
 
NROTC... keep this in mind

good_dad, there have been some very good suggestions so far. I'm sure you have plenty of food for thought and tough decisions to make. Here's one more thing to keep in mind. If your son has 30 or more credit hours (I think at the time of application) then he becomes ineligible for the 4 year high school NROTC scholarship. It didn't sound like NROTC was the primary goal, but you did mention it so I thought I would too. Good luck. I think whichever path he takes he can't go wrong. Each has its advantages.
 
Thank you for the thoughts.
If I read it correctly, NROTC has a Sept 1 age 17 requirement so he could pursue that route. How would that impact chances to USNA the following year? Does NROTC go through same MOC nominations or is this a different category of applicants?
 
I've heard of people graduating a year early going to NAPS for a year. Don't know anyone who has done it personally though, and don't know whether that is really a viable option. Best bet is probably to go to a community college (or 4-year if financially feasible) and take the most advanced classes possible that mimic plebe year courses while applying for USNA.
 
We would definately be interested in NAPS. I know USNA has no exeptions to being age 17 by July 1. Does NAPS relax on that? Our DS b-day is first week in July.
 
Thank you for the thoughts.
If I read it correctly, NROTC has a Sept 1 age 17 requirement so he could pursue that route. How would that impact chances to USNA the following year? Does NROTC go through same MOC nominations or is this a different category of applicants?

Haven't double-checked the age requirement but I expect you're correct. NROTC enrollment should enhance any USNA application I would think. It certainly cannot hurt.

There is no MOC nomination process for NROTC. Anyone can apply online and it's a national competition for scholarships. However, it's too late to submit an application for this fall. The same is true for regular college applications. Community colleges could vary I suppose. Also, he doesn't need to get an NROTC scholarship to participate. As long as he's physically fit and interested he could enroll in an NROTC unit at any college he is attending that has one. It's referred to as being a 'College Programmer'. My son took that route and won an in-school (sideload) scholarship beginning the second semester of his sophomore year.
 
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