Why Do High School Students Attend College

High school students typically have mixed feelings of relief and anticipation as their senior year approaches. Many will plan to go to college, or jump right into the workforce, and some will pursue other paths, such as joining the military. Colleges are making it easier for students who are transitioning from high school to college by offering freshman based events, services, and groups (Turner, Thompson 2015). Although, this tends to ease the anxiety that high school graduates have when entering college, students that have the option of completing their senior year, or getting an early start on college have an even heavier choice to make.

Students that have completed all of their high school requirements have the option to graduate early, which is an appealing decision for many with that choice, but the decision is not easily made. Some students have career and academic reasons for graduating early, and staying in high school longer than they needed to result in taking "general classes" and electives that focus little on their interests (Knoles 2009). Students usually have to load on general classes just to make up for a year's worth of curriculum. With choices like these, students can easily lose the momentum of starting college, and continuing their strides toward excellence.
Students are expected to be equally as productive as other freshman entering college who completed all four years of high school. There is also the pain of leaving friends, and missing high school events, since many high schools do not allow students who've graduated invitation to their senior prom. There is also the financial standpoint. Students graduating early sometimes miss out on scholarships. Scholarships are first come-first serve deal, and sometimes they are unable to meet the conditions or requirements due to the time of year they finish