The Benefits of Early Graduation
The primary purpose of our homeschool was to develop the skills, tools, and knowledge necessary for a well-rounded life. Earning our first college credits in college algebra at 12 was a confidence boost and a measure of our progress. While earning bachelor's degrees at 15 was a huge milestone, it gave us a comforting sense of accomplishment. We know that early graduation is within reach for every homeschooler, and there are several reasons to consider this strategy. The first two reasons are financial.
The first financial consideration was to "finish college before the money runs out." When we were preschoolers, our parents knew that often, college students run out of money before finishing their degree, while others are burdened with substantial student debt. This outcome was not for them. Realizing that having the money to finish college was vulnerable to unforeseen events such as financial difficulties, job loss, or both, they decided that shortening the education horizon partially mitigates these contingencies. They then developed a strategy of being "Ahead of time and below budget." This assured them that, no matter what happened in their future, they would be providing the most complete education possible.
Next our parents also realized that dual credit was far less expensive than college tuition. Dual college credits earned in high school, such as those from junior college classes or through alternative credit like Advanced Placement (AP) courses or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, may cost less than $100. The cost of a real (4-year) college class can easily be 10 times as much, at $1,000 or more. The task was to take as many dual credit classes as possible when we were ready and felt comfortable. These dual credit classes can save tens of thousands of dollars and shorten the time in college by years.
The best reason for early graduation is that it is natural for homeschool students to advance grade levels faster than their peers in traditional schools. Our parents, after about a year, noticed that we were ahead of our school grade, and it seemed effortless, and soon, we were leaning at a college level. It is our parents' opinion that for a homeschool to stay at school grade level, the pace would be so slow that it would be training students to function way below their capability. Sometimes a school with advanced-level students is called an "Accelerated Homeschool." This term suggests that the students are on a treadmill of sorts, which is forcing them to advance at a faster pace. This is not the case; we learned at our own pace, a pace that was engaging and comfortable.
So what about us? How do we feel about early graduation? We like getting a head start in life, and we are prepared to meet the challenges that come our way. It is comforting for our family to have a lot of schooling completed. We did the schoolwork, and at the same time, we are grateful to our parents for planning the curriculum and covering the costs.