Need some INTP opinions

[Axxom]

I am currently a VERY, VERY bored freshman in high school, who is considering just getting a GED and going to a community college. From what I have read already, with a GED and phenomenal grades at the community college, it is still possible to get into a good college for the remaining two years.

(I intend to be a history major)
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I sit in my Latin class and read a book on linguistics because i find it far more interesting than a lecture on how to speak a dead language. (On top of that our teacher can't even speak Latin with the proper phenomenal values)

Math is my weak point, with science tailing right behind it. (Weak points that could be easily overcome if introduced in an interesting way)

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I have taken a few sample GED tests, scoring perfect scores on almost all of them.

Opinions?

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Er, yeah, high school sucks. What kind of a school is it? Are you in Honors/AP classes? I was in Honors classes in high school which helped.

My concern about the GED /community college route is that you're still pretty dang young, which could make the whole socializing thing more difficult. Maybe you don't care about that so much at this point, but you might eventually. Do you have friends at school? I know I didn't so much until junior/senior year, and by that point in time I had, I guess, blossomed, and suddenly members of the opposite sex were interested in me. Getting some in high school made it all worth while.

But community college is different than full-blown college so who knows, maybe it could work. I know certain schools allow you to take community college courses while you're still in high school so maybe you could do both.

I have to tell you that through my entire academic career (and beyond) I have learned way more on my own than I ever have in a class room. My point is going to college won't necessarily change that. If you desire intellectual stimulation, chances are you will always be more suited to finding it on your own. That said, school can be important, I suppose. (I have to tell you that because you are only a freshman.) If anything, classrooms are great places to take naps-

 

[Axxom]

Er, yeah, high school sucks. What kind of a school is it? Are you in Honors/AP classes? I was in Honors classes in high school which helped.

My concern about the GED /community college route is that you're still pretty dang young, which could make the whole socializing thing more difficult. Maybe you don't care about that so much at this point, but you might eventually. Do you have friends at school? I know I didn't so much until junior/senior year, and by that point in time I had, I guess, blossomed, and suddenly members of the opposite sex were interested in me. Getting some in high school made it all worth while.

But community college is different than full-blown college so who knows, maybe it could work. I know certain schools allow you to take community college courses while you're still in high school so maybe you could do both.

I have to tell you that through my entire academic career (and beyond) I have learned way more on my own than I ever have in a class room. My point is going to college won't necessarily change that. If you desire intellectual stimulation, chances are you will always be more suited to finding it on your own. That said, school can be important, I suppose. (I have to tell you that because you are only a freshman.) If anything, classrooms are great places to take naps-

Ah, well as for my social situation.... I am not too worried about that at the moment... I recently moved two years ago, and have maintained plans with my friends from Houston as far as after college goes. Those of us whom aren't in a serious relationship at that point in time will become roommates (saves money ), we're more like family than friends really.

Girls....eh....I've had my fair share of 'em. Not many seem to get my INTPness, and the ones who did, everything went horribly wrong. If I get lucky, I do. If not, oh well.

My main goal is to free up more time to study on my own, half of my teachers won't let me read irrelevant things during class because of my spiraling grades in the class. It's not that I find it hard, just pointless.

As for my future----> Money = food + housing to me
I have already tried to fill my needs with materialism and it hasn't done an ounce of good, so if I end up with a tad below-par salary than I wouldn't care that much.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

yeah, that's the thing. It can feel pretty pointless. It sounds to me like you already have this figured out- and you've already had girls? Dang. Are you fifteen or twenty? (Are you sure you're introverted?)

My guess is you still live at home (although I may be wrong, considering your level of intimate experience). How do your parents feel about all of this? If they're down and you're down, and your friends in Houston are down, I say go for it.

But I'm kind of wondering what sort of opinion you were looking for in the first place when you started this thread because, as I said, you seem to have already figured this out-

 

[Axxom]

yeah, that's the thing. It can feel pretty pointless. It sounds to me like you already have this figured out- and you've already had girls? Dang. Are you fifteen or twenty? (Are you sure you're introverted?)

My guess is you still live at home (although I may be wrong, considering your level of intimate experience). How do your parents feel about all of this? If they're down and you're down, and your friends in Houston are down, I say go for it.

But I'm kind of wondering what sort of opinion you were looking for in the first place when you started this thread because, as I said, you seem to have already figured this out-

Fifteen...

I went through like a social withdrawal in the eighth grade so a LOT of things happened. Currently I am trying to get back on track with (normal) relationships starting from the fist step and moving forward instead of the other way around.

Yeah, I live at home. (Insert witty inappropriate joke about love life here)

My Step-dad's view is : As long as you are striving for something, I am happy.

My Mom is a teacher so she is like: Wait, what? What? You can't be successful without a normal high school education.

Dad: High school > Everything else; Be normal.


As for the opinions I was seeking....

I was iffy about the viability of getting a GED over a High School Diploma, because whenever someone mentions GED there is this lingering aura around it.

Do employers discriminate because of it?

 

[preilemus]

I wouldnt necessarily say "discriminate", but if you had the choice between someone who completed High School with straight A's, or someone with a near-perfect-score GED, who would you pick based solely on that?

 

[Axxom]

I wouldnt necessarily say "discriminate", but if you had the choice between someone who completed High School with straight A's, or someone with a near-perfect-score GED, who would you pick based solely on that?

Good point.
Just have to motivate myself enough to get perfect scores on the GED, then it should be an even playing field.

 

[jarred]

It seems as if your main complaint is that you have to take classes that you aren't interested in.

If you decide to drop out of high school and go the 2 year community college route followed by 2 years at a formal university, you will just find yourself hating that too. Having to take classes you don't like is just as much a part of college as it is high school.

I'm not saying you can't make it in the real world if you drop out as a freshman in high school, but life will be more difficult.

Also I'm a bit curious, why do you think community college will be better?

 

[Axxom]

It seems as if your main complaint is that you have to take classes that you aren't interested in.

If you decide to drop out of high school and go the 2 year community college route followed by 2 years at a formal university, you will just find yourself hating that too. Having to take classes you don't like is just as much a part of college as it is high school.

Once you drop out, you can't really go back. I'm not saying you can't make it in the real world if you drop out as a freshman in high school, but life will be more difficult.

Also I'm a bit curious, why do you think community college will be better?

I don't necessarily think it will be better.... but I would have to take those courses on top of the boring high-school courses if I went through high school the normal way.

I also think that I would be able to take more classes that interest me overall. (spread out the dull ones a bit more)

 

[jarred]

I'm confused. Why do you want to drop out then if you don't think community college will be better?

It's not necessarily true that you have to double up on general electives either.

Many high schools offer college credit classes either through AP programs or IB. I placed out of nearly all of my general elective classes for college in high school.

It is also worth noting that enjoying a particular subject and enjoying the class are not necessarily the same thing. You are guaranteed to run into professors in your favorite subject that make you hate going to class each day.

 

[Axxom]

I'm confused. Why do you want to drop out then if you don't think community college will be better?

It's not necessarily true that you have to double up on general electives either.

Many high schools offer college credit classes either through AP programs or IB. I placed out of nearly all of my general elective classes for college in high school.

It is also worth noting that enjoying a particular subject and enjoying the class are not necessarily the same thing. You are guaranteed to run into professors in your favorite subject that make you hate going to class each day.

Well here's the thing:

The AP classes at my school must not be hard enough because only 15% of the students that take the AP classes (only offered junior and senior years) pass the AP Exam to get college credit.

So, that would be risking having to take the same course twice, because if you do not pass the AP Exam you can't take it a second time.

I guess the best way to put it is, I don't like the chances of me having to take the course twice, and If I had the extra time while in community college to study, I would probably have a better chance at passing the exam on my own.

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Another level on top of this is my determination to prove everyone else wrong, because all I've heard for the past year when mentioning home-schooling and getting a GED to my parents is "I don't think you have the drive to do that."

It's sort of a.....me not feeling like I am being given a chance to have the drive to do it.

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For me, it is better to run and fall flat on your face, than to have never run at all.

 

[Ermine]

Ever considered taking college classes outside of school? That's probably possible through your local community college or through an online college. Whether you graduate High school or get GED, you'll get a leg up on the competition.

 

[Tyria]

Don't waste time at your high school if you can help it. If you can't, talk to someone about taking all AP classes or something. If not, find some way to keep yourself interested in class. So long as you are interested in what you are doing, it shouldn't really matter where you are.

 

[Razare]

yes, I did dual-enrollment which they allow you to do your junior year if your grades are decent

if your grades aren't decent the counselor may net let you

I totally understand about pointless high shcool classes, I don't get why they design a system to waste everyone's time? Teaching pointless classes that have nothing to do with the real world and then neglecting important real-world information that everyone should know... like saving for retirement, or basic household budgeting.

System makes no sense to me no matter how I look at it... to me it seems like it's institutionalized day-care for parents.

 

[Carnap]

Latin may be tedious, but it's sorta useful.

I will not lie, I dropped out and got a GED and am now working on my second degree. BUT -- I now live in a country that has no idea what the hell a GED is and I had the translator write that it is the equivalent of a high school diploma.

AND -- you have to be 18 to get a GED.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

Well here's the thing:

The AP classes at my school must not be hard enough because only 15% of the students that take the AP classes (only offered junior and senior years) pass the AP Exam to get college credit.

So, that would be risking having to take the same course twice, because if you do not pass the AP Exam you can't take it a second time.

I guess the best way to put it is, I don't like the chances of me having to take the course twice, and If I had the extra time while in community college to study, I would probably have a better chance at passing the exam on my own.

Where do you go to school, Axxom? How can the AP courses really be that bad? I took AP classes and earned a semester of college credit, and I didn't take as many as I could have. I have to tell you, too, if you're as smart as you claim you are, no matter how bad the classes are, you should be able to get the credit. Maybe the tests have changed substantially in the last fifteen years since I graduated from high school, but I didn't think that they were that hard. You just have to be good at writing essay questions. If you want to be a history major, I would imagine that you are a fairly good writer. Not to mention you seem to be from what you write in the posts.

I know a couple of people have mentioned taking community college classes while still being in high school (myself included). Have you looked into it? Also, could you possibly go to a better school? I went to a private high school and judging from what others who went to public schools have told me, the difference is substantial. At private schools it seems there is a whole lot less b.s..

That goes for most public and private universities, too, depending on your major. I went to a private university my freshman year of college and then did the rest at public. The public university classes were not even remotely challenging.

 

[Jesin]

I'd recommend taking AP courses and ALSO studying for the exams in your spare time, especially in the couple months leading up to the exams. Barron's review books are excellent, in my experience.