Advantages of Graduating With Honors in High School

Graduating with honors in high school gives you a basic understanding of college education and demonstrates that you are capable of handling the rigors of college level education. There are three types of honors curriculum that high schools offer including regular honors, advanced placement and the international baccalaureate. If your high school does not offer an honors curriculum or you study at home, you can explore AP courses online. In order to graduate with honors, you need to apply maximum commitment, time and hard work to your studies.

College Admissions

Graduating with honors makes your college application stand out in highly competitive colleges. An honorary graduation shows a college admission board that you are well versed with college coursework and what it demands of you. It shows the board that you have exposed yourself to the challenges expected in a college environment.

College Credits

You earn college credits when you graduate with honors; this reduces the costs resulting from pursuing continuing education such as tuition, school fees and textbook expenses. The amount of credits you earn depends on your test scores. For example, when you excel in AP and other honors curriculum, higher scores lead to earning more credits. Most schools offer higher GPA scores when you take honors level classes. For example, an A grade gives you five points rather than four.

Advancement

When you graduate with honors you can opt out of attending college introductory classes. You are able to avoid crowded classrooms that are typical of introductory classes and advance to upper level courses. This gives you the opportunity to take other additional courses or electives that widen your knowledge base in the field you seek to pursue. You can also graduate early after exemption from introductory classes.

Memberships and Scholarships

Graduating with honors provides you with an opportunity to acquire membership in organizations such as the National Honor Society and the National Juniors Honor Society. Such a membership challenges you academically and in other areas like leadership and character. You also have an opportunity to explore scholarships offered by the organization. Many high schools also offer scholarship opportunities for students who graduate with honors. Visit your school’s counselor to provide you with available scholarship opportunities.

College Preparation

The academic work that warrants a graduation with honors provides a basic preview of what to expect with college education. Honors level classes demand commitment and hard work because the curriculum is harder that the regular high school curriculum. Excelling in honors level classes prepares you for the collegiate academic environment and the demanding coursework that you will experience.

"Advantages of Graduating With Honors in High School" Article by Maria OCadiz (Seattle Pi)