Dexter senior looks ahead at college majors and which university to attend: Harvard, Yale or Washington?

Jacob Robinson is going to have some tough choices to make in the coming year. But every high school senior should be so lucky.

The Dexter High School senior will most likely have to choose from among Harvard University, Washington University or Yale University for his college destination.

Robinson, the son of Mark and Rhonda Robinson, has attended Dexter schools all his life. He recalls earning one A- while he was in elementary school. No grade lower than an A has appeared on any grade report throughout his middle and high school years. He always has been and remains at the top of his academic game.

When Robinson learned of a summer program at Washington University in St. Louis during his junior year of high school, he applied and was accepted.

"I took macroeconomics and psychology," he said. "I really preferred the psychology class over the macro, and I loved the Wash U campus."

He got an A in each class, earning six college credit hours.

As a junior at Dexter High School, Robinson learned online of a similar summer program offered at Harvard. Again he applied and was accepted.

"It was a seven-week program," he said. "And I attended Boys State also, so the last day at Warrensburg attending Boys State, my parents picked me up and took me right to Lambert Field, and I flew to Boston."

At Harvard over the recent summer, Robinson earned eight college credit hours in the seven-week program. He studied neurobiology and American government, and aced them both.

"We had opportunities to see a lot while we were there," he said. "It was my first time in the northeast, and I loved Boston. We went to Cape Cod and to Martha's Vineyard and got to visit several other locations. It was great."

About 100 students from around the world attended Harvard's Secondary Summer School Program. The students stayed in the college dorms and ate in the cafeteria. Robinson shared his dormitory room with three other students -- one from Texas, one from Florida and one from Brazil.

"Ours was probably one of the least diverse of all the suites," he said. "There were a lot of foreign students, and there were busloads of foreign tourists looking at the campus every day we were there."

Students also got a chance to visit other campuses, including Brown University and Yale.

"I loved Yale," Robinson said. "I loved everything about it, and I plan on applying there in the spring."

As far back as he can recall, Robinson has known he wants to be a doctor.

"I'm not sure yet if I want to be a surgeon, or if I might want to specialize, perhaps in dermatology," he said.

With all of his academic accomplishments, one might suspect Robinson would have time for nothing other than academics. But they would be mistaken.

Throughout his high school career, he has served as president of his class. He is also president of FBLA -- Future Business Leaders of America -- and serves in the FBLA Southeast District's presidential post. Additionally, he is a member of the Foreign Language Club, president of Dexter Honor Society and a member of the student council; he consistently ranks in the top 10 percent of his class.

He also has been involved in the Foreign Language Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Speech and Debate and Robotics Club; he is a member of the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan committee, works the presidential polls as a student election judge, and played junior varsity and varsity tennis. He is the recipient of the National I Dare You Leadership Award, and placed in the Math Field Day competition in Cape Girardeau. He regularly joins in efforts geared toward community betterment.

Robinson co-founded with a high school friend, Alexis Smith, an entity called End Poverty in Stoddard County in December. Through their efforts, hundreds of children in need in the county have been provided with ] winter coats and school supplies.

Politically minded as well, Robinson serves as president of the local Teen Republican organization.

Robinson has been taking college credit courses since his junior year in high school. Upon graduation, he will have at least 45 college credit hours behind him, making him eligible to be half way through his sophomore year at the age of 18. He could feasibly graduate from a top four-year university in less than two years.

"I wouldn't mind doing that to get a start in medical school," he said.

Pertinent address: Dexter High School, 1101 W Grant St., Dexter