My D is a sophomore and thinking of applying college early (not early action, but 1 year early), she is academically very advanced, will be taking AP calculus BC this May, which is the most advanced math class in her school. She is also very strong in language/literature and very self disciplined. She does not take SAT/ACT yet, but expect high score (2300-2400, old scale) if take any time now.
Any body did this before? what is your opinion? what is the pros and cos? how about high school graduation diploma? does top college (ivies, MIT/STANFORD etc.) accept this kind application? will this have a negative impact for senior year application if not admitted? any suggestion is well come.
It will be better off her finishing and get a high school diploma. I have friends who were very advanced and got 2400 in the sat. They had the chance to go to a college early, but choice not to.
thank you NASA2014. I think it is good for her to stay in high school till graduation.
I reason I am asking is that I have second D, who is even more advanced. she is in 8th grade ans taking ap calculus bc this may as well, my worry is that she will enter high school with no challenging math class to take for 4 years. if one year is good to wait, 4 years are just too much, if one D can apply earlier, then two Ds can both apply earlier. that is my dilemma that I am been blessed with. any suggestions?
She can take courses at a local university or online in math along with her regular highschool classes. There may also be an independent study option with her school.
thank you XCjunior2016. that is definitely an option. But is applying earlier is such a bad option, relative to all the other options? what is the consequence? why it is so bad?
I would not recommend going to college early. You D may be ready for the academics of a college but it there is a chance that she will be ready (or even accepted) to be in college socially. In addition, I don’t think that the top colleges are eager to take in much younger students – they get tons of super qualified suppliants so why worry about bringing in younger students who come with some maturity/social issues.
Some ideas might be to graduate early and take a gap year doing something that interests them (a program abroad, doing research etc), taking classes at a local college and living home, and perhaps particularly for your younger daughter you can look into Simons Rock (Bard) which is a school that does college level work but is for high school age students.
My wife’s PhD advisor went to college at the age of 13, so I had a chance to see what is going on with prodigy. He’s a professor of one of ivies.
Anyway, if you child is prodigy, sending your child to a college at early age is a possible option but it needs a lot of parents’ dedication. I heard that top colleges are generally reluctant to take very young students (I heard that U of Chicago takes relatively young kids), so you probably have to send your child a college close your home and take care of your child. When your child finishes undergraduate, your child can go to graduate school at her choice.
I want to respond because I did this back in 1989. I applied to University of Florida as junior in high school. I was accepted and never finished high school or received a diploma or GED. I graduated from Florida in 3 years and was accepted to Duke Law School (and earned my JD at Duke). I had a great time in college and law school. I did well academically and socially. Your D probably will too. A hard-working, smart, mature young woman can handle it - most of these posters don’t know your D and can’t envision it, but I can. I have a daughter who could handle it as well, but isn’t interested in missing her senior year, so I am not pressing this option.
BTW, when I got accepted to Florida, I had a friend who did the same thing with Georgia Tech and is now a successful OBGYN. Find your desired colleges and try to talk to the admissions offices about these options. You might find them quite receptive. Best of luck.
thank you happy1.
D1 is mentally very mature, D2 is typical 8th grader in maturity. But two sis are very close. I was thinking of having them apply at the same year to the same college, so two of them will be socially much easier to adapt.
gap year is a very interesting ideal, but for D1 may be too late, if not for D2, i would not thinking of let D1 apply early. How does gap year work out? how safe? if it safer then college? think of let D2 alone without big sis on a gap year project is a little hard for me…
thank you DAPIStained. they do have a set of dream schools that are typical top ranked ones. I will try to help them to get there.
thank you Merfdog, very encouraging…
@hay219 I am not sure whether your daughter is interested but Wellesley specifically indicates that a student can apply during junior year which is called accelerated admission.
http://www.wellesley.edu/admission/esp/firstyear/decisionplans#accelerated
USC has an early entrance program if I remember correctly from mail my DS received.
thanks @DAPIStained. Wellesly is not currently on their dream school list. But I will recommend to them.
thanks txstella. I will make a list.
I know Reed has an option for students to apply in their junior year.
If you need financial aid, be aware that Wellesley has some of the most generous.
usualhopeful: got it