Lots of options. My younger one starting taking classes at our large state university when he was 10. He only took them in the summers at first. He skipped two grades, accelerated additionally in several areas, and eventually graduated at 16. He’s now matriculated to that large state school, so he has a lot of credits there. He’s capable of graduating fast, but he won’t. He’ll have two majors, time for research, freedom to take advanced classes. He’ll enjoy his experience there. He lives on campus, but we aren’t far away. My older one turned 16 the week he graduated high school. He also took some classes at our state university. Had loads of AP credits, too. Cornell accepted many credits. He could have graduated early there. He didn’t. He had an amazing undergraduate experience. Tutored others. Loved every minute. Now, he’s getting his PhD at another Ivy. Going young doesn’t have to mean CC and it doesn’t have to be a bad experience or rushing to anything. It just has to be what’s right for the kid. Neither one of mine wanted a gap year. Neither one wanted (or wants) to graduate in three years either. Fortunately, our state school doesn’t have that surcharge or push for graduation. It doesn’t matter what anyone else has done (except in knowing that it’s possible). It only matters what works for each kid.
“He had an amazing undergraduate experience.”
Yea! Awesome.
According to https://sfs.virginia.edu/sites/sfs.virginia.edu/files/FAQs-125%25SurchargeRule.pdf , the 125% rule at VA public universities includes credit from VA universities, but not credit from “high school dual enrollment, Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing, International Baccalaureate, and Credit by Exam”.
If you start with 1-2 years of credit going in and stay 4 years to pursue a degree, you’re going to either not use/waste the 1-2 years credit you came in with or have a lot of extra credits over and above your program that could be subject to the surcharge. Unless of course you’re not going full time for the 4 years.
It’s a very individual situation. What works well for one student may not work well for another.
My sister and I both went to college a year early. She was (and still is) a far more worldly, sophisticated, and mature individual than I am. My college experience turned out fine. Hers was extremely unhappy, which she attributes to simply being too young to go away to college. Go figure.
I agree that there’s no reason to force a child to be with age mates. But consider also that there are some merits to being with age mates, and it may be worthwhile to look for creative solutions that will allow this to happen in a way that also makes educational sense.
Here is what https://sfs.virginia.edu/sites/sfs.virginia.edu/files/FAQs-125%25SurchargeRule.pdf says:
In other words, someone bringing credit from high school dual enrollment, AP, IB, etc. when starting as a frosh as UVA can exclude that credit from the 125% threshold. That means that s/he can take a full four years of full course loads at UVA without having to pay the surcharge for going over the 125% threshold. Or at least that is what this document says.
There are schools that will force a student with enough credits to graduate (from what I’ve heard from other parents of kids who went young with a lot of credits). It can be unwanted and unexpected. Mine were never officially dual enrolled through any sort of program. We just did it on our own and paid the fees ourselves (unfortunately). I would never push for acceleration, radical acceleration, early college for a kid who isn’t begging for it. We made every choice with our kids. Together. They wanted this. They came to many of the meetings with school administrators to help advocate for what they wanted. If there’s any realistic way to stay with age peers, that’s great! If the student can be happy and challenged, that really is all anyone can expect. That wasn’t possible for us.
When the older one was taking a math class at our state university and still touring colleges at newly 15 (summer prior to senior year of high school), he asked the professor what he thought of Cornell for math. The prof. said “for grad. school?” He had no idea of my son’s age. It was an advanced class and he was at the top. He fit in with the older students in all ways. He ended up loving that visit and applying ED. Not everyone has a great acceleration story. Going young was good for me, my brother, my mom, other family members. Dad went to the army at 17. Later to college (GI Bill). Do what fits the kid.
It looks like such policies are not too hard to find at public schools, but which schools have these policies and do not exclude credit earned while in high school (college courses taken while in high school, AP, IB, etc.) from the limits?
That VA requirement post also mentions “degree requirements for a program”-I expect it is possible to avoid finishing required courses too soon and be able to take more credits while not exceeding the cap. Creative thinking to work around rules.
One size does not fit all. Those who think all students should have or want the typical undergrad college experience are forgetting that all students do not want that. There are many reasons to choose a school outside of the academics- some do/do not want a Greek presence on campus, for example.
btw- we could also comment about how one can be too old for college. That would really place limits by requiring everyone to fit inside the box that most do.
@wis75 : “too old for college”…Too old to dorm while in college, you mean? What’s too old for college?