<p>Ok so this friend of mine just finished all her high school coursework at 14 and is graduating with my class. Of course, every class she took was an online course (12 ap's with no exams taken, i believe) but she managed a 4.25 Wgpa! She's been stressing about college lately, so I was wondering if her accomplishment will open up incredible opportunities for her, college-wise? Such as Ivies and such even though she has a very empty extra curricular list. Anyone have any input on how it may help her or hurt her chances at top notch schools?</p>
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<p>I doubt it. And, truly and without malice, I really hope it doesn’t. A 14-year-old has no business living in a college dorm with 18- and 19-year-old students. Developmentally, it’s wildly inappropriate.</p>
<p>Quite possibly, the best next step for such a student is Simon’s Rock: [Home</a> — Bard College at Simon’s Rock - The Early College](<a href=“http://www.simons-rock.edu/]Home”>http://www.simons-rock.edu/).</p>
<p>Would her parents actually allow her to go away to college at that age? Developmentally she would really young and have difficulty in my mind relating to kids that are at a minimum of 4 years older. And not to have many extra-curriculars would, in my mind, mean that she spent so much time on studying and little time learning to relate to others.</p>
<p>Hate to ask, but what are her SAT I and II’s and is she val or sal of class. If very top, she has shot at Ivies and maybe top Ivies (she should have taken AP exams for more academic cred’s though) </p>
<p>I do agree with Sikorsky and lammb66 concerns and also wonder if Simon’s Rock, or something else along those lines, woudl be betetr for her right now (even if just for a year). </p>
<p>This also presents a real dilemma for the the student and her parents think she is ready, her creds match accepted students (save for ECs, which I doubt will ding her due to age and uniqueness), and no real evidence to contradict the parents re maturity except age. Would the AO really substitute his/her judgment any ways? </p>
<p>Also, most Ivies (except maybe for Yale although I am not sure) do not interview and so no way for them to get to check for themselves re maturity. I wonder if tey would make an exception for her re interviews and suspect they would.</p>
<p>Why would you even do that? I doubt any “incredible college opportunities” are opened for her. Like Sikorsky said, possibly some early college program or attending a community college to gain college credit and transferring at an older age. Although there have been young students admitted to University’s in the past, I think most would have some concerns about admitting a 14 year old (living in a dorm setting at least). Maybe she will be allowed to take classes on campus but live at home? I’m not quite sure how it works.</p>
<p>Justblewit,</p>
<p>Why would you doubt it based on the info in the postings other than age and are you saying no 14 year olds can make it in college (there have 14 and younger who have gone)? Maybe/maybe not depending on her scores and maturity.</p>
<p>Her sat is a 2160 btw and yeah she’s not the most mature senior at my school… Hehe she acts like most freshies and sophomores but her parents are fine with sending her around</p>
<p>@muckdogs07,</p>
<p>I doubt it for a few reasons. I think that colleges might be apprehensive allowing a fourteen year old in a classroom setting with eighteen and nineteen year olds. Why? How is a fourteen year old going to challenge other students and contribute to the learning environment? I’m sorry if I’m sounding a little harsh, but most people at that age are not on the same intellectual level as adults. Yes, she can take tests well and regurgitate information, but honestly how can a high school freshman keep up with college freshman?</p>
<p>A good idea would be to take CC classes for a couple of years and then transfer-this would give her a chance to really understand how college and college life works to a point. This way, she can transfer to another university later on and continue her classes there when she might be more ready for college life.</p>
<p>Sounds like the U of Washington’s Robinson Center Early College would be ideal, and they just started taking applications yesterday for next year. It is ONLY for 13-15 year olds but on the main campus, with special support, and they apparently go on to places like MIT, Oxford, etc. </p>
<p>I used to babysit the younger sister of one of these kids-I remember seeing the girl in the paper-going on to grad school at 18. </p>
<p>Link: [Robinson</a> Center Early Entrance Program](<a href=“http://depts.washington.edu/cscy/programs/early-entrance-program/]Robinson”>Early Entrance to the UW - UW Robinson Center for Young ScholarsUW Robinson Center for Young Scholars)</p>
<p>For young people in your friend’s situation, many parents would recommend spending time at [Early</a> College Entrance Programs | Hoagies’ Gifted](<a href=“http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/early_college.htm]Early”>Early Entrance College Programs | Hoagies' Gifted) to find colleges and universities that offer programs that are specifically designed for younger students. Some people her age cope very well in a college situation, but others don’t. </p>
<p>Another good option could be spending a year abroad in an exchange program with AFS, YFU, or another reputable organization. She would have an opportunity to perfect a foreign language, and she would return home a bit readier for college life.</p>
<p>Putting intellectual maturity aside, college is also a very adult environment in many ways. Sex and alcohol are widespread just about every college including top colleges. Nobody wants, god forbid, for some kind of statutory rape scenario to occur.</p>
<p>I am 15 right now and i will also finish high school at 16, I will start college at 17. My best friends here are in their mid-twenties. Nobody ever believes me when I tell them that I am not 25, but rather only 15. I do not fit in with my age group whatsoever, I have much more common ground with the university students than I do with most people under 20. Is it unusual? Probably. But still, those people exist, and unless you want to take away their autonomy and freedom of choice, why should they (I) not be able to to the on place I actually feel like I fit in? :)</p>
<p>My daughter is on track to graduate at 16, although she’ll turn 17 a few days later. We’ve nixed any additional acceleration, in large part because of the “would a young 16yo do well at college far from home” issue. If the academic mismatch gets so great that changing schools makes sense, we’d prefer a school that would put her into the grade that matches her age. (In boarding school lingo, I believe that would be something like a 9th grader applying for 9th grade.)</p>
<p>I was out of high school at 16, and would have started college before turning 17 if not for a gap year abroad. IMHO I was waitlisted at my top choice because of age - they took me the next year, despite having done nothing particularly remarkable with that gap year. I do think that the tippy-top schools do not look favorably upon the youngest applicants, and the absolute best you could hope for would be for your age to be disregarded.</p>
<p>But, you know, not my monkey, not my circus. The kind of kid who can finish high school at 14 has few ideal options, and if finances are an issue, “has no ideal options” may be more like it. I’m not going to second-guess some parent’s well-considered choice of the least-worst placement for their own kid.</p>