<p>My son is a 6th grader. He is very advanced academically (reading at post-high school level, taking geometry H, qualified for AIME, advanced in all subjects, etc.). He is very social and mature for his age. His school principle recommended him to skip 7th grade and start 8th grade this fall. However, we are very hesitated to let him skip since he is already the youngest in his grade (he skipped 2nd grade in elementary school). We are not concerned about the transition from 6th to 8th, either academically or socially. He already has a lot of friends in higher grade. But we are concerned about his high school life and college life. What will it be like for being 2 years younger than others at teenage age? Is it too early to start college at 16? When colleges read his application, will they concern about his young age? Will he be in a disadvantage when applying those top universities? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>i don’t think he’ll miss out on anything, maybe he just don’t have his license when all his other friends do.
there are people who go to college and they are way younger than 16 haha they are exceptional yes, but so is your son.
if anything colleges will be like “=O” when they look at his age and how smart he is</p>
<p>i would do it! (: i know people who have skipped grades and are treated the same. if your son wants to go forward, then let him. if anything, i’m sure you could just get him to back a grade level o.o</p>
<p>I thought about repeating a grade if it turns out that he is not mature enough to go to college at 16. First, he probably will say NO. Secondly, I don’t know how this will show on his record.</p>
<p>qualified for AIME as a 6th grade… :[ ■■■</p>
<p>He can always take a gap year either during high school or after he graduates before going to college if you or he feel he is not yet ready for college.</p>
<p>Yeah, sure. High school will probably have a lot more to offer him in a year than middle school will anyway. For one, he won’t have to go off-campus to take precalc in eighth grade. Unless his middle school offers precalculus, in which case disregard my last point.</p>
<p>Anyway, I went to college when I was 16 and nobody really treated me differently, except I was a lot less mature than everyone else so things turned out badly. I think it really depends on who your son is and how he interacts with others. End statement of obvious truth.</p>
<p>Having gone through the process myself, I wouldn’t recommend it. There really is a difference between some professional saying you’re mature enough and you actually being mature enough for that age. Sure, you may act it and might fit in perfectly, but there’s always that one little problem- I can’t really explain it, just something you have to feel. </p>
<p>As far as starting college at 16 goes, I wouldn’t say there’s a problem- employers/professors/everyone respects you and don’t treat you differently at all. Overall I’d say that as much as I hated skipping the grade it helped me overall because it forced me to actually work for something instead of breezing through life. I can see the effects now as I am doing a lot more than I had ever imagined and could even graduate college at the age of 18 (one of the youngest/possibly youngest in last 100+ years). So yes, there are definite immediate potential disadvantages but also tremendous advantages in the long run. </p>
<p>Sent from my iPhone 4 using CC app</p>
<p>My cousin (who is basically my brother to me) also skipped two grades (1st grade and 4th grade), and he is doing fine, albeit he’s tremendously smart. Still, I’m pretty sure your son will be able fine if he skips 7th grade.</p>
<p>I think he’d be ready to skip, but I think if he didn’t skip, then he’d be able to get another year of education. For example, if he’s in Geometry in the 6th grade, he should be able to go into Calculus in the 9th grade. However, if you skip a grade, then he’ll only be in Pre-Calculus in 9th grade - which is still very very advanced, of course, but it’s less ahead than what he has the potential to be.</p>
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<p>fizix2, Could you please elaborate on what went badly, if you may, as we have a similar situation. Thanks.</p>
<p>After reading fizix2’s comment again, I must say my cousin does act very immature in front of people he doesn’t know. So, I would really really put maturity as one of the determining factor of whether you son should skip a grade… When people see that you cant socialize well, they may treat you differently, especially is he plans to skip middle school, where kids that age are supposed to have a much higher level of ability to interact with people.</p>
<p>Small things happened (with friends and stuff); I freaked out, stopped turning in work, tried to kill myself, and had to take two years off school</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m particularly mentally ill, but I did think stuff like
“I can’t focus on work tonight, this means I’ll never be able to work again”
“I keep changing my mind about whether my friend is actually my friend. I must be going crazy.”
Which I think was due to lack of experience/perspective. I think a normal 16-year-old wouldn’t freak out over this stuff but I was pretty immature for a 16-year-old, having been sheltered and academically pushed my whole life.</p>
<p>FWIW I’m back in school, have a 3.9 GPA, and am now the same age as my peers.</p>
<p>^wooot,woot great job man. We all have those down times. :)</p>
<p>If your son skipped seventh grade, would he also skip a year of algebra 2 honors? If not, would he take algebra 2 honors in eighth grade? by the way, did your son take the AMC 12?</p>
<p>My son had a similar situation: made AIME 7th grade, JMO 8th grade and reads at college level. He did not skip a grade and yes, he was bored to death but simply did other “academic enrichment” things for stimulation. His middle school allowed him to take on-line math courses (AOPS, EPGY…) since he tested out of the H.S. Math courses (except Calc). 2 yrs is HUGE in the scheme of maturity/development within these formative yrs. I vote against skipping a grade.</p>
<p>To Foodlover001, my son took AMC10A this Feb and qualified for AIME. We planned to let him test out algebra 2 honors so he won’t need to go to the high school to take class. In 8th grade (skipping or not), he will go to high school to take pre-calculus. </p>
<p>To ljp7266, is your son in high school now? Is he still bored in high school? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>My son is currently in 8th grade and will take whatever math courses are available in high school: grade 9 - AP Stats, grade 10 - AP BC Calc Grade 11 - AP Comp Sci and/or online or local college classes. The Math in high school is a joke if a student is at AIMIE level in middle school. He does not want to skip a grade because of the obvious potential issues that will arise “socially”…FYI - he is 5’ 10" and is your typical 13 yr old, so it’s not that he couldn’t get away with skipping a grade from that perspective. I would only let a child skip a grade if he/she really wants to and they fully understand what lies ahead which of course they will not comprehend; therefore, I stand by my original statement: don’t skip ahead as long as he is not unhappy as a kid.</p>
<p>We will go on a similar path: AP calc, AP comp sci, AP stats, then a college course. He wants to skip more but I learned from other people that he needs four years of math in high school, so cannot go ahead more.
My son wanted to skip more classes (including other subjects). We never thought about skipping another grade until the principle brought it up. I asked my son’s opinion. He wants to skip. But I cannot count on the decision by a 11 year old. He is only thinking about short term: he has lots of friends in higher grade and the class will be more fun. But he also commented “After a year, I will be bored again.”…</p>
<p>I am a year younger than everyone in my grade. I don’t think there is a huge social gap between two years.</p>
<p>Your son might have a teensy tiny problem with volunteering at hospitals, getting your driver’s license, and getting a job in high school. In my area, you must be at least 16 to volunteer and state child labor laws might also affect the high school experience.
I’m a year behind all my classmates, and getting a permit/license a year behind everyone else sucks >.<</p>