<p>626, someone was asking just how many early to college kids will go on to change the world, as if starting college early would be some reason they <em>should</em> change the world (even though the person was clearly thinking they have the same or lower likelihood as those who start at 18). I was trying to point out that because someone is capable of doing something early and has a reason to do it doesn’t mean that if given the chance to go ahead and do it, they will become exceptional at it. Again, you and I agree on the concepts, seems to me, but you aren’t quite following my points and I am sorry I’ve been losing you due to not being a better writer. Just as child who starts piano young shouldn’t be <em>expected</em> to become a virtuoso, neither should an early college kid be <em>expected</em> to become eminent (nor feel morally obligated to do such even if the person could, though many disagree with me here, and I say just as a gorgeous person doesn’t have to become a model or movie or porn star to allow society to “profit from their gift”, neither should intelligent people feel they must use their brain to cure diseases and such). But I also am cognizant that the <em>percentage</em> of virtuosos who started playing their instrument young is higher than the <em>percentage</em> who started at later ages and similarly, the <em>percentage</em> who started college early and later became eminent is higher than the <em>percentage</em> who started at the typical time. The reasons are also similar as to why this is. A child who starts music young and sticks with it has had more time practicing in that field in general than those who started later and has been more likely to have some talent to want to be able to continue practicing for year upon year (as eventually, those who were pushed by parents realize they have a choice and can give it up). With the to early college group, they also had to have demonstrated a certain level of talent above average level to have been admitted to college early and done well enough to continue on and they have more time spent in a field (if they stick with the same field they chose when young). I think they have an additional advantage in being young and not having had concepts become so fixed into their heads via time yet, so are more flexible in their questioning things, coming up with solutions to things, etc. (and this is also a reason that it has been speculated that the majority of math and science contributions come from people before they hit 30 and especially 40).</p>