<p>My math/science son took advantage of a dual-credit system that let him stay in HS and commute to the local Uni 3 times a week for classes. Now he is a rising sophomore in college. His social groups are a mix of his age from the dorms, and kids (themselves accelerated one year over the norm) 2 years older he met in classes. He was fortunate that the older friends are positive social mentors. Somewhat oddly, the older kids have been more tolerant of my son’s idiosyncrasies.</p>
<p>Since he goes to a public Uni that has a non-selective student body, skipping the first 2 - 3 years of typical UG classes has worked out well. As these things go, I think he has managed to fit into appropriate social and academic slots.</p>
<p>And all I can think of is how awkward it is to be surrounded by kids your own age who just don’t understand like you do. Oftentimes the most gifted are introverted and not interested in the social life most are. It is frustrating to live with when you are more extroverted- H and S want their alone time, not time spent with a lot of others. I suspect this kid found more personalities like his in college. He also did not have good opportunities at home- much better for him to be at college with other black students who value education than in his area. Boarding school? Where do you find one with a Black majority? Sounds like he is getting the best society can give him- educated people in his ethnic group, many who can relate to his economic status as well.</p>
<p>this is pointless i hear stories about 13 year olds enrolling in college and stuff but then theyre going to no name school, itd be different if they got into HYPSM because usually you can get alot more out of highschool unless youre going to a top tier school</p>
<p>Parents, please re-read Illyria s post (#69). Stephen Stafford lives at home with his parents, in a suburb of Atlanta. He does not live in residence at Morehouse. Stephen Stafford, 13-year-old Morehouse sophomore | First Person | Creative Loafing Atlanta </p>
<p>Many of us have been commenting here because we wrongly believed that the 13-year old is away from his family, living in college residential dorm with 5-6 years older college kids. ITS NOT THE CASE. The article story is nothing unusual. ITS VERY COMMON for young kids to take some courses at local colleges, not just at 13, but even at far younger than 13.</p>
<p>This same discussion came up a few years ago. A number of adults replied with their experiences of having gone to college at a very early age. Some felt they made the right choice, and others felt it was a huge mistake - still regretting it to this day.</p>
<p>One size does not fit all. College at 13 may work, or it could be a decision you pay for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>When I was in elementary school, I spent my time split between wishing I could be “normal” because I didn’t fit in with the other kids my age at my school and wishing the school district would just let me skip a few grades so I would have something to do in school. Because they were so worried about putting me with older kids and avoiding social awkwardness, I ended up fitting in neither academically nor socially. When your brain works the way mine did when I was in year 5 or so, you don’t fit in socially with kids your age; I would have been better off with kids a bit older.
I did eventually skip a grade and am now about to start my sophomore year of college (though I entered my first year with 45 credits). However, I often find myself wishing that I had had an opportunity to push myself and do something like this at a younger age. Parents, don’t force your kids to do something like this if they don’t want to, but don’t hold them back if they have the ability and will.</p>
<p>Thank you, nano… People need to hear from those who are like the highly gifted kid mentioned. There has been a lot of literature published in the past decade that would have helped us and your parents. I even participated in a study eons ago (through my HS and local U that tested several of us one day each of the 4 years) that generated data leading to conclusions used in helping kids now. One size certainly doesn’t fit all.</p>
<p>I would have qualified for an early college program (7th grade SAT-M 710 SAT-V 650) but, my parents said no citing missing me and money as the problems but I think that it was really because they didn’t want me to get opportunity’s my brothers hadn’t had.</p>
<p>I wish my parents would at least let me apply for an early college program but they are adamant that I not even apply to mbc’s PEG (google it) I am really irritated because as mentioned in my earlier post I could get in if I was allowed to.</p>
<p>My S would have qualified for an early college program in 7th & 8th grade, as his SAT scores were higher than those required for our flagship U. He was fairly content with going to an elite private prep HS and never asked about starting U. He did take a summer course at a not-very-competitive private U after 10th grade and was very disappointed in the students and coursework. He breezed along in HS & started his U with the maximum 60 credits (would have had more if the U allowed it, as he qualified for more because of the # of AP exams he had completed, as well as that summer college course).</p>
<p>He did not voice any regrets about not starting U earlier and not taking any special gifted curriculum. His HS bio teacher offered to set him up with researchers at the flagship U but he didn’t want to do more work :(; I thought it was sweet that she offered.</p>
<p>Computers offer kids gateways to enrichment most of us never had when we were growing up.</p>