<p>When my son was in elementary and middle school, one of his classmates was a very precocious, mature young lady. She ended up pretty much skipping high school even after skipping a grade early in the process. She had a late birthday so she was extremely young for my son’s grade when they were in middle school together. The parents investigated college options for her, and she did go to college at age 12, but did not get into any of the very top schools. When she graduated college, in 4 years with a double major and summa cum laude, she applied to a number of law schools with sterling LSATs. None accepted her; she went to a local law school and completed her law education by the time she was 19. She is now 23, like my son, who in contrast is a late, late bloomer (at least I hope; the blooming has not been so dramatic if it is happening). Ironically, he went to the same college she did. Barely got by. And was accepted by the same law school, but he decided he did not want to go there, or to any law school, for that matter. 10 years ago, the differences between the two of them were infinitismal. Now they don’t seem to be that much, as he is working at a job earning close to what she is. And I don’t think he ever got an “A” on his report card; she got nothing but A’s and skipped a lot of grades in school. Where she is behind is in social connections. Whereas my son’s book of contacts is as thick as the phone book, her mother says that though she has some good, close friends, she would not do well in things like fund raising or other relationship businesses, as most of her contacts are through her parents. Though my son knows of her, he really does not remember her as a classmate though they were together in several activities and in the same school and grade for a number of years. Most of his contacts are highschool and college level. He knows more kids from the local law school than she does, also, and again, many there know of her, but would not say they know her.
Now, emotionally, she seems very mature, much more so than my son and his peers. She is a lovely person, and does not seem to be hurting from her acceleration. It is certainly possible that even if she had gone the standard pace, she is just the sort to stick with just a few friends, and not be so social.</p>
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<p>I think that is an important thing to keep in mind. Although skipping grades can hurt a child’s social life, children who are naturally outgoing will usually not have a problem with it. Also some children, if they are mature for their age, will find more in common with older students and actually find it easier to make friends. On the other hand, children who have a problem with it might have had a hard time making friends anyway.</p>