Are your kids planning to go to college by 16 or earlier?

[crazyforlatin]

Just out of curiosity and to learn how others have planned, are your accelerated children attending college by 14-16 years old? I know that some kids are eager to go to college even though they are on the younger side, so I was wondering how the parents managed to include all areas of study, SAT and AP prep, etc. For those parents whose children have taken the SATs or APs in their 6-8 grade years, how did you all do it?!?! It seems overwhelming to plan for such a course if the child insists on starting college early.

For those parents whose children did start college at a much younger age, were there any academic difficulties at first, anything that might have made your child reconsider and attend at 18 instead, or anything we as parents should think about as we prepare our kids who would like to go to college earlier?

[LisaK in VA]

No...no plans here, but my oldest is 10 and college is a lot less important than LEGO.

Then, there's our 8yo daughter, who came to dh and I tonight and asked, "Mommy, do I have any hope of getting into college?" :001_huh:

Yeah, she'll be a 3rd grader starting Pre-Algebra, can write and illustrate her own stories, has a real knack for history -- and she's worried about college. Maybe I should start to worry about when for her!:glare:

[kck]

Yeah, she'll be a 3rd grader starting Pre-Algebra, can write and illustrate her own stories, has a real knack for history -- and she's worried about college. Maybe I should start to worry about when for her!:glare:

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-algebra/algebra right now too. Maybe I'm in denial, but I'm keeping him away from full time college as long as possible. I can see we'll need to do some college level classes in high school. I'm going as wide and deep as possible.

[newbie]

Well we are in the trenches, dd is `16 and attending in the fall a semi large University.

But she is determined and focused, I have faith she is ready. I think it depends on the child. Every single one is different.

[crazyforlatin]

Well we are in the trenches, dd is `16 and attending in the fall a semi large University.

But she is determined and focused, I have faith she is ready. I think it depends on the child. Every single one is different.

That's great for her and I agree that it depends on the child. My daughter is 5, and is talking about college, (probably doesn't even know what it really means) but if this still holds true in the coming years, it's overwhelming to think of all she has to learn, maybe not really on her part, but on my part to figure out a schedule and find the material. I had a lot of trouble just deciding on elementary curricula until I found this forum last week.

[2cents]

My son started college early and he had no problems going into the college environment. He did so as a duel enrolled student. As homeschoolers in FL we are able to have the children enroll in college and take as many classes as they want to with free tuition. My son started out with two classes the first semester since he was still in 10th grade. Then he added more as he became comfortable. He stayed 'homeschooled' until I graduated him after his 12th year. The transition from dual enrolled to regular student was a seamless transition. He took the ACT in his 12th year and qualified for a full scholarship. I did have to construct a transcript but since I keep good records that was no problem. Don't let the high school and college thing scare you. It is not that hard to navigate. :001_smile:

[KAR120C]

so I was wondering how the parents managed to include all areas of study, SAT and AP prep, etc. For those parents whose children have taken the SATs or APs in their 6-8 grade years, how did you all do it?!?! It seems overwhelming to plan for such a course if the child insists on starting college early.
But I think this is absolutely key: If he wants to go to college early, the biggest thing that needs to happen is that HE needs to do a good bit of that planning and managing. Not that I'm leaving him on the curb and wishing him luck, but that this can't be my plan. It has to be his. And to the same extent, finding yourself in a position to consider early college probably comes more from a kid who plows through everything you can give him, rather than planning a schedule. You do the same things now either way -- teach her where she is, at the pace she needs, and see where it takes you.

[LibraryLover]

Away? Nope. Uni classes? Yes.

[newbie]

But I think this is absolutely key: If he wants to go to college early, the biggest thing that needs to happen is that HE needs to do a good bit of that planning and managing. Not that I'm leaving him on the curb and wishing him luck, but that this can't be my plan. It has to be his. And to the same extent, finding yourself in a position to consider early college probably comes more from a kid who plows through everything you can give him, rather than planning a schedule. You do the same things now either way -- teach her where she is, at the pace she needs, and see where it takes you.

She is right, it does take planning, dd only started in eleventh, way too late. Lesson learned. Wont make same mistake w/nbr 2.

Not necessarily plan from kindergarten, but ninth, tenth get goals down and test taking in line.

[mollies73]

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-algebra/algebra right now too. Maybe I'm in denial, but I'm keeping him away from full time college as long as possible. I can see we'll need to do some college level classes in high school. I'm going as wide and deep as possible.

Just out of sheer curiosity, did you start math really early, or did your children complete several years of curriculum each school year?

[LisaK in VA]

My younger 2 school-age children have an older sibling. They learned by osmosis (or so it seems). I was working on math with my oldest, and the two younger were picking it up. They worked through Abeka K-2 by the time they were in the 1st grade, My dd (8) is finishing up Math 4, starting math 5 now, and assuming things continue, will begin Pre-Algebra A next winter.

My younger son is on a similiar trajectory -- but hasn't mastered his multiplication and division facts yet (he has finally hit the "I'm frustrated, because I can't do this fast enough spot, and is seriously working on those facts now).

They simply learned things fast, and easily -- didn't need constant repetition and drill and have really retained it all.

In addition to their "regular" math work, they also have Teaching Textbooks. My dd will finish up TT6 this summer. My ds will finish up TT5 this summer...I am just praying he doesn't do 5 and 6, or he will "catch up" to dd rather quickly.

[crazyforlatin]

Just out of sheer curiosity, did you start math really early, or did your children complete several years of curriculum each school year?

My daughter is almost 5, but I wasn't planning to teach addition until 6. However, since I thought I would give addition a chance, just to have something other than Latin to study, we progressed quickly to multiplication and now division, all in several months. I think every kid has the potential to learn quickly if taught correctly and, just from my limited experience with one child, children seem eager to learn so why not see what they can do. However, I'm going to slow her down after division and go through Miquon for those 4 basic arithmetic operations one more time, before moving to fractions and decimals, or whatever is the next stage of math. We were using Singapore Math 1 until I thought I should go a little deeper with carryover addition and borrowing subtraction, so we went off track. I used Kumon for practice. I'm also tempted to buy Saxon 2, but it's expensive and it's not the kind of money I want to spend if we're going to go off-track again.

It's great that your kids are doing pre-algebra. Any advice or curriculum on getting to this stage of math?

[nmoira]

Any advice or curriculum on getting to this stage of math?DD the Elder (2nd grade) mostly used Singapore text, IP, and CWP through long division in 4A (supplemented with Primary Challenge Math (http://www.challengemath.com), logic, and puzzle books.) At that point, she did the first two Life of Fred books, and there was no way she was going back to Singapore. I've covered a few gaps here and there, and am having had her go through Mathematics 6 (http://www.perpendicularpress.com/) as an introduction to a more formal math approach... a little bit each day as part of warm-up. She's done everything she needs to go into algebra, but I'm not willing to move her on yet. We keep school days short and so far I've been able to find plenty of interesting diversions.

I'd concentrate on getting through a conceptually solid, challenging elementary program. With this foundation, adept kids can skip pre-algebra completely. Singapore Primary Maths will get you there (with the advantage of being easily compressed and having challenging IP and CWP materials available; some skip the workbook completely in favour of the IP books), so will MEP (http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm) (a program I grow more enamoured of each passing day), and a host of others. Allow self-pacing, and practice facts on the side.

[Gratia271]

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-algebra/algebra right now too. I'm going as wide and deep as possible.

Same here.

[Gratia271]

Away? Nope. Uni classes? Yes.

:iagree:

No intentions of sending dc away early, but certainly college classes before 18.

[kck]

Just out of sheer curiosity, did you start math really early, or did your children complete several years of curriculum each school year?

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-alg, algebra.

No - I did not start math early at all. My son went to a play based pre-school and a regular kindergarten and first grade. He understood basic operations conceptually before kinder. He also played with fractions. I never did anything other than have lots of open ended toys around. We did no academics before K.

So after 2 years of a miserable school experience we brought him home to home school. That was 2nd grade and I started with grade level math for him because I didn't want to leave any holes. I have a math degree and am math picky! He started with Singapore PM 2A last fall and is finishing 6B right now and starting LOF Algebra. He is just a really mathy kid. We do like 15-30 minutes maybe averaging 4X a week and this is where we're at now. I actually teach him very little. He does the vast majority on his own. If you met him, you'd probably think he was a regular 3rd grade little goof ball. :001_smile: He is verbally gifted too, but in many ways he's a 3rd grader! He does other math too. Computer games, extra practice, etc.

We're lucky enough to live in an area where we have many choices for early college level classes.

[fractalgal]

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-alg, algebra.

He started with Singapore PM 2A last fall and is finishing 6B right now and starting LOF Algebra. ! He does other math too. Computer games, extra practice, etc.

We're lucky enough to live in an area where we have many choices for early college level classes.

I don't know if you are already doing this, but I think adding in the CWP and IP books from Singapore would enrich your accelerated 3rd grader's math understanding. These books, particularly the IP, are my favorite part of the Singapore Math program.

[Karin]

I'm not sure for all of them yet. My eldest won't. She not only has almost zero motivation right now, but she won't be mature enough that early based on how she's been her entire life to date.

My second might start CC full time at 16, but I'm leaving the decision partly up to her. She was very motivated one year, got a year ahead, and then decided she'd rather do one grade a year so that she could play, draw and read more. Now that she's zooming through LoF Beginning Algebra, etc, I've asked her if she'd like to go ahead and start high school this fall but not change her registered grade yet in case she wants to play high school sports. She's not sure, but I'm going to have her do SWB's History of the Ancient World instead of doing a year of Canadian history so that she can do high school history and math. She'll learn to write an essay and is now sailing through R&S, so ought to easily have enough by the end of next year to merely review each year. What's changed for her is that she has learned to start her work, focus and get it done most days. If that manages to last through the ages of 13 & 14, then she'll be ready. CC is free for high school students here, at least at this point, so she could save a great deal of money starting at 16. If not, it will be 17.

As for ds, I have no idea yet. He is gifted but is a late bloomer when it comes to academics. He is starting to surge ahead in some areas of school, but not all yet. He'd rather play than get ahead so far except in math.

That said, had I highly motivated dc, things would have gone quite differently so far. Had I been given this choice, I'd have opted to get into university as young as I could. In the end, I lost my motivation by high school, and this is one of the reasons I wanted to homeschool.

[kck]

I don't know if you are already doing this, but I think adding in the CWP and IP books from Singapore would enrich your accelerated 3rd grader's math understanding. These books, particularly the IP, are my favorite part of the Singapore Math program.

Yes - we do a lot of extra problem solving and I have some of the IP books. I'm thinking of having him do Zaccaro Middle School Challenge Math for fun this summer. :)

[2smartones]

Mine will also start college a few years early, I'm quite sure. Thankfully, there are a zillion choices within 30 minutes of home. We live in a college-rich area. I won't be sending them anywhere until I'm convinced they can handle school and the school can handle them. :auto:

[nmoira]

Away? Nope. Uni classes? Yes.This is our tentative plan as well.

[mbeaser]

I have a sneaking suspicion that will we need some university level classes earlier than graduation, but I'm honestly going to try to keep them out of the classroom environment of college until they are age-ready, since it tends to be a R-rated environment. If they are socially mature enough for it, then I might consider it, but otherwise they can just do online or correspondence classes for dual credit.

[Kalah]

We're not planning on early college for my ds. He'll be 10 in a few months, so it's still a few years away. Mostly, I think I remember the really young kids at my university and how they weren't mentally or emotionally prepared for college. Of course, this could just be the kids that I ran into and it doesn't mean that every kid isn't prepared for college earlier than 18.
My ds is on the less mature side so I'm thinking (unless something really changes in the next few years) that he'll be home until 18.
A good friend of mine started university at 15.5. After a few bumps, he did really well. He went to PS and did SAT prep on his own at home.
HTH

[dmmetler]

One thing I have in the back of my mind for my DD is that both DH and I entered college early, but via a program designed for gifted students that provided separate housing and a little more social/emotional support (and supervision), and that clustered us, where possible, into classes, especially in the first 2 years. If DD wants to go to college early, I think I'd prefer such a program to sending her to the local college here-I teach there, and from what I see it seems to be a bit too much of a party/Greek school for me to feel comfortable sending her there-even at age 18!

[higginszoo]

It's difficult to say. My oldest is 11 and will have enough high school credits to graduate by 15 or so ... he could probably test into community college classes now, but they have a minimum age. He'll likely at least be at the community college by then. He has also talked about going to culinary school or learning some trade at 16-17, then going on to university at 18. He could start university at 15-16. It's still several years away, and he'll have options when we get there, but we don't have a firm idea of what option he might take at that point. Like others, university away before 18 is unlikely, but we're in the same metro area as a major university, and another state school in another city has a program for 16 and 17 year olds where they have their own dorms, special services, etc. ... we may feel comfortable with that when the time comes.

[crazyforlatin]

Thank you for letting me know what your children have used, especially the free MEP program; I'm going to look into it. We're a bit early of course, but one of my hobbies now is to look at curricula.

[Karin]

I have a sneaking suspicion that will we need some university level classes earlier than graduation, but I'm honestly going to try to keep them out of the classroom environment of college until they are age-ready, since it tends to be a R-rated environment. If they are socially mature enough for it, then I might consider it, but otherwise they can just do online or correspondence classes for dual credit.


If we do it, we'll treat it like high school. Our kids will live at home and go to CC for classes only the first two years at least, but when they're 18 if they leave home, we can't legally stop them, can we, so it will be up to them. From what I know first hand of high school, it is often also an R-rated environment, but I'm also going to assess the maturity of each child first.

[mmconde]

I'm honestly going to try to keep them out of the classroom environment of college until they are age-ready, since it tends to be a R-rated environment.

I don't know if you would even be interested, but not all colleges are like that. The religious university I attended had a wonderful environment (so much better than my sometimes-R public high school.) Just a thought.

[allearia]

One thing I have in the back of my mind for my DD is that both DH and I entered college early, but via a program designed for gifted students that provided separate housing and a little more social/emotional support (and supervision), and that clustered us, where possible, into classes, especially in the first 2 years. If DD wants to go to college early, I think I'd prefer such a program to sending her to the local college here-I teach there, and from what I see it seems to be a bit too much of a party/Greek school for me to feel comfortable sending her there-even at age 18!

Please tell about the program! I have heard of some for girls but need one for boys.

[babysparkler]

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-alg, algebra.

No - I did not start math early at all. My son went to a play based pre-school and a regular kindergarten and first grade. He understood basic operations conceptually before kinder. He also played with fractions. I never did anything other than have lots of open ended toys around. We did no academics before K.

So after 2 years of a miserable school experience we brought him home to home school. That was 2nd grade and I started with grade level math for him because I didn't want to leave any holes. I have a math degree and am math picky! He started with Singapore PM 2A last fall and is finishing 6B right now and starting LOF Algebra. He is just a really mathy kid. We do like 15-30 minutes maybe averaging 4X a week and this is where we're at now. I actually teach him very little. He does the vast majority on his own. If you met him, you'd probably think he was a regular 3rd grade little goof ball. :001_smile: He is verbally gifted too, but in many ways he's a 3rd grader! He does other math too. Computer games, extra practice, etc.

We're lucky enough to live in an area where we have many choices for early college level classes.

Sounds like my son :) He LOVES anything to do with math. By the start of kindergarten he had mastered all of his addition, subtraction, multiplication and division... and during his kindergarten year discovered his love for fractions, exponents and square roots :) (he was in Public school at the time, but was "afterschooling" himself by asking me questions and reading books/doing workbooks I picked up at yard sales). I remember him asking to stay after school to "teach" his teacher about compound interest (after his Daddy showed him how his bank account worked). I couldn't slow him down :) He is doing Algebra 1 now in 4th grade.

I don't plan for him to start college until 18... just deeper and wider!

[Pamela H in Texas]

When my daughter was really little, I was sure she was going to end up going to college at 11 (or earlier?) and was freaked out about it. Life changes so much though. Kids gain interests. You expose them to a broader and deeper view. They have interests and goals outside of academics.

So yes, a child starts algebra at 7 and is using college textbooks before they're even a preteen. They might even take a few college classes for fun or interest, have a college mentor, etc as a preteens. And some kids maybe should start college for real at 11 and 13. But most will change a little. That ball of learning energy will change shape a bit, many times getting larger in every directions rather than so incredibly focused as it sometimes is when they are very little.

Just my experience. I can't imagine us waiting til dd was 18 for college. As it was, we only waited because of her illness. But 14-16 seems like a good time for many students to start. Of course, we pay attention to things like the whole child and not going AWAY, but we just have to judge for each child individually. And our views of the student and options will change A LOT over the years. The worried mom of an 8yo 4th grader is much more relaxed as the mother of a 16yo college student :)

[melissak]

My 13 year old son started university this year and it really has been absolutely painless. He was well prepared and is very socially/emotionally mature and fits in the environment just fine. He started school on time at 5 years but accelerated rather quickly once he got going. There is only so much "broad" you can do before you need to go up and he was ready. He really likes the interaction with the class and professors that he has now, something that was missing before while learning at home and in high school.

[EKS]

My son will be attending community college full time at age 16, but I don't think that's quite what you had in mind.

[AnitaMcC]

Just out of curiosity and to learn how others have planned, are your accelerated children attending college by 14-16 years old? I know that some kids are eager to go to college even though they are on the younger side, so I was wondering how the parents managed to include all areas of study, SAT and AP prep, etc. For those parents whose children have taken the SATs or APs in their 6-8 grade years, how did you all do it?!?! It seems overwhelming to plan for such a course if the child insists on starting college early.

For those parents whose children did start college at a much younger age, were there any academic difficulties at first, anything that might have made your child reconsider and attend at 18 instead, or anything we as parents should think about as we prepare our kids who would like to go to college earlier?

My Ds#1 took SAT in 6th and 8th grade. He did it through a talent search program, he was recommended to take the test through his middle school.

We didn't start homeschooling him until high school (this year). In summer after 8th grade he took CC placement tests and he placed in regular college freshman courses before he started high school.

He is currently taking a CC Computer course as a 9th grader (turned 15 end of April). Academically he is doing well. But he is having some issues due to his age (not enough life experience for some of the discussions in class). Also he is dx with Asperger Syndrome and so he struggles with communicating with his professor when he needs directions clarified. He also has difficulty communicating with his professor when he comes across something that he doesn't understand easily... he likes to work things out on his own until he figures it out -not good when there is a deadline to turn in a major assignment, etc.

Part of the problem with CC courses as a young 14yr old... many courses have high school level prerequisites (geometry to take precalc, 1yr high school chemistry to take Chem 101, etc), etc... and Ds didn't have them.

Also he was only allowed to take one course for his first semester at CC. Next he is only allowed to take two courses a semester until he is 16. And to get into the classes.. he has to have instructor, dept chair, and college administrators permission to take each course and often by the time he is allowed to register.. the courses he wants are full. And some professors will not accept any students under age 16/17. And if a professor says no for any reason... then he can not take the course.

So we are going to hold off until he is 16 (end of April next year) to take more courses at the CC. But he will study AP courses next year for English, Chemistry, US History and take the exams in spring. He will also do Precalculus first semester and then probably Calculus second semester.

[Spy Car]

My kindergartner, who attended his first "Math Circle" at our local University last Sunday has been going around all week telling anyone who will listen that: I go to UCLA! :lol:

Bill

[Gratia271]

My kindergartner, who attended his first "Math Circle" at our local University last Sunday has been going around all week telling anyone who will listen that: I go to UCLA! :lol:

Bill

That's great! :lol::lol:

[nmoira]

I go to UCLA! :lol:

Bill:D

[Karin]

My kindergartner, who attended his first "Math Circle" at our local University last Sunday has been going around all week telling anyone who will listen that: I go to UCLA! :lol:

Bill
:lol::lol::lol: Sadly, there aren't any Math Circle groups close enough for us to attend. Sounds like youre kindergartner enjoys it so far!

[Colleen in SEVA]

I have no idea what the long term plan is for my oldest, I have only recently figured out a plan for him for this Fall. :tongue_smilie: We have about 3 more years until he surpasses the level of math I took in school, and I doubt I will be able to learn as quickly as he does, so online programs or college classes will be in our future at some point.

I do have a question, though -- which states allow high school students to take college courses for free? We may be relocating and that would be good to know!

[Spy Car]

Sounds like youre kindergartner enjoys it so far!

Let me share the artwork he created this morning :D

[crazyforlatin]

Part of the problem with CC courses as a young 14yr old... many courses have high school level prerequisites (geometry to take precalc, 1yr high school chemistry to take Chem 101, etc), etc... and Ds didn't have them.

Also he was only allowed to take one course for his first semester at CC. Next he is only allowed to take two courses a semester until he is 16. And to get into the classes.. he has to have instructor, dept chair, and college administrators permission to take each course and often by the time he is allowed to register.. the courses he wants are full. And some professors will not accept any students under age 16/17. And if a professor says no for any reason... then he can not take the course.

So we are going to hold off until he is 16 (end of April next year) to take more courses at the CC. But he will study AP courses next year for English, Chemistry, US History and take the exams in spring. He will also do Precalculus first semester and then probably Calculus second semester.

Do community colleges in general only allow 1-2 classes for a student under the age of 16, but allow a full schedule after 16? Also, the permission process sounds tedious. I had read somewhere else that taking too many CC courses would essentially change the status of the student into a college student rather than a high school student taking some college courses, so that when applying to universities, the status of the student changes to that of a CC transferee rather than as a high school applicant. Can anyone verify this or correct me? My impression was that it was not an advantage for the student to take too many CC courses because of how universities viewed the applicant - maybe it's choosier with transferees than high school applicants? Personally we would prefer the CC route to save money, but not to be limited by being a CC student.

Also you mentioned that your son will take AP courses. Will he study subjects at home or take CC classes?

[Nissi]

Ds. is 14 and he is taking 3 APs this year. It has been a great experience. I am so glad to challenge him to some extend this way and get credit for it. Since he has completed most of the required highschool courses, APs have been a great way to have him home and still keep him challenged. We might consider college courses in 11th and
12th grades, but if he chooses to there are so many AP courses to choose from that will keep him busy till 12th or higher.

[Karin]

Let me share the artwork he created this morning :D

Quite the sports fan, isn't he?

[newbie]

My kindergartner, who attended his first "Math Circle" at our local University last Sunday has been going around all week telling anyone who will listen that: I go to UCLA! :lol:

Bill

Could be psychic!!!!

[Jen in PA]

Could be psychic!!!!

:iagree: And since UCLA is such a bargain in-state, I think you should hold him to his decision!

[Spy Car]

Could be psychic!!!!

:iagree: And since UCLA is such a bargain in-state, I think you should hold him to his decision!

No, you see because he is taking a class their now and has been to a grand total of one session, he "goes to UCLA."

When I picked him up Monday, his kindergarten teacher sort-of waved me over and said quietly: William tells me he goes to UCLA.

I've never know him to be a "sports fan" until this week. Now he walks around singing the UCLA fight song. :lol:

Bill

[Starr]

No, you see because he is taking a class their now and has been to a grand total of one session, he "goes to UCLA."

When I picked him up Monday, his kindergarten teacher sort-of waved me over and said quietly: William tells me he goes to UCLA.

i've never know him to be a "sports fan" until this week. Now he wals around singing the UCLA fight song. :lol:

Bill

I hope you bought him a UCLA sweatshirt and a cap! :D

[Jen in PA]

No, you see because he is taking a class their now and has been to a grand total of one session, he "goes to UCLA."

When I picked him up Monday, his kindergarten teacher sort-of waved me over and said quietly: William tells me he goes to UCLA.

i've never know him to be a "sports fan" until this week. Now he wals around singing the UCLA fight song. :lol:

Bill


We spend a lot of time on and around the University of Pittsburgh campus. By the time dd was 5, she had decided that's where she will be going to school, and has since checked to make sure they have her intended major(!), and grabbed a freebie apartment finder magazine to see where she might live. When asked by other kids where she goes to school, she tells them "I'm homeschooled now, and then I'm going to Pitt." :D

[Spy Car]

We spend a lot of time on and around the University of Pittsburgh campus. By the time dd was 5, she had decided that's where she will be going to school, and has since checked to make sure they have her intended major(!), and grabbed a freebie apartment finder magazine to see where she might live. When asked by other kids where she goes to school, she tells them "I'm homeschooled now, and then I'm going to Pitt." :D

Maybe we should play match-makers :D

Bill

[Jen in PA]

Maybe we should play match-makers :D

Bill

Not for a few years -- I am pretty sure DH told her she can start dating when she's 30. :D

[newbie]

No, you see because he is taking a class their now and has been to a grand total of one session, he "goes to UCLA."

When I picked him up Monday, his kindergarten teacher sort-of waved me over and said quietly: William tells me he goes to UCLA.

I've never know him to be a "sports fan" until this week. Now he walks around singing the UCLA fight song. :lol:

Bill
Again, Bill you are right, so he is not foretelling the future.

You are so funny. Can he put it on his transcripts and future resume??

[newbie]

We spend a lot of time on and around the University of Pittsburgh campus. By the time dd was 5, she had decided that's where she will be going to school, and has since checked to make sure they have her intended major(!), and grabbed a freebie apartment finder magazine to see where she might live. When asked by other kids where she goes to school, she tells them "I'm homeschooled now, and then I'm going to Pitt." :D

Hey, can she find us an apartment while she is at it. We are having a heckuva time.

[AnitaMcC]

Do community colleges in general only allow 1-2 classes for a student under the age of 16, but allow a full schedule after 16? Also, the permission process sounds tedious. I had read somewhere else that taking too many CC courses would essentially change the status of the student into a college student rather than a high school student taking some college courses, so that when applying to universities, the status of the student changes to that of a CC transferee rather than as a high school applicant. Can anyone verify this or correct me? My impression was that it was not an advantage for the student to take too many CC courses because of how universities viewed the applicant - maybe it's choosier with transferees than high school applicants? Personally we would prefer the CC route to save money, but not to be limited by being a CC student.

Also you mentioned that your son will take AP courses. Will he study subjects at home or take CC classes?


Some CC's don't admit high schoolers under 16. Ours just happens to allow early enrollment for students who qualify. The number of courses they can take is partly due to that they are still in "high school" and will be doing high school as well. The CC course(s) are just additional courses.

I don't know about changing student status after so many college credits. For us.. it doesn't really matter... We plan on our kids to earn their associates degree before going off to a 4yr+ school.

My son will basically self study for the AP exams or CLEP. His plan is for him to be attending CC full time starting 11th grade. We shall see...

[vonfirmath]

I have a 3rd grader starting pre-algebra/algebra right now too. Maybe I'm in denial, but I'm keeping him away from full time college as long as possible. I can see we'll need to do some college level classes in high school. I'm going as wide and deep as possible.

How do you go wide and deep in math? How do you stretch math out when they are doing algebra that early?

[nmoira]

How do you go wide and deep in math? How do you stretch math out when they are doing algebra that early?Here's some of the thing we've done or have coming up soon:

Done or in process:
LoF: Fractions and Decimals & Percents
Venn Perplexors A-D (we use them without the pre-drawn charts)
Can You Count in Greek? (http://www.amazon.com/Can-You-Count-Greek-Exploring/dp/1593630565/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255203159&sr=8-1) (highly enjoyable)
Selected MEP (http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm) units, including codes and ciphers (http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/edu/teachers/ccresources.rhtm)
It's Alive, and It's Alive and Kicking (found a couple errors in solutions)
Logic Countdown, Logic Liftoff, Orbiting with Logic
The Cryptoclub (http://www.akpeters.com/product.asp?ProdCode=223X)
Becoming a Problem Solving Genius
Challenge Math (http://www.challengemath.com/)
Brain Maths (http://www.singaporemath.com/Brain_Maths_s/150.htm) (puzzles, from SingaporeMath.com, we found a few errors in the solutions for Book 1, many for Book 2)
Mathematics 6 (http://www.perpendicularpress.com/) (Russian Math, selected sections and problems; this text is a thing of beauty)
CWP 5 and 6 (slowly working through the series)
LoF Pre-algebra books as they come out (DD loves Fred, the first, Biology is out now)

We haven't started these yet:
Alien Math (http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Math-Marya-Washington-Tyler/dp/188266471X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255202427&sr=8-1) (working with different number bases)
Piece of Pi (http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Wit-sharpening-Brain-bruising-Number-Crunching-Activities/dp/1593631200/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255202719&sr=1-1) (looks OK, on the fence about this one)

And I think I've just added Patty Paper Geometry (http://www.amazon.com/Patty-Paper-Geometry-Michael-Serra/dp/1559530723/) to the list.

[TandLMommy28]

We decided that our kids can leave for college at 17 if they want (she's not even five until next week so it's soooo far off but both of us went to college at 17 so we just assume it'll be an issue for them). We'll let them take a class or two at the local Christian college at 16. And leaving at 17 is assuming they attend a Christian college with some sort of code of conduct. If they want to go somewhere non-religious, they have to wait until they are 18.

[Charles Wallace]

Just out of curiosity and to learn how others have planned, are your accelerated children attending college by 14-16 years old? I know that some kids are eager to go to college even though they are on the younger side, so I was wondering how the parents managed to include all areas of study, SAT and AP prep, etc. For those parents whose children have taken the SATs or APs in their 6-8 grade years, how did you all do it?!?! It seems overwhelming to plan for such a course if the child insists on starting college early.

For those parents whose children did start college at a much younger age, were there any academic difficulties at first, anything that might have made your child reconsider and attend at 18 instead, or anything we as parents should think about as we prepare our kids who would like to go to college earlier?

We might be going that route. Our dd is starting high school quite early. We're doing some SAT and ACT practice in her area(s) of strength (English, science), mostly to get her used to the test format, working at speed, working with the MC answers in order to improve her score, and so on. We do a little every day -- no big deal right now, of course, but bitty bites at a time.

[Bostonian]

My daughter is almost 5, but I wasn't planning to teach addition until 6. However, since I thought I would give addition a chance, just to have something other than Latin to study, we progressed quickly to multiplication and now division, all in several months. I think every kid has the potential to learn quickly if taught correctly and, just from my limited experience with one child, children seem eager to learn so why not see what they can do.

Alas, most children are not as smart as you daughter, as people like Charles Murray would explain.

[Bostonian]

I suggest that parents interested in early college for their children read the book "The Academic Acceleration of Gifted Children (http://www.amazon.com/Academic-Acceleration-Children-Education-Psychology/dp/0807730688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274185314&sr=8-1)" (1991), by Jones and Southern, where research on early college entrants (mostly finding good results) is presented. My 6yo boy is doing 5th grade math and will be ready for college math courses long before he is 18. I am using Singapore Math as well as EPGY. If he exhausts the offerings of EPGY, we will have him take math classes at a nearby university.

[Truscifi]

I have really got to stop reading these threads. They prompt me to ask ds all sorts of questions when I am not prepared for the answers. I asked him when he thought he would go to college, and he informed me that he is going when he is 16, and that he is going to college in Brazil. He wants to build a zoo outside Brasilia, so of course he should go to college there so he can get familiar with the country. That is also why he needs to hurry up and learn Spanish and Portuguese. And oh by the way, the online Spanish program isn't enough, he needs a Spanish speaking teacher to practice with, so please find one. :001_huh:

[Karin]

I have really got to stop reading these threads. They prompt me to ask ds all sorts of questions when I am not prepared for the answers. I asked him when he thought he would go to college, and he informed me that he is going when he is 16, and that he is going to college in Brazil. He wants to build a zoo outside Brasilia, so of course he should go to college there so he can get familiar with the country. That is also why he needs to hurry up and learn Spanish and Portuguese. And oh by the way, the online Spanish program isn't enough, he needs a Spanish speaking teacher to practice with, so please find one. :001_huh:
:lol::lol: Time to live up to your sig line. How old is he? Sounds like he's little. When I was 6 I was going to move to England at 16, meet the queen, marry Andrew and become the queen. That's a lot closer to home than my dd wanted to be around that age; she was going to be the first woman to go to Mars.

However, studying Spanish and Portuguese is a good idea. Where we live, that's easy, but my dc are doing German!

[Truscifi]

:lol::lol: Time to live up to your sig line. How old is he? Sounds like he's little. When I was 6 I was going to move to England at 16, meet the queen, marry Andrew and become the queen. That's a lot closer to home than my dd wanted to be around that age; she was going to be the first woman to go to Mars.

However, studying Spanish and Portuguese is a good idea. Where we live, that's easy, but my dc are doing German!


I'm trying!

Lol, yep, he's 6. I keep waiting for him to change his mind, but he's been on this zoo in Brazil thing for almost 2 years. Ah, well, he still has plenty of time.

Actually, he told me tonight he wants a tattoo (another :001_huh: moment). We had a good conversation about how a person's wants can change over time, and he agreed he should wait until he's in his 20s to decide if he really wants one, and if so what it should be.

[Laura Corin]

Calvin has been doing high school level work for some time, taking his first SAT subject test equivalent exam at 11. He's taking two more similar exams over the next month. My strategy is to give him an education that is broad as well as deep. He has studied subjects that most school children don't, diving deeply into his areas of interest whilst gaining a good basic education in all subjects.

He's not much interested in maths and sciences, and loves languages, literature and myth. His maths and sciences are a little ahead of his age group, but not much: he just doesn't want to spend much energy on them. At the same time he has spent two years on classical civilisation and studies three foreign languages, as well as reading very widely.

He is going to school in August to study 9 SAT subject test equivalent exams, then will go into the International Baccalaureate programme. I don't expect him to be bored. He'll be 17 1/2 when he leaves school and we hope he will take a gap year before university.

Laura

[Karin]

I'm trying!

Lol, yep, he's 6. I keep waiting for him to change his mind, but he's been on this zoo in Brazil thing for almost 2 years. Ah, well, he still has plenty of time.

Actually, he told me tonight he wants a tattoo (another :001_huh: moment). We had a good conversation about how a person's wants can change over time, and he agreed he should wait until he's in his 20s to decide if he really wants one, and if so what it should be.


My ds has been into airplanes since he was 5, minus a 6 month interest in big trucks after a road trip. However, now that he's 9 he occasionally talks about becoming an aeronautics engineer instead of a pilot (much better for my peace of mind and his long term stress level. Commercial pilots have high stress!!!)

However, you may find he does end up working in a Brazilian zoo with a tattoo ;).

[Jewel]

[QUOTE=Karin;1724168]My ds has been into airplanes since he was 5, minus a 6 month interest in big trucks after a road trip. However, now that he's 9 he occasionally talks about becoming an aeronautics engineer instead of a pilot (much better for my peace of mind and his long term stress level. Commercial pilots have high stress!!!)

Karin, my husband is a commercial pilot. I think the stress comes from working for years to become a commercial pilot (private pilot to regional airlines to major airlines). Pilots generally are laid back however with engineer type minds:)

[Karin]

[QUOTE=Karin;1724168]My ds has been into airplanes since he was 5, minus a 6 month interest in big trucks after a road trip. However, now that he's 9 he occasionally talks about becoming an aeronautics engineer instead of a pilot (much better for my peace of mind and his long term stress level. Commercial pilots have high stress!!!)

Karin, my husband is a commercial pilot. I think the stress comes from working for years to become a commercial pilot (private pilot to regional airlines to major airlines). Pilots generally are laid back however with engineer type minds:)


Good to know. Ds isn't laid back, but perhaps he'll learn to be. In the mean time, he loves flight & airplanes and has broadened his interests from commercial planes to all planes so at least when he's talking airplanes there's more variety!

[Truscifi]

If he becomes an aeronautics engineer he could help forge ahead in the new field of space planes. They're just cool. :D

[Gooblink]

I am planning on a community college for my boys when they're 16ish.

The one caviat I've been given is that if plan to transfer 30+credits from the community to a four-year school, they would be ineligible for many scholarships.

[crazyforlatin]

The one caviat I've been given is that if plan to transfer 30+credits from the community to a four-year school, they would be ineligible for many scholarships.

Thanks for letting us know about this. In my previous post, I was trying to pinpoint the disadvantages of taking too many CC courses. I had read some book discussing this issue, but now cannot remember what book or what the specific disadvantages could be.

I think kids taking 30+ credits, even if they are under 18 years old, would be considered transfer students, in other words, college students, not high school students.

Is there a higher standard for admissions to a 4-year college for someone who has taken more than 30+ credits at a CC? Or do most parents on this board who are advising their kids plan for them to take less than 30 credits?

Also, is it more difficult for 14-16 year-old or younger students to be accepted to more prestigious universities (e.g. U.C. Berkeley or any U.C. for CA residents) given their age?

If DD wanted to go to college at a young age, I too would only allow her to go to a nearby college, and we have a few of those here; whether they are friendly to homeschoolers is another issue. Unfortunately our CC seems to be overcrowded.

[MorganClassicalPrep]

I am planning on a community college for my boys when they're 16ish.

The one caviat I've been given is that if plan to transfer 30+credits from the community to a four-year school, they would be ineligible for many scholarships.

As a transfer student you are ineligible for some scholarships, but then there are others offered specifically for transfer students. I transferred from a CC to a state university at the beginning of this year with 38 credits and was offered scholarships from my CC honor society, the state of MD, the school I was entering, plus grants.

As for my daughter... even if we progressed at the typical rate from here on out she'd be starting college a year earlier, since we are starting kindergarten now when she is actually preschool age. I see her going through quicker in most subjects. For example, we are starting with Singapore 1A and she already knows most of that, I just want to be sure of a solid foundation.

She is free to live at home at go to CC/university at 14 if she's ready, but she won't be going away to college until AT LEAST 16, most likely 18. I'm a college student now, and I know what goes on around campus!!!

[Karin]

If he becomes an aeronautics engineer he could help forge ahead in the new field of space planes. They're just cool. :D


:D:D:D Clearly, you get this! Hopefully he will, because that's how he thinks.

[Wehomeschool]

I don't plan for my son to graduate high school until 18, but he is free to take any college classes when he is ready for them. He is doing his first college class this year (video lectures only, no outside assignments or tests) and loves it.

[Bloggermom]

We plan to start college by doing CLEP tests and independent study courses at age 14. The goal is to finish with a bachelors degree by 18.

[Mommyfaithe]

First 2 started at 18.... But were well into college level work and tested out of several classes.
#3 started @ 17
#4 was planning to start and was ready @ 15, got Lyme disease and was derailed for 2 years.....we have remediated much and hope he will begin @18
# 5 would like to begin @16, but she has her work cut out for her....we shall see......

#'s 6&7 are too young to determine yet....

Faithe

[Mommyfaithe]

I am planning on a community college for my boys when they're 16ish.

The one caviat I've been given is that if plan to transfer 30+credits from the community to a four-year school, they would be ineligible for many scholarships.

My girls graduated from CC, and because they had such awesome grades, they received BIG transfer scholarships.....to the tune of over $30,000 a year. Transfer scholarships ARE available to A students.....just so you know.....it may help you plan and see what is offered where they are interested in going.

Faithe

[crazyforlatin]

Wow, I think this was probably my first post when I joined the board. :D I was hoping for DD to attend college early, but that writing thread in the Logic board has me worried. I may need those extra couple of years....

Faithe, I didn't know this about transfer scholarships. That's a lot of money!

[sailmom]

JFor those parents whose children did start college at a much younger age, were there any academic difficulties at first, anything that might have made your child reconsider and attend at 18 instead, or anything we as parents should think about as we prepare our kids who would like to go to college earlier?

My 15 year old daughter is a full-time college student. She took her first college class a couple of years ago, but this is her first year as a full-time student. If we'd stayed in CA, we would have graduated her already. After moving to MN a couple of years ago, we decided to take advantage of the dual enrollment (PSEO) program here.

This way, she can move on to college work, but not graduate high school too early. She'll be 16 when she officially graduates next year. Going the dual enrollment route will also ensure that she's a freshman applicant at most of the universities that she's considering, rather than a transfer applicant. (We don't want her to end up in an upperclassman dorm at 16, etc.) Many private universities won't consider her a transfer applicant unless she takes classes after high school graduation, or unless she is matriculated as a "degree seeking" student.

There haven't been any academic difficulties at all. She has a 4.0 GPA, and is absolutely thriving.

As far as preparation goes, time management and study skills are important. Organization is also a big part of being successful, and being able to set short and long term goals. Her biggest challenges haven't been academic. Instead, she's had to learn how to handle quirky professors, how to deal with the bureaucracy of the bookstore and business office, how to plan for multiple long essays or exams all due on the same day, and how to tutor a lab partner who doesn't understand redox reactions, etc.

ETA: Bah... I didn't realize this was a necro-thread. Oh well.

[wapiti]

LOL, I'll just paste my answer from the other thread: We are a long way out, but my perspective is that I want my kids' college applications to be as strong as possible, hoping for admission to selective/highly selective schools. The more they do before they graduate from high school, the stronger their applications will be. So, I have no plan to graduate them early (they will probably attend a private school for HS anyway; the school in question is affiliated with a university, with the option to take college classes there should the need arise).

I should add that if our financial situation changed or the college funds melted (as might happen), our plans might change, i.e. in that case, we might aim for a less expensive college option and worry more about admission to the right grad schools.

[Julie of KY]

No, my son wishes I could homeschool him through college.

[Runningmom80]

My kindergartner, who attended his first "Math Circle" at our local University last Sunday has been going around all week telling anyone who will listen that: I go to UCLA! :lol:

Bill

Love it. :lol:

As for the OP's question, I don't expect him to start college any later than 16. We'll see how it goes, obviously he is still very young, and no one knows what the future holds. But, if I had to guess, and based on the rate we are going, I'd say he will definitely be going early.

[Brindee]

My dd will start Running Start (our dual enrollment program) next year. She'll be 15. She is taking 3 classes this year at a co-op place with accredited teachers that are teaching at advanced levels. She had an adjustment period for the first little while in the Fall (she's always been homeschooled), but these are WONDERFUL teachers, and she's doing very well now! These teachers have helped with how to do note-taking, writing essays, organizing and prioritizing, etc., and are very encouraging and supportive. DD has become vocal in the classes, meaning she's answering the Teacher's questions, volunteering to help with things, asking questions of her own, and has learned by leaps and bounds! DD and I feel so blessed that she got into these classes! She will be WAY better prepared for the college-level classes next year! She'll work on the Pre-Nursing program they have at the CC and Graduate from high school and with a Pre-Nursing AA right after turning 17. After that we have some ideas, but not formalized yet.

I agree with the poster near the beginning of this thread that said it needs to be THEIR plans, NOT mine! She's the one that has advanced through her work and asked to advance a grade. I told her she needed to do the work required to do so, and I would help as needed, but I wouldn't push her. She did the work, so is at this level.

Our CC requires students to be Juniors or Seniors to enroll in the dual enrollment program, so some kids that COULD have gone earlier (other homeschoolers in this area that we know of) have had to wait 'til their Junior year. I'm glad dd had to wait, as this has been a great learning year at the co-op, and she is MUCH more ready now!