Comm College, what age?

[paulcindy]

What is the earliest age that you can take a Community College Class?

How about online?

Thanks:001_smile:

[Melinda]

Our local CC will accept students at 14 with no questions asked, as long as they can pass the entrance exams/placement tests. They will accept students younger than that for credit on a case by case basis. I would call and see what they say. If you are willing to have the child test in and do the class online, I doubt they would have a problem with that, regardless of age.

[paulcindy]

Thanks Melinda!!

I have a kid who will be 11 and is a whiz at writing, I would love to see if she can pass the LA placement and take a class online in September.

[OhElizabeth]

You might want to talk with the instructor there or students and make sure it's the type of experience you'll want. My cousin attending a CC has run into severe bias and mess you wouldn't believe. Also, their writing approach would be so limited, it wouldn't be nearly as good prep or age-appropriate as putting her into something meant for this age. The BJU dvd's have writing. Weren't you looking at them? There are online classes meant for homeschoolers. There are the IEW cd's, the poetry book from Logos (I'm planning to do that this summer), online classes for CW. You really might look at the online classes for CW. Heather in VA around here has been using them with her older dd and is VERY happy.

[lmrich]

I have to agree with looking at taking an online class aimed at classical education. I would think that in a community college you would be very basic not enrichment for your daughter, not to mention it could be inapporpriate if she were to edit her peers writing. 11 is too young to be hanging out with college age kids.

[KAR120C]

I was going around in circles with our local CC about online computer programming classes and it turned out that their age requirement was actually higher for those than for the regular classes. :001_huh: The answer I eventually got was that the online classes were the "adult extension" or "career extension" classes, and it was a matter of their being subsidized just for adults.... Since the extra $20 or whatever isn't really the issue for us, we're going to try taking them through the contractor that provides the classes, bypassing the college altogether and paying that extra bit. It's not accredited or anything, but it's the exact same class and grade and all that.

[sailmom]

I know that here in CA, there is some flexibility with community college age requirements, but it's often a matter of talking to the right person and focusing on the child's grade level rather than age. I've never tried to do it for an online class, but I suspect the process is the same.

Basically if you can document that your child's needs cannot be met by their local school, then the community college can be used to meet those needs. There are some hoops to jump through, but it can be done. :)

It's easiest, imho, to get allowances made for math classes. It's harder in classes where the content could possibly be considered too mature for your student (literature/film/psychology), or where the presence of your student may make other people uncomfortable in discussions.

Personally, we've had more success with the state universities. Last summer, my daughter was able to take four classes (2 writing classes and 2 computer classes) on campus at the local state university. In our case, it's a bit easier because our charter school director provides us with the statements and signatures we need. :)

As others have suggested, it might be possible to informally audit a class by talking to the instructor, if the school will not allow the child to formally enroll.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

I know that here in CA, there is some flexibility with community college age requirements, but it's often a matter of talking to the right person and focusing on the child's grade level rather than age.

Good for you if your area cc is flexible in general. Indeed they do insist on who is qualified to take courses from them. In our state, High school Juniors will be allowed. If you are younger, you must show that you are college bound with good SAT scores at least.

[katilac]

In my town, not only must the student be a high school junior, but they have to get permission from the principal of their school! It doesn't matter if it's a class that is not held during school hours, you can only be ambitious enough to take cc classes if your principal approves. :glare:

[Piano&ViolinMom]

In my town, not only must the student be a high school junior, but they have to get permission from the principal of their school! :glare:

In fact, that's what I meant. When I mentioned of you being a high school junior for cc classes was just to meet minimum requirement.

Anyway, do yours allow younger kids---exceptional kids--- under any conditions?

[katilac]

In fact, that's what I meant. When I mentioned of you being a high school junior for cc classes was just to meet minimum requirement.

Anyway, do yours allow younger kids---exceptional kids--- under any conditions?

It has never occured to my knowledge, but I'll be perfectly honest and say that the local cc isn't exactly the place that pops into mind when one says, "exceptional student."

The teacher's union has a stranglehold on the area, and it's hard to get things done without their approval. They definitely do not approve of 'competition' (that is, cc or others offering classes to ps students) or anything that home schoolers do, ever.

[HeatherInWI]

Unless you're very liberal, I'd suggest you beware of having a child take college writing early. The writing courses that I had in college encouraged writing about the seedy side of life, and penalized fiction written without a least a bit of explicit language, sex, and/or other "gritty" material. Even if your daughter wasn't writing things like that, she'd probably be having to read the work of other students, which would likely include such things.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Unless you're very liberal, I'd suggest you beware of having a child take college writing early. The writing courses that I had in college encouraged writing about the seedy side of life, and penalized fiction written without a least a bit of explicit language, sex, and/or other "gritty" material. Even if your daughter wasn't writing things like that, she'd probably be having to read the work of other students, which would likely include such things.

You made a good point here. Yes, if young aged kids are in college English class for example, your point will be their concern. But, exceptional kids in math class will be perfectly okay.

[Pamela H in Texas]

Anyway, do yours allow younger kids---exceptional kids--- under any conditions?

The one two towns over will not accept a child under 16 PERIOD. You can get individual instructors to allow them to 'sit in' though :)

The one in our town allows a child classified as a Junior and they were much nicer about age. They don't offer as much, but we have found some GREAT instructors. Honestly, I think we benefited by staying here though at first we were disappointed.

Both require counselor/principal permission, but that isnt really an issue for a homeschooled kid :) They also both require passing the state's exam that shows you're at a college level. Adults can take remedial classes, but not teens.

You might also try the university. It has been my experience (and what I've read on certain boards for parents of gifted children) that they are a little more understanding and accomodating. Of course, not necessarily, but....

[Piano&ViolinMom]

The one two towns over will not accept a child under 16 PERIOD

Oh really? They should have some exceptions specially in math and some science where exceptional young kids can do.

It has been my experience (and what I've read on certain boards for parents of gifted children) that they are a little more understanding and accomodating. Of course, not necessarily, but....

You may be right.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

My cousin attending a CC has run into severe bias and mess you wouldn't believe. Also, their writing approach would be so limited, it wouldn't be nearly as good prep

Are you very sure about your claim?

[Piano&ViolinMom]

the local cc isn't exactly the place that pops into mind when one says, "exceptional student."
Could you explain it a little bit for me?

[AnitaMcC]

What is the earliest age that you can take a Community College Class?

How about online?

Thanks:001_smile:


I just checked into this at our local junior college.

The "minimum" age is 16 but they do allow under 16 with permission of principal and/or parent of homeschoolers. I was told that the college has a handful of 14-15 yr olds attending the school part time. The high school student has to take the COMPASS test for placement requirements like all the other students.

For under 16yr olds, once approved for admissions, the professor teaching the course, the dean of the department, and academic counselor all have to approve the student to take each course until student is 16yrs old. A professor usually meets with student before approving student in his/her class.

Anita