My son, a junior in high school and a very good student, wants to accelerate his graduation and enter college early so he can get on with his life. Is this a wise move? - Advice Needed
Answer: Acceleration is not for every student, but it can be the right choice for bright students, especially those who are not being challenged by their high-school studies. It can let them move forward to a more stimulating environment.
One thing that you and your son need to consider carefully is his social and personal maturity. Will he truly be ready for college in these areas next year? If not, he could stay in high school and take advanced-placement courses or some college courses during his senior year. Also, more classes are now available on online to challenge students. This would allow him to earn college credits before he even graduates from high school and save future tuition money - not a small consideration. It would also give him the challenge of doing college-level work.
Before making a final decision to enter college early, your son needs to talk to his counselor about his options. He also needs to make sure that he can meet all requirements for high-school graduation, although some colleges will not require him to have a diploma. And do encourage him to visit college campuses and attend classes and school events to make sure attending college next year is right for him.
If early entrance to college seems appropriate for your son, there is much that needs to be done. He will have to apply to colleges right away, if he hasn't done so already, as admission deadlines are fast approaching at many schools. Because of his special circumstances, it would be very helpful for him to get input from college admissions counselors at the schools that he is considering. Some schools have programs for gifted early entrants.