College at 12?

Question

My daughter is very far ahead of her age mates and is home schooled. I saw an article about a family that had all their kids start college at age 12 but it didn't really say HOW they got into college so young. I asked around at a local community college and while they are happy to take home schoolers, they said they must be 16 to enroll.

How can a 12yo enroll in college? Are there distance learning accredited colleges that will take a qualified 12yo?

Answer 1

Sorry.  Best you can do is wait until she's a high school junior (or 16, which ever is first) and then enroll her in a local community college under the running start program.

Answer 2

My then 13 year old enrolled at a community college.  She had no difficulties with the application or acceptance.  For ID she used her passport because she didn't have a drivers' license.  lol  

She fit in well socially and academically.  It was a good experience.  But, then she has been a lifelong unschooler, which may have helped.

Way back when I went to college, there was a 12 year old at the school, which is a private 4 year institution.  It probably depends on the school, but it certainly isn't impossible.

Remember Doogie Howser :D

EDIT:  Another way a 12 year old could get into college would be to get a highschool diploma from an accredited school.  NARHS has a home study program that allows younger studens to earn highschool credit as long as they use highschool textbooks.  There may well be other programs too.

Answer 3

Why would you want to send a 12 year old to college?

Answer 4

Perhaps personaly go to the colleges and ask for informationa dn talk to the principle etc or even just call them and try to make an appointment for your daughter.

Im 17 and I skipped a year during high school and now im in University - its good in a way as you have an extra year of your life but as your younger your not ready to be socialising with those older and more experienced then you. I found you will have more peer pressure and find it difficult at times to cope with studies during last years of high school and university also in general your always nick named as the 'baby'

I support your decision of sending your daughter to shcool rather then being home schooled! So good luck - hope she gets in!

Also I think there might be selective boarding schools but they are rather expensive

Answer 5

I was seeking out this same information and found out that there are early entrance programs available for kids as young as 11yo able to function at the college level.

Programs to check out include CSULA EEP, University of Washington TS/EEP, Davidson Academy of Nevada, Mary Baldwin College PEG (girls boarding school in VA.).

You could also do online classes, homeschooling using resources like The Teaching Company, MIT open courseware, Thinkwell, Art of Problem Solving, etc.

There are numerous opportunities for the gifted these days.

It depends on the child's learning style, what they want to study, and their determination to advance.

I know that CSULA last year graduated a 16yo with her bachelors degree.

In order to graduate that early means she started their program at age 11 or 12.

I hope this helps.

Answer 6

Yes, there are.  If your child has passed the tests, there are gifted/talent search programs that will enroll a child as young as 12.  There are also colleges that will let them enroll in on-campus classes, as long as they qualify.

Many community colleges won't take kids under 14-16, but some universities will.

Edit - I do agree with making sure she's emotionally ready - but there are plenty of distance learning departments that will accept a 12yo who's ready for college level work.  I believe the U of MO will, as I've looked into it for my son; you can also check out the Stanford EPGY program (pricey, but incredible) and the Duke Talent Search program.

Answer 7

My son is 10 and just started an online college course.

He's also part of a talent search program, and that really helps.  He's also a Davidson Young Scholar.

http://www.ditd.org

Students younger than 16 *can* get into community colleges.  If they're in public school, they need a Gifted IEP to get in.  Since she's HS'ed, just have your DD take a CC placement test.  That's all our local one requires.

Many online programs will take children early.  Here's a good place to start for info:

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org

Answer 8

I'm currently a student in college (I'm the normal college age) and what I've learned from being there is that colleges are always willing to make exceptions to the rules if you talk to the right people.  I doubt any colleges have rulebooks that say "children as young as age 12 can enroll," but of course those same colleges might be eager to have such a gifted child as a student.  You need to talk to more than one person at the school, you need to explain your child's situation (and demonstrate her abilities somehow), and you probably need to speak with someone who's kind of large-and-in-charge (the head of a department or even the college president).

All that being said, while your daughter may be mentally ready for college, make sure she's emotionally ready.  She's obviously going to stand out, but that's not always a good thing.  Twelve is a tender age.  Maybe she is ready - but just be sure to take that into consideration.  :-)