Do you still keep kids in high school even they have too many credits?

[Piano&ViolinMom]

(Specially with an exceptional children, ) Do you have an experience of holding kids in high school even though they have done more than enough course work in high school? If so, could you share yours with us?

[Mom-to-three-sons]

I am not one who fits your description, but I have experience with two older children. They were both pianists - at least in training. They were both quite proficient at performing, they were both in Civil Air Patrol, and they both played basketball on a home school basketball team. One was a starter the last four years he played. The other was a starter his last two years. BECAUSE they spent so much time on the extra-curricular activities, academics were lacking. Piano took anywhere from 1 1/2 to 4 hours per day per son (depending on what was going on - 4 hours when they were practicing for a state competitions or a senior recital). Basketball took an enormous amount of time because we do not live in a highly populated region. It was not unrealistic for them to be gone ten hours in one day to play one game. Obviously, I do have regrets and wish I had made changes sooner.

 

I explain all this to say that I wish I had put my oldest in college when he was sixteen years of age, half-way through his junior year. That was when somebody told me it was a good idea; it was FEAR alone that prevented me from doing so. What resulted was that he went backwards in maturity. He has felt "behind" all his friends who were put in classes at the beginning of their senior year. It was silly of us not to do something very similar. He does better when among peers and when challenged. He was no longer among peers nor being challenged at home his senior year. Bottom line - whether the situation is one such as your own where you have a very gifted child or it is one such as my own where you are no longer being effective - be bold and make the change, if your child needs it.

 

Another factor that might not be mentioned as much is maturity. My oldest son went through puberty at the age of 12. That is rather young, but it also normally means they mature sooner and are chomping at the bit to get O - U - T in the world. As I mentioned above, not making the change meant he went backwards. The Home School Co-op we were participating in was not enough of a challenge or interest for him. He had looked so forward to Chemistry, and he had, in fact, read little bits of information on Chemitry on his own. The co-op was using Apologia, and it was not challenging him. He would have been much happier in a course at the junior college.

 

It does depend upon each child. Possibly in part due to the years of piano lessons, my two oldest are much sharper and quicker at life than my youngest. I am not sure how it will all pan out for him. In other words, I think when you make your decision, look at your child and ask yourself some questions. Here are a few:

 

Is he (she) mature enough to attend college classes? Did he mature early?

Is he (she) bright enough to succeed in classes at college?

Is he (she) no longer challenged at home? no longer accomplishing much academically at home?

AND

Does he (she) plan to attend college eventually anyway?

 

 

I hope this helps....

[Miss Marple]

My oldest graduated with around 30 credits. This included 35 credit hours he earned concurrently during junior and senior years. We chose not to graduate him early because we have a great state funded concurrent enrollment program. Once graduated, we would pay regular tuition. So it was to our advantage to have him take these courses at our local university tuition free. As a freshman he entered the university with 35 credit hours at 4.0. It has been good for him to have this GPA from the start in order to get/maintain scholarships based on performance.

 

For us, there was no reason to graduate him early even though his senior year was mostly done at the university.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

What resulted was that he went backwards in maturity.

 

Thank you sharing your experience! Indeed your kids had lots of stuff including (intensive) piano study and sports and much more. Apparently your kids could have excelled academically too if they balanced well enough between academic study and extracurricular .

I am quite concerned to hear from you that “What resulted was that he went backwards in maturity.†I do agree with you that it’s quite possible. Yes, offering challenge is very important part. Although I mainly brought this issue because my son is in high school as a 9th grader, your point in fact apply to his younger sister. She is bored too easily in public school. As a 10 year old child, this year she was placed in high school classroom with at least 5 to 6 years older kids for her math. She is still bored somewhat. I have told her repeatedly that she was more matured at age 5 than now.

For my high school son, as you pointed out, maturity is our concern in keeping him in high school physically.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Thank you! Your kids have been very active in sports (along with others including academic and music…). I also see that they have lots of college credits too. Interesting to hear from you that some of your kids are still in high school to be eligible playing in sports (at least). Although my son, a 9th grader, is advanced in many sports also (along with music), we are balancing it with his academic study at this moment. He took AP Calculus test last week and AP Music Theory test last Monday. He has several college courses now. To me, his maturity is one of issues to us as he would like to spend big time to play games instead.

My oldest two started at the college orchestra at 10--it was a good fit, except that their feet didn't reach the floor.

That is our kids case too. Nice to hear from you!!!

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Once graduated, we would pay regular tuition. So it was to our advantage to have him take these courses at our local university tuition free. As a freshman he entered the university with 35 credit hours at 4.0. It has been good for him to have this GPA from the start in order to get/maintain scholarships based on performance.

 

For us, there was no reason to graduate him early even though his senior year was mostly done at the university.

 

Thank you for sharing yours! Again, your son's experience is quite unique indeed!!! Your state is very generous to high school dual kids with free tuition support. Wow!

[Pamela H in Texas]

I did hold my daughter back. It was just TOO early for her to go to college full time. We did other things while she kept learning. And then she went to the local college at 15. She officially graduates high school this year.

 

So we did both.

 

I think you have to look at the WHOLE child. And just make your best guess. I'm not sure what we did was necessary but college at 15, but a graduation date at 16 worked for us.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Thank you very much, Pamela !!! Could you share what you mean----your kids did other things? I am trying to listen as much as I can with hope to learn what other kids do in similar situation.

[Gwen in VA]

Do remember that when you send them to college, they may not come home to live during the summer -- or ever!

 

Dd went overseas last summer; this summer she will be three hours away -- though at least she will be in state. This summer ds will also be three hours away -- though in a different direction. I am SO glad that we didn't rush them out the door when they were younger -- we all treasure the time we had as a family and realize now that those days are GONE. I'm not expecting either of them to live at home ever again!

 

Sending kids to college early may be appropriate for some kids, but I would do a LOT of thinking and praying before I went that route. Check out the option of taking courses at a local college during high school and then either 1) graduating early or 2) transferring to a more prestigious school at a later time.

[AnitaMcC]

(Specially with an exceptional children, ) Do you have an experience of holding kids in high school even though they have done more than enough course work in high school? If so, could you share yours with us?

 

 

We are not there yet. Our twins are just starting 9th grade. But our plans are for them to graduate high school in four years (when they are "supposed" to graduate)... with an associates degree from our local junior college.

 

Ds will major in engineering (transfer degree) and Dd will major in music (and possibly psychology minor). Ds will then transfer to a university that offers astrophysics program (probably University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Dd will transfer to a university to continue her major in music and psychology.

 

Ds is very gifted and has Asperger Syndrome (immature in a few areas of development). So no chance we will send him off to college on his own before he is 18, or possibly even before he is 20-LOL. Dd she is very mature for her age and so I don't have as much concerns about her going off to college... but again not before she is 18.

 

It is possible for Ds to graduate high school in two years going with his course schedule he wants to follow. But we just won't officially graduate him. He will just continue taking college courses once he is beyond the high school level academically. In two years Dd and Ds will likely be attending community college full time while we supplement a few courses at home still (like PE, life skills, etc).

 

Anita

 

[Pamela H in Texas]

Thank you very much, Pamela !!! Could you share what you mean----your kids did other things?

 

Well, it kinda depends on the kid what they would do.

 

My daughter did a LOT of volunteer work. That was what was important to her. She also focused on interest based learning. She wanted to learn a certain computer language, so she did. She read (highlighting as she went) a BIG book about the history of our religion. She was heavily involved in a sport during much of that time also. Those sorts of things....

 

An option for many students would be to shadow someone in the field they wish to be in or to get a job. I know a young lady that has been working since 12 years old, two jobs (part time of course) at a time. Those jobs have changed some over the years (she's 17 now), but the benefits are OBVIOUS in her life.

 

And though I think there are REAL benefits to working, volunteering, studying, etc, I'm also glad my daughter got plenty of time to relax. My daughter's early teenage years were also more relaxing than the average high scoolers. I think there is probably more benefit to that than extremely long busy days as many driven high schoolers have.

 

Was that any help?

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Do remember that when you send them to college, they may not come home to live during the summer........ I am SO glad that we didn't rush them out the door when they were younger ......I'm not expecting either of them to live at home ever again!

 

Thank you for sharing your experience, Gwen !!!

My kids are still young, we have not sent our son far away yet except one brief occasion to the piano performance in Italy for 2 weeks. Instead of rushing, in fact we have tried to keep ours as normal as possible within public school system until last year for older one. Younger one is still in public school. What we see is that they still excel quickly along with many activities. Yes, I have to remember your point daily----once they go to college then they may not come home to live. When I read yours, I become tearful as if they are leaving tomorrow.

 

Sending kids to college early may be appropriate for some kids,......Check out the option of taking courses at a local college during high school and then either 1) graduating early or 2) transferring to a more prestigious school at a later time.

 

If kids are so young say 12, 13 or even 14, I do not think sending them far away to live in dorm in college with grown up is an option. So unless we send young kids local college as a real full time college student, I do not know what early graduation will do. About planing to transferring to more prestigious school later, such option does not fit with some including Princeton and MIT for example. Princeton allows no transfer kids. MIT warns that there is almost no chance for you to enter through transfer. And I hear often that some colleges do not have good scholarships for transferring students. My son is that young at this time but with academic ability to fit in college, I am so confused what any option we have.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Thank you, Anita !!! As your twin kids have already very specific goals in terms of majoring as well as transferring later, seems your way to assist them is quite clear to me. Please share how your kids do from time to time.

[Piano&ViolinMom]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience and thought once again, Pamela !!! Indeed your experience is quite valuable to us. Seems to me that your daughter had everything and remained so active while she was in high school. I am curious how she was able to find jobs at that young. When I was looking for jobs for my son, I often realized that their required minimum age was older than my son’s age.

[Gwen in VA]

One comment about transferring to a more prestigious school --

 

If the student wants to actually transfer, with credits, then yes, I totally agree. Many of the more prestigious schools don't allow transfers.

 

But if you talk about your child's college experience as part of their high school experience so that you are not looking to "transfer" but merely for your child to apply as a freshman, that is allowable.

 

For example, one student I know took classes at a respected but not highly elite local college during his junior and senior years. Then he applied as a freshman to the colleges he wanted to attend. His application was much stronger for his having completed two years' worth of college classes.

 

I have heard of another kid who did something similar and then went to MIT, though I don't know the details.

 

If this idea appeals to you, then call the colleges your son is interested in and talk with the admissions folks there about how they would look at this approach.

[AnitaMcC]

Thank you, Anita !!! As your twin kids have already very specific goals in terms of majoring as well as transferring later, seems your way to assist them is quite clear to me. Please share how your kids do from time to time.

 

 

Will do...

 

One thing that I love about homeschooling is the options available and the flexibility!!! Right now it seems like my kids have clear goals, etc. But they are young and have plenty of time to change their minds as they get more exposure and experience in education/life.

 

My Dd she studies/competes in martial arts. She may end up going slower in her education than currently planned as it depends on her competitions and practice schedule. She will graduate high school by the time she is "supposed" to but who knows about her college plans. She may take longer, she may change her major, she may change her plans to include traveling out of country to compete or perform in her music or whatever. All I am doing is trying to give her the opportunities to explore her interests.

 

My Ds is more narrowed in his focus. Typical for kids with Asperger's. He likely won't change his mind on his major by much (it will still be in sciences) but the path he takes may change as he learns more of what options he has. With him we are trying to focus on making sure he won't be the reclusive scientist-LOL. Thankfully he enjoys meeting others with same interests as he has and to have lengthy discussions about science.

 

And then we have our youngest two boys.... one is in 4th grade, the other in 2nd grade. Who knows the path for them that they will take...

 

Anita

[Piano&ViolinMom]

But if you talk about your child's college experience as part of their high school experience so that you are not looking to "transfer" but merely for your child to apply as a freshman, that is allowable....I have heard of another kid who did something similar and then went to MIT, though I don't know the details.

 

Thank you very much, Gwen!!! Indeed you are helping a lot in every aspect.

 

I have been very confused this year indeed because colleges have their own policies in many aspects and apply very differently. For example, …. (Type 1)Harvard is simple. They view you as a freshman applicant if you are applying while in high school no matter how many dual credits you may have. Dual college credits will not be honored …. (Type 2) UPENN may regard you as transfer applicant (to sophomore/junior) if you have certain many dual credits…. (Type 3) Princeton does not have transfer policy. Meanwhile they also will not allow you to apply as a freshman either if you are in dual enrollment locally with too many credits (as if you are in AA program) while you are in high school…. (Type 4) MIT case, they allow very few transfer kids into sophomore/junior. I am not exactly certain on their freshman admission policy whether they will not allow you to apply if you have certain amount of dual college credits.

I know it’s not unusual for kids to have dual college study experience nowadays while they are specially in junior/senior in high school. They can look for transferring. Or they may be seen as stronger candidates if they apply as “freshman†to more selective colleges. I wonder what if some do this type of dual much earlier, say as a 9th grader.

[Guest Tiner]

We decided to dual enroll during their senior year and do "fun" stuff to round out their education. Oldest daughter hated tests so even though she could have taken 4 AP exams her Jr and Sr year she chose not to. She regretted it when she got to college and has basically said her next sister BETTER take the AP exams (we missed them this year) for classes she can do - or even CLEP.

 

My oldest daughter was VERY glad we did not send her to FT college at 16 or 17. She liked that she was able to be a kid because she knew when she finished school she would be done with "fun" and have to take care of everything. I just felt that we could do online (we are rural with no local college) courses and keep her from getting bored and let her grow up before sending her to college.

 

She did great her freshman year and made the President's list both semesters (3.75 GPA or better).

[Piano&ViolinMom]

We decided to dual enroll during their senior year and do "fun" stuff to round out their education........ My oldest daughter was VERY glad we did not send her to FT college at 16 or 17. ........She did great her freshman year and made the President's list both semesters (3.75 GPA or better).

 

Thank you for sharing your experience, Tina !!! So your oldest daughter belongs to the group where kids want go to college when they reach certain age, like 18. By not shortening her high school years, hope she had had plenty of wonderful things before entering college.