Would you allow your child to go to college at age 16?

A few months ago, Steve and I visited the Advanced Academy at the University of West Georgia, the local college about 10 miles from our home.  Our youngest son, Bart, who was 16 years old and a Sophomore in high school at that time, came home from school all fired up about starting to college two years sooner.  Whoa--stop. My baby going to college at 16?  Sounds like a disaster in the making....but is it?

In 2002, the U.S. Department of Education showed only about 5% of high schoolers participating in this program.  A 2007 study from the Community College Research Center concluded that dual enrollment programs have a positive effect on high school graduation rates, besides early progress in obtaining a college degree.  In fact, my own husband participated in dual enrollment back in the mid 70's before he graduated from high school and it certainly didn't hurt him.  This is not a new concept.  It just wasn't something I had considered for Bart. So the question at that time was....

Is Bart ready for college at 16?  Are students ready for college even at 18? 

You hear all the horror stories about college life.  My husband and I met when we were both students in college and he and I have already sent our two older sons to college.  We know a little about college life...then and now.  Our oldest son, Ben, was shipped clear across the country to California for his first semester away from home.  Our middle son, Brant, is now a Senior at the University of Georgia, just named by the Princeton Review as the #1 party school in the nation!  From all indications, Brant would not be a winner if accolades were given to those that made this "award" possible.  But nonetheless, no one will disagree that ALL colleges include in their freshmen orientation the rules about under-age drinking, drugs, making good choices, etc.  

So what should a parent do?  The good news is that students today are given options.  If you are a first-time high school parent, meet with the school counselors and find out about the curriculum and options your child will have.  If you feel like the counselor isn't giving you sufficient information, do your own homework and keep asking questions.  As parents, it is ultimately our responsibility to ensure that we help our children forge through the educational, technical, and vocational paths to jobs and careers one day. 

We looked at all the options Bart had if he continued to stay in high school. We are 99% sure that Bart's major in college will be something in the engineering or technology fields. So we looked at what classes were offered at the vocational high school that would compliment his college resume along with his honors classes.  Taking some computer technology classes were a logical and valid option for him.

Bart has already begun his Junior year and for now, he has placed early college entrance on the backburner.  Steve and I can breathe a sigh of relief while we enjoy our "baby" for at least one more year! We'll see what happens next Spring!