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Innovative idea, but for me personally this is a tough call. Expecting mass sums of children to scoot off to college at the tender age of 14 could deprive them of my own similar fond memories of four years of high school, i.e., the girls, sports, and ESPECIALLY debating my liberal journalism teacher, to the point where he turned red in the face, speechless, after losing an argument, embarrassed, as the rest of the students laughed and looked on. That was but one priceless moment I'll never forget.

Just think, instead you could've been debating your liberal Comp I teacher in college, LOL!

My son started full time in our local college at 15. He's 16 now and about to finish his 2nd year with enough credits for an AA, but he's going to continue in the program for another year...what would be his senior year in high school.

The main problem I've found with this (other than having to drive him back and forth to the campus the first year because he wasn't old enough for a driver's license yet) is that my 16 year old doesn't really have a clue about what he'd like to major in.

That's why we're staying in the dual enrollment program for another year. At 16 his ambitions consist of being a professional rock climber or a whitewater rafting guide, LOL.

But he seems to have a propensity for math and science, so once he'd met his general reqs. we just kept building on that, taking each subsequent math course and science course.

If he gets to the point where he doesn't understand the math or can't comprehend the science, that's okay, we'll change directions, but in the meantime, we're following that course.

He's going to read a book on the different Engineering professions, right now he's more inclined toward Chemistry than the other sciences, so we'll see.

Of course, we've told him once he has a degree, if he still wants to be a whitewater rafting guide, and it's okay with his wife (when he's married) if he makes only $15,000 a year, then it's okay with us, LOL!

On the age difference: When I started College I was a mere 17 (it could have been earlier, but I opted not to). At the time, the drinking age in that State was 18 for beer and wine, and I was too young to legally participate in many of the more ordinary social functions on campus. Even a demanding major in a University which requires a wad of 101 courses in other disciplines leaves room for whooping it up a little on weekends, but my age created a potential snag. I looked older, was rarely asked, and ignored the law until I turned 18--something that could be a mite harder to do now.

From my Sophomore year on, it was hit the books time, as the courses in my major were generally more challenging than the basic requirements I had taken, and I spent a lot more time on lab and field assignments.

Had I been 16 when I arrived, or even 15, I am not sure things would have worked out as well. Either I would have blown off the social aspects until later in my education (when I was of age), I might have taken up less 'redneck' pursuits, or I might have decided to get in the social life when I needed to be hitting the books most.

Now, with the changes in laws which have occurred, I think I would not have done as well, and at a younger age I would not have been ready for the wide variety of attitudes, mores, and behaviours I observed even then.

I only had to drop one class because the professor and I spent a class period in disagreement, but now, that situation might be much worse.

Consider carefully, that while your student may be ready academically, there is a lot more going on there than just academic performance.

Community college while living at home with that direct influence continuing for the first couple of years might be the ticket. Just make sure the credits will transfer.

Frankly, unless someone is going Pre-Med, Nursing, Engineering, or hard science (Chem, Bio, Physics, Geology), trade school might be a better option.