14 yr old son and college

[Epicurus]

I wanted to run this by you ladies(gentlemen?) here and see what you all think. Perhaps some of you have experience in this area.
My son is 14 years old and studying for the CHESPE right now.
http://www.chspe.net/
The plan is to take the test and be done with any legal obligation to the state. I do understand I could simply graduate him and also be done but that is not good enough for my dh. He likes the idea of taking the test. It will make him feel our son is ready to move on.
Then he would like to go to the local junior college. He already has been attending for about two years in their music program. He would be earning his AA. At this time he believes he would like to be a lawyer. This would be a good place to begin IMO.
I am wondering about on-line classes. My thinking is that it would be better for him to start off doing only on-line classes. This would be easier on me as we are already very busy and the college is not very close. Perhaps more importantly he won't be thrown into an adult learning institution at the age of 14/15. It concerns me what kinds of things he might be exposed ot in this environment.

Any thoughts on this matter? Personal experience??

Collette

[Marsupialmom]

I don't think your child would be exposed to any more than he would be if he was in high school.

Actually there might be less pressure for him to get involved with the stuff. Usually at college there is not the underlying peer pressure.

Also you most likely will find more people on the "look out" for him. I would be leery of off campus (not in library/cafeteria) study groups.

I would let my child do both!!

[Baby Rose]

I think it really depends on how mature your son is. I have talked to other HSers who have done this (quite a few actually lol), and that's how it seems.

One of the kids was a 14 year old, who was starting college. Very mature, and very knowledgable. Unlikely to get himself in trouble because he's focused on his studies, etc. etc. he is now graduating next year, and is going to be a lawyer.

On the other hand, kids mature at different rates. I wouldn't actually send my son to college at this point (he's 13), or anytime within the next, oh seven billion years because hes's irresponsible. Still a kid, and I can't see him excelling in that enviroment. He's the time of kid who'd get mixed up with the bad boys instead of doing what he's supposed to be doing. there'll be none of that!!!! It's not because I don't trust him, he's just not ready.

So, I think it's their maturity rate that matters the most. And please trust your gut instinct. Online classes sound like a good idea.

[Epicurus]

I don't think your child would be exposed to any more than he would be if he was in high school.

Since we have only homeschooled that is not really a comparison that is relevant. He is not in a high school setting either

Thank for your thoughts ladies. I appreciate your taking the time. I am not comfortable at all with him roaming a college campus. With the band stuff he does now I take him and I usually just sit in the back and knit. Occasionally I run errands and come back. The instructor is happy to keep an eye on him. I am learning clarinet right now so I will soon be participating along side both of my sons that play instruments in this band!

He is a good kid but I don't know exactly what he would do given enough time and opportunity to get into trouble He just went to a weekend long 4-H teen conference and behaved very well. I am told he steered clear of the "bad boys" the whole time. I love the idea of on-line classes first to get used to the classes and then, in time, adding in some classes on campus. It just seems very in-line with homeschooling.

I was just wondering if anyone has already gone through this with their teens and how it worked out for them?

Collette

[eilonwy]

I know lots of people who took community college classes at teenagers, homeschoolers as well as public & private school students. The majority of them did really well and really enjoyed it.

[CerridwenLorelei]

let me know how it goes

dd is 11 now but will be up here at our local college in two more years at 14...

[Seeking Refuge]

Hi Cerri,

I am taking online classes through the Iowa Consortium of Community colleges and I think that this would be a great way for him to get started.
First of all it doesn't involve transportation which in your situation might make things easier. Secondly although it is structured there is still some flexibility.
As an example right now I have an exam in my lit class that is open for a week. I can take it anytime during that week that works for me.
Third I think that it would reduce his exposure to certain issues but there are things that will come up. Most Internet courses have some sort of discussion board. They are set up similarly to MDC and the intstructor posts topics to be discussed. In certain classes such as sociology and anthropology sexual orientation and behaviors come up. We have pretty "adult" conversations about these issues sometimes so you might want to keep that in mind. I think, I am going to complete my entire BA online DePaul has a great online program to finish out your BA and there are more and more schools that offer this option all the time.

HTH

[cloudswinger]

I was in college(actually a University) at 14, and never really had problems with the "bad" crowd. It's really hard to fall in with them when you don't live on campus. There are so many classes and majors and whatnot that any "bad" person would not really be in a "clique". I spent the whole day on campus, and was picked up/ dropped off by my parents. For the most part, people didn't know I was 14 either. They might have thought I looked young, but it was no big deal.

[Epicurus]

OK. Thanks for your input!!! The band experience at the college has been a very good one. No problems whatsoever. No bad influences at all. Just nice people who want to play music

Collette