Starting College Early

Some students just aren't cut out for four years of high school. They are bright and motivated but have academic interests beyond the high school curriculum and are more independent than most of their peers. To these sophomores and juniors, the idea of waiting another year or two to start college feels like a total waste of time.

For motivated, mature students who have outgrown high school, starting college after 10th or 11th grade may be the solution. Some colleges will admit students who haven't completed high school on a case-by-case basis, but Simons Rock College of Bard is the only school in the country designed for students who are ready to start college early.

This residential liberal arts college of 400 students is in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. Classes are typically small discussion-based seminars. The school encourages students to lead a balanced life by requiring participation in recreational athletics programs.

The typical beginning student at Simons Rock is 16 years old. In the most recent entering class, 63 percent of students had completed 10th grade, while 29 percent had completed 11th grade. Adult resident directors live alongside students, offering a level of supervision that is probably somewhere between boarding school and college. While the school does provide structure and support, students will have much more freedom than high school students and need to be independent enough to live away from home.

After spending two years completing general education requirements, students receive their AA degree and may choose to continue, earning their BA degree at Simons Rock after another two years. Many students are ready for a bigger school, and transfer to colleges around the country, including the most selective schools.

This is clearly a place for intellectually curious students. A personal interview is required for admission, as well as an essay on Plato's "Allegory of the Cave."

The middle 50 percent of students submit SAT scores from 1130 to 1390 (combined math and reading), or PSAT scores of 109 to 133. Need-based financial aid is available, and students with a 3.5 gpa may qualify for a merit scholarship.

Students at Simons Rock have a real peer group, since their classmates have also started college early. The fact that this college is designed for younger students is a big plus, as their developmental needs are taken into account. But not many 16 year olds are prepared to go across the country.

Closer to home, USC offers the Resident Honors Program for students who have completed 11th grade. This program accepts a small group of students who have done well in high school honors and AP or IB courses. Successful students generally have a 4.0 gpa and average over 1470 SAT scores (combined math and reading). Applicants must demonstrate readiness for college work and the maturity to deal with the freedom of college life.

Once accepted, students come to USC for an intensive summer program, where they finish senior year requirements before enrolling in the freshmen class. Students in the Resident Honors Program live in residence halls with other freshmen and take interdisciplinary core courses through USC's Thematic Option Honors Program.

All students in the Resident Honors Program receive a merit scholarship, which was recently $7,000 a year, as long as they maintain a 3.0 gpa. Students who start in the Resident Honors Program are free to transfer if they wish, but the assumption is that they will stay four years and earn a bachelor's degree at USC.

These programs aren't for everyone, but for students who are ready for the challenges of college, they can be a great way to get a head start.

Note: I'll be discussing the current state of college admissions at the Agoura Hills Library on Tues., May 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Audrey Kahane, MS, is an independent college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or audreykahane@earthlink.net.