Scholarly Choice

Early Entrance Programs have 3 main characteristics:

They annually accept groups of students and the program results in them taking college courses for college credit at least a year before these students would typically enter college.

The students no longer regularly attend classes at their previous school, and once engaged in full-time college studies they do not have class work that is intended to be below college level.

The program provides a supportive environment and promotes socialization amongst students.

So essentially these are programs that take bright students and accelerate them into full-time college studies while maintaining a supportive environment to help make sure they succeed. These programs can differ on a number of qualities but the most important are the age group towards which they are geared and the goal intended for those who complete the program. Typically early entrance program are geared toward students who would otherwise be in the 11th or 12th grade, but a few routinely take students right out of middle school. Even programs aimed at older students will often take exceptionally gifted students of younger age, on a case-by-case basis.

 Who should go to an early entrance program offered through a college?

There is a large degree of variety among students going to college early, but the two unifying themes are intelligence and maturity. Qualified students will exhibit intellectual talents that are obvious to those around them. While giftedness manifests itself in many different ways, in essentially all cases the most gifted students demonstrate their abilities through unusual levels of accomplishment and unusual activities.

A good candidate academically, is a student who is at the top of their class and who has already been taking many of the most advanced classes available to him or her. When taking entrance tests such as the SAT or ACT, the student should also be able to perform at a level above that of entering freshmen at the college they plan to attend.

The second important criterion for entering college early is maturity, both emotionally and mentally. By their nature, early entrance programs consist of physically immature students and the environment may often hold a hint of rambunctious energy and silliness, but to be successful in college there comes a point where everyone must settle down and get to work. While these programs offer a supportive environment designed to catch people before they mess up too greatly, it is also still a collegiate atmosphere with many freedoms. Managing one’s life and organizing the daily routine are critically important. A good student also needs the basic life skills to independently handle bathing, laundry, procuring regular meals, completing appropriate paperwork, as well as studying, homework and class attendance. In most cases, the students are responsible for making it to class on time, or not. No one will be standing over their shoulder making sure every assignment gets done. Maturity also includes good character and exhibiting honesty and willingness to work with others. Rudeness, cheating, and excessive arrogance simply aren’t desirable qualities in college or anywhere else.