This article is adapted from Davidson Institute’s student version of “Early College – Considering the Options: A Guidebook for Investigating Early College Entrance”, part of our collection of free guidebooks for gifted and 2e families. For a deeper dive into supporting your gifted or twice-exceptional child, we encourage you to explore the full guide.
You have a widening array of accelerative and enrichment choices, including an increasing number of online experiences to put you in touch with structured courses, tutors, community resources, and other students with similar interests. You may also choose to take just one or two college courses on a university campus as a “trial run.” Many of these options can also be used to introduce flexibility into your school program so that you can focus on areas of interest, take two courses in the same subject such as in foreign languages or band and orchestra, meet college prerequisites or requirements early, or simply enrich what you are learning at school.
Adjust your classes and/or schooling environment
When choosing classes to take, opt for honors sections or enroll in classes above your grade level in your area(s) of strength. You can also take the Advanced Placement (AP) credit courses your local high school offers. These courses provide a college-level experience that can also involve college credit or the opportunity to skip some undergraduate material, but only if you take the AP exam(s) and make a score of 3, 4, or 5. Courses are typically offered at local high schools and some classes are available on-line as well. In addition, you may take AP exams without taking the courses. You can also enroll concurrently in high school and a nearby college, thereby usually earning credit at both levels for college courses you take. Select courses carefully for challenge!
Another option is to arrange your high-school courses so that you can participate in foreign study during your junior year without worrying about high school credit. Programs often focus on particular areas of interest, such as language, science, art, or environmental studies, in addition to opportunities for cultural interactions. You may contact your local high schools and/or colleges and universities to inquire about study abroad programs. Other organizations in your community or nationwide may also provide opportunities. Study abroad databases are available at Peterson’s and StudyAbroad.com. Make sure to check out any organization thoroughly, including a visit to the Better Business Bureau website.
Consider distance learning and correspondence options
Enroll in high-school correspondence, distance learning, or independent study classes.
- Davidson Institute has a list of several distance learning options to explore.
- Davidson Academy Online is a dynamic, flexible option for profoundly gifted students living anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. Students at this accredited, robust online school are grouped by ability rather than age.
Participate in Talent Searches and/or engage in summer learning opportunities
A number of Talent Search programs offer young students the chance to test themselves on challenging measures of academic aptitude and also offer summer programs. Application for the Talent Search exams is made in the fall. All of the Talent Searches are regional – they range from single-state searches to quite large ones.
Davidson Summer Programs are one academic option for the summer. Additional summer learning opportunities can be found on this summer programs list created by the Davidson Institute.
Be sure that you select an academically serious program and not just an “enrichment” program that provides a bit of this and a bit of that. Often, you can gain one half to a full high school credit from your school by participating in a Talent Search summer program, but you need to arrange this with your high school before you get there. (Most summer students will still be in middle school.) Be sure to arrange with your school that you will have appropriate placement when you return from the summer; nothing could be worse for a bright student than repeating a required course like Algebra 2! Be sure to apply early because the good programs fill up very quickly.
Assess your abilities by taking out-of-level testing
Just participating in the talent search aspects – taking the challenging, or “out-of-level,” tests meant for considerably older students – can be a very valuable experience for a number of reasons, but it is an especially appropriate thing to do if you are considering early college entrance. The major tests, the SAT and the ACT, are the same ones you will have to take when you actually apply for college. By taking these tests when you are in seventh or eighth grade (or with special permission, when you are even younger), you can get a decent idea of how your intellectual maturity currently stacks up against the students who are applying to the colleges you are considering. (Of course, when you take the tests once you are older, you will very likely attain higher scores.) Scores earned by students who are below ninth grade are typically not reported to colleges when you take the test later, unless you choose to do so.
In addition to identifying and gauging your strengths, you may find that you need to improve your abilities in specific subject areas or skills that haven’t seemed as important in the past. For example, some students are very strong in math and can make significant changes in their verbal readiness for college by increasing the amount, depth, and breadth of their reading; those who are very strong verbally but have cared less about math can do more work in that area. These test scores may also provide objective evidence of your abilities to counselors and others who can help you find an appropriate educational match.
Pursue a challenging activity or create a significant project
Do something else to creatively keep your interest, motivation, time management, and organization skills alive. Volunteer in a laboratory, office, or community service related to a career you are considering. Find an adult in an occupation or program of study you find attractive and ask them to “mentor” your efforts. Study a foreign language with a native speaker in your community. Start a small business. Consider activities such as individual sports, chess, computer programming, collecting stamps or coins, writing, playing an instrument, composing music, dancing, and/or painting.
Pick a challenging activity in which you can see your own improvement as the result of sustained effort. Invest in yourself by becoming as skilled as you can. The more you stick with a challenging activity through the rough spots and see yourself getting a bit closer to a standard of excellence, the more you’ll know how to handle yourself when other barriers get in your way. Practice! Don’t settle for being well-rounded (a dilettante at many things) at the expense of expertise. You may interact with others who share your interests by getting involved in teams and competitions.
Pursue a subject in-depth and create a project of significance. The process of creating a significant project can function as a focused way to continue developing your interests. Working with a mentor in this capacity can also be a valuable experience. Consider submitting your project for a Davidson Fellows Scholarship.
View section 4 of Considering the Options: A Guidebook for Investigating Early College Entrance to help decide which alternatives are right for you.
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