If you are able to pay for the class I would not assume that he would have to audit just because he's in 10th grade. There are certainly schools that will allow students to take for a grade younger than that.

That said, auditing is a great way to start college classes because there is less pressure.

The other option you might want to consider is finding a mentor.

The rec letter - another thing I didn't think about! Between those and the SAT II tests I guess we can cover the "paper gaps". Ania, what your son did sounds very much like what we are looking to do with DS. The fact that the classes are in done in half the time is very appealing to him. He's pretty good with a heavy workload so I don't anticipate a problem. Do you plan on continuing your plan for your son (going to the college for math) for all four years of high school?

Passthepotatoes, I hope you're right, but so far I've been told that unless he has XX credits (equivalent to senior status) he can not be admitted to the university and be enrolled in the class for credit.

As for mentor, I've been working on that for awhile. I think we finally stumbled onto a mentor for computers but math is still hanging. Did you go the mentor route? That would be preferable to me over college classes based on the great results he had working with a private tutor last year.

He is taking AP Calc BC at the HS this year and it looks like after that he will have to take classes at our flagship.
Also, is there an ARML team where you are? It would be worthwile to look into it. In our state all the top math kids meet at the ARML. Great mentoring for younger kids!

CFK-

I always believe rules are meant to be broken...when appropriate. I would see if you could persuade the college to change the rule (age limit or credit pre-req). Or maybe try one audit and then approach them. I know my kids would find it difficult to do all the work without anything to show for it.

Also, as an aside, my DS 11 is taking a community college math course for credit, but before we negotiated an agreement between the middle school and the college, he took Fractal Math online, which he enjoyed, and Statistics. Going outside the standard sequence might be enjoyable.

Back in the dark ages I took college classes before finishing high school. I essentially did it instead of finishing high school. Without a high school diploma they had me take a series of exams to show basic knowledge to see what I qualified to take for credit. Once completed I was allowed to matriculate and register like everyone else. That was at a community college so I don't know it that is relevant to you. I loved it!

Hopefully we still have several years before we're facing this issue square on, but it's nonetheless a very pertinent topic of conversation right now.

How old were you when you started taking the college course(s) and how long until you started full time? Did you find many kids your own age? And if not, how well were you received by the older kids?

I've been reading a bunch of the heady research on this, but am ready for some anecdotal info now.

Thanks!

I've been trying to break them, just haven't had luck yet! I've talked to the two universities within commuting distance. Neither will enroll for credit without requisite number of high school credits already in his pocket (which he doesn't have). As for auditing, they've both said that age/grade is not as important as prerequisites. I think we will try the auditing route and then if it goes well, try again to enroll for credit after he's proven himself with the institution.

I did something similar to this way back when also. I started university a week after the 11th grade as part of the dual enrollment program. I never went back to high school again, but my credits counted toward both college and high school. I got my high school diploma in the mail a year later when I was already almost a junior in college. I highly recommend the program also!

My concern for my son is that he wouldn't be particpating under the auspices of a program like dual enrollment. That and he's four years younger than I was at the time.

I absolutely hated high school and the community college classes were like heaven to me. I started at 16 and made friends who were a year or two older than me. Some of the high school seniors from my high school took classes as well. These were supplements or replacements for kids who were going to finish high school. I started full time right away. If I remember correctly I had to take one math class that was non credit since I had not completed trig yet but other than that I was in college. I had some other issues going on - family stuff - and did not end up finishing college any earlier than if I had stayed in high school but I did very easily transfer to an excellent four year university and then on to graduate school. I think the rule was that once you had at least 30 college credits you could apply to a four year college without a high school transcript. I never got a high school diploma...and it never mattered.