I thought that I would combine the 2 posts and see if we can combine some useful info.
I posted in the other topic about Hunter. There is an 11th grader who needed radical acceleration but they were able to keep him grade at Hunter for peer socialization.
At the same time he had completed all the possible math curriculum at Columbia (for free), almost completed their physics. And I believe taking some courses at NYU.
This is an uber brilliant PG kid. And Hunter high school has allowed him the perfect fit for his age socialization and his need for radical acceleration. When he graduates Hunter he will probably be able to choose some post doctoral program at MIT or Caltech, just like Kit Armstrong is at the Sorbonne. And a sidenote, he is also a prodigy on the piano. It seems to go hand and in hand with these uber smart math kids.
Now my kid isn't like this with an IQ around 180 but those who may have interest, since there were some posters talking about radical acceleration for thier kids. I though posting about high schools that could accomodate that would be great. It seems like he has the best of both worlds.
This may be a tough one since posters here are from so many different parts of the United States and of the world. Many of us do not have the ability to relocate due to our work, extended family, and the need to balance the conflicting needs of more than one child.
I'd love to see more options for gifted kids but I don't think we'll ever find one that is the "best of both worlds" for all kids because they have such different needs. It also seems to me that some of these distinctions between high school and college may be more symbolic than anything. If a student has taken all of the undergraduate math and physics available at Columbia wouldn't that more than fifty courses? That is quite a chunk of college.
These sorts of high school/early college programs can be great for some people. For students who don't have or don't want this option, we should remember there are many ways to interact with same age peers without a high school affiliation that includes activities such as sports, scouts, church, volunteering, orchestra, homeschool groups, chess clubs, etc.
I understand that relocating is not an option but someone might find out about an option that is relatively close without knowing about it.
As for undergraduate options, I understood that it was beyond undergrad. The father, a PhD in math and professor, claimed that it took him a week to sort through a problem in his son's homework, which takes the son minutes.
I had made a comment about the "system" and extraordinary students like this. The parents never opted for college, they realized they had someone really special when he entered Hunter at 7th grade.
Which begets another post. This was a Hunter elementary reject for not being gifted enough....he entered in 7th grade.
He was able to make the decision himself once he entered Hunter at 7th grade. I am not saying the parents were against it. I am saying it was initiated by the "system" the school. The parents didn't go into Hunter and say this kid needs college. It was kind of obvious to the teachers. The parents were thinking the school is for the gifted, they will be able to accomdodate and they did. Send him to Columbia.
The parents never opted for college, they realized they had someone really special when he entered Hunter at 7th grade.
Ren
I don't understand. If he has completed the Columbia math curricula than they have opted for college.
My impression of this idea is that "opting for college" means going there full-time, as opposed to taking classes there when you aren't taking high school classes.
Sorry for the confusion. The child and school opted for math courses at Columbia. The parents went along with it but they did not initiate. The school realized they didn't have anything to offer without the Columbia option.
Some of the 'governor's schools' in Virginia incorporate a college portion for jr. and sr. students; not quite 'radical', but a viable option for a broader group of kids who are nearly done with high school by grade 10.
I went to college with someone who went through the same program in Romania. She was very well prepared. Not smarter. Just lived and breathed math like most kids do sports.
I went to college with someone who went through the same program in Romania. She was very well prepared. Not smarter. Just lived and breathed math like most kids do sports.
Wow! I want to forward this to my son's school!! thanks