Early College Radical Acceleration Programs Across the Country

Abstract

Not only age but many other aspects of their experience sets our Rockers apart, including their rigorous academic training, culminating in a senior thesis project, and the connections made through internships, extended campus projects, study abroad experiences, conference presentations, and collaborative research with faculty. Many of our alumni go on to enroll in nationally recognized graduate schools and programs such as Columbia University, New York University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as international standouts such as the London School of Economics, Oxford University, and Queen's University. First-year students attend a three-semester hour course taught by Belin-Blank Center staff that focuses on how to succeed in college. Staff provide academic, college, and mental health counseling, along with registration support and life skills mentoring.

We reached out to early college radical acceleration programs across the country to share a description of their program with the readers of Parenting for High Potential. These program descriptions demonstrate the similarities and differences between early college programs. You can also view more about additional programs available in Table 1. We hope that this information helps inform your decision to investigate or pursue radical acceleration with your child.

Bard College, Simon's Rock

Bard College at Simon's Rock (Massachusetts) is the only college in the country specifically designed for students ready to enter college and begin working on their bachelor's degree after the 10th or 11th grade. Simon's Rock offers a curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences, taught by supportive, highly trained faculty who are leading scholars in their field. The college grants degrees in more than 35 majors, including pre-engineering, psychology, political science, creative writing, biology, music, theater, and more.

Not only age but many other aspects of their experience sets our Rockers apart, including their rigorous academic training, culminating in a senior thesis project, and the connections made through internships, extended campus projects, study abroad experiences, conference presentations, and collaborative research with faculty.

Simon's Rock is not just a stepping stone but a launchpad for success. Many of our alumni go on to enroll in nationally recognized graduate schools and programs such as Columbia University, New York University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as international standouts such as the London School of Economics, Oxford University, and Queen's University. This is a testament to the quality of education and the bright future that awaits our students.

Simon's Rock is a top-tier institution. It was ranked #1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching and #2 for Most Innovative School by U.S. News and World Report and listed among the Best Colleges in the Northeast by The Princeton Review. The college was also named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for U.S. Scholars for the 2022-2023 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted, Mary Baldwin University

The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG) at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA, has been making a difference in the lives of gifted and motivated young women for 40 years. What makes PEG different is that the program is dedicated to girls ages 12-16 and allows them to skip all or most of high school and come to college earlier than their peers. PEG students are curious and mature, and have a deep desire for something more than what they are receiving in the traditional school setting. There's a special dorm, Tyson Hall, which is their home away from home. Students are kept busy with events and trips that enrich and entertain. Specially trained staff are there to support the students around the clock, 7 days a week. PEG is a family program where staff check in with students every day and build close relationships with the parents as well. Students have the option to receive mentorship from advisors and professors, older PEG students, and from passionate and successful PEG alumni.

By joining the PEG living learning community, these talented students take this chapter in their lives to another level. PEG students are full-fledged college students who can take advantage of all the opportunities Mary Baldwin has to offer. PEG students get to participate in interesting research opportunities alongside professors, have access to valuable internships, and get the chance to study abroad. Students even have the opportunity to participate in college athletics, campus clubs, and student government. MBU focuses on leadership and service to the community, something that PEG students also value. The PEG program provides a unique opportunity to grow and excel in new ways. PEG is a safe space for young scholars to pursue their passions and explore new ideas, a place where they have the chance to freely ask all of their questions, and Mary Baldwin professors will be there with the expert knowledge to help guide them toward finding the answers.

PEG is also about getting a jump start on the future. Our students are well prepared and able to enter the graduate school of their choice or begin the job they've always wanted. The PEG program is a launching pad for young women to take the world by storm and make it a better place for everyone. The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted is a perfect fit for those who are academically advanced, mature, motivated, and looking for a place with a robust community of like-minded peers that values them for being just who they are.

Robinson Center for Young Scholars, University of Washington

The Robinson Center for Young Scholars at the University of Washington is a national leader in developing programs for highly capable precollege and college students. Through our enrichment and early entrance programs, we prepare younger students for K-12 through college learning environments by providing them with challenging, accelerated learning opportunities in a vibrant, intellectual community at the University of Washington. Robinson Center students stay engaged and motivated in their learning through intellectual challenge, peer interactions, and access to advanced coursework.

The Transition School is a distinctive one-year college preparatory program offered by the Robinson Center on the University of Washington campus. This unique opportunity is tailored for students prepared to engage in college-level academics, demonstrating motivation to take increased responsibility for their educational journey. TS accepts applications during the eighth-grade year, with the program commencing the following fall. The UW Transition School cultivates both intellectual and personal growth among exceptional students from diverse backgrounds and communities.

The UW Academy is an early university admission opportunity for 10th-grade students in Washington State. Every year, a small cohort of up to 40 academically advanced and highly motivated students are admitted to the UW Academy. At the Robinson Center, UW Academy students find a community of like-minded peers and an experienced staff who can help them make the most of their time at the UW.

The Saturday and summer enrichment programs serve highly capable students from kindergarten through 10th grade. These programs offer engaging curriculum and educational experiences not typically found in general education classes and provide intellectually ambitious students with challenge, inspiration, and fun in a collaborative, supportive learning environment.

Bucksbaum Early Entrance Academy, University of lowa

The Bucksbaum Early Entrance Academy at the University of lowa provides an opportunity for students who are at least 16 years of age, have graduated high school early, and are ready academically, socially, and emotionally for university-level work to enter college early. As part of the Belin-Blank Center, our program is grounded in research regarding acceleration as the best intervention for advanced students.

Program participants are full-time University of lowa students who engage in university activities such as taking classes, using libraries and laboratories, living in a residence hall, and being involved in campus life. Additionally, students experience an enriched academic and social community as they transition to university life together.

First-year students attend a three-semester hour course taught by Belin-Blank Center staff that focuses on how to succeed in college. Lessons include navigating the campus and its services, study techniques, and time management. In addition, students meet weekly with a Belin-Blank Center staff member. These meetings are personalized to what the student needs but can include discussing the transition to college, goal setting, and communication skills.

Bucksbaum Academy students also live in a common residence hall during their first year to help support community building. The students have their own specially trained resident advisor on the floor to provide an additional layer of support.

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, Western Kentucky University

The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science is a two-year residential program for juniors and seniors in high school on the campus of Western Kentucky University. It is funded by the state legislature so any Kentucky student who is accepted is provided a scholarship to cover tuition, housing, and meals. Unlike most state-supported STEM programs or schools for high school students, Gatton uses the university model in which students are fully immersed in the university while living in a dedicated residence hall. Students are not considered degree-seeking, which preserves their opportunities to apply and enroll in other universities after high school graduation as first-time first-year students. This is important for scholarship opportunities.

Gatton Academy students enjoy the academic benefits of WKU, which removes the academic ceiling for them. They can advance in math and science as they need, though they must meet WKU course prerequisites, and engage in facultymentored undergraduate research. They are also welcome to participate in all WKU clubs and activities, excluding playing on NCAA teams and engaging with fraternities and sororities. At the same time, Gatton Academy students live in a community designed specifically to support high-ability teen students who are accelerated. Staff provide academic, college, and mental health counseling, along with registration support and life skills mentoring. Weekend activities, Gatton-specific clubs, and building-wide events, such as prom, provide students an active personal life beyond academics. The Gatton Academy is a living, learning environment designed specifically for motivated gifted and talented students who love STEM.

Authors' Note

Carla Van Devander, M.Ed, is the director of the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted at Mary Baldwin University. She is also an assistant professor for the School of Education offering coursework on classroom and behavior management, instructional differentiation, and exceptionalities. She is the parent of a gifted child and has experience asa teacher and differentiation specialist in grades K-12. She is also a member of the Virginia Advisory Committee for the Education of the Gifted (VACEG).

Liesel A. Lutz, M.Ed., is a 2020 alumna from Mary Baldwin Universitys Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. She graduated with her bachelor's degree at age 17 and received her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University at age 19. She is currently a third-year doctoral student in Educational Psychology, specializing in gifted and talented, at Baylor University. Her achievement, motivation, and well-being. Tracey Sulak, Ph.D., is a Clinical Associate Professor in Educational Psychology at Baylor University. She directs the ¡BEARS STEM Lab, a laboratory dedicated to unique interventions in STEM education, and works on interdisciplinary teams formed to study STEM education at the undergraduate level. Work from her lab includes gifted and special education populations, utilizes learning and motivation theories, and produces accessible publications for teachers and families as well as peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals.