There are several different options for gifted high school students who are ready to move beyond the programs at their regular schools. Three of these options are discussed in Sandra Berger's College Planning for Gifted Students.

Information is offered on specific programs along with articles and books on the subject.

 

Dual enrollment is useful for students who have exhausted the academic possibilities in a specific area at their regular school. For instance, once a student has taken all the higher-level math courses available at the high school level, she can move on and take a more advanced math class at a local junior college or university. Therefore, while taking most of her classes at high school, she takes the one math class at college. In some states, the law requires the school district to pay for these more advanced classes.

 

According to research students who enter college early tend to fare well academically. After college, most of these students continue their studies, going on to graduate school to pursue doctorates.

 

Early Entrance College Programs in the USA compares a variety of schools that accept groups of students taking college courses at least a year before they would typically go to college. 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. The students are not left on their own to fend for themselves. In order to be successful in these programs, students must be both intelligent and mature. While there are definite academic advantages to such programs, many students decide not to take this route because they want to be with their friends, and participate in high school sports and other activities such as band. A long list of testimonials (both positive and negative) can be found at the site. If entrance into one of these programs is something your student is considering, you will find much helpful information here.