[0kelvin]

(Original post by chr1stopher11)
If you are mature enough then it is fine. You can't go out to nightclubs, unless you look older than 16, but there are opportunities for drinking and partying without going out if you want to do that. Moving out, independent studying and having only yourself to rely on needs maturity and if you have that level of maturity then you shouldn't be held back.

Are you going to be 16 when you start university?

Not me. Was reading some news about parents who went to court because the law forbids students from going to uni before finishing secondary school. That happens in some secondary schools that advance subjects and prepare them for admission exams earlier than others.

[Craig_D]

I don't think so; if they're capable of doing the work then there's no problem.

[mrt23498]

(Original post by 0kelvin)
Was wondering how is that seen internationaly. There are cases in here of students who began studying earlier or skipped one year, which results in some students being admitted at age 16. I'm not talking about brilliant minds, but rather pressure to start earlier or even schools that advances syllabuses.

Yes, for going to uni

I only know of one person who entered uni at 16, who is now second year aged 17, so eveen though he can capably do his subject, there is still a lack of growing up. I think people mature (in one sense) a lot between 16 and 18. So I can understand why some people wish to push their children/students to reach their potential earlier, I don't understand why necessarily do it?

[sconter]

u wouldnt enjoy it.

[simstar88]

(Original post by Computerised)
What is an average individuals chance of being exposed to sex at university? Uni seems pretty sex free to me. ( for me at least)

I don't think it's guaranteed, unfortunately. Although to be honest it depends how picky you are and whether you have the confidence. You could also get laid the traditional way and find a nice girl who you like and take things from there lol.

The 'average' individuals chance of having sex during 3 years = high

The 'average' individuals chance of having sex during 3 years of uni = A little bit higher

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
It's going to be a bit grim in terms of going out and socialising, because you won't be able to go out with all your flatmates because you're underage.

Why would that be grim? There are other things you can do with friends that are just as fun if not even more fun than going out to a club.

Then, when you're actually 18 you'll be part way through second year / into third year, when people have minimal time to be going out anyway.

That is a valid point. Although there are opportunities to make friends with people in their first or second year who would be willing to go out partying with you. It will probably be difficult to manage going out alongside an increasing workload but I'm sure it is possible and still be able to get good grades.

Why not just go and do some more A-Levels or something?

What would the point in that be? It wouldn't be as academically demanding or stimulating as starting a degree. It also holds you back. Why stay at the same level with A Levels? Why not advance in level and go onto the next thing, first year university, and finish earlier?

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by Computerised)
And I heard of this one child prodigy that went to Oxford. He's a rapist now. And there was this other child prodigy that went Cambridge to do maths. Shes a prostitute now. Go figure.

Those people did not start university at 16. In my mind I think 16 is the youngest you can be and be able to survive and thrive at university. Any younger then I would imagine you would run the risk of having a lack of maturity to the extent that they cannot look after themselves, be disciplined and be able to get by without an authority figure such as a parent.

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by StacFace)
I would definately say it's too young, if I had completed college by this time then I would have either taken extra qualifications at college and/or got a job to earn some money for uni, and then gone once I had turned 18 (or in the year of turning 18 if I had an early September birthday, meaning I would be 18 by the time I moved into uni halls).

Apart from the reason of saving up money to finance your studies why else would you want to hold yourself back and postpone university?

Going out and getting drunk obviously isn't what uni is all about and it's not the reason to go, but you've got to admit for most people (me included) it is still part of the experience, and if you're gonig to go to uni without this then how is it any different to college?

So going out is the only aspect that differentiates university from college? What about independent study, moving out and relying solely on yourself, harder study etc?

Also, I think 16 is too young for most people to be moving away and becoming independant (I know there are exceptions, my Mum is an example).

I completely agree on this point. In my opinion, very few people have the required level of maturity who can start university at 16 and not encounter problems related to maturity. However, for those who will not encounter these problems, why should society try and hold them back? Shouldn't society support ambitious, capable, intelligent, mature young people?

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by britishgoose01)
my mind yes,your not mentally prepared,

Maybe this would be true for yourself. For others however this may be the opposite.

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by 0kelvin)
Not me. Was reading some news about parents who went to court because the law forbids students from going to uni before finishing secondary school. That happens in some secondary schools that advance subjects and prepare them for admission exams earlier than others.

Could you link me to these articles as I am interested in this too. I know there is a law that means that universities cannot discriminate on the basis of age in the application process which has allowed for younger applicants to gain entry to university. Skipping years/advancing at a faster rate (as in completing 2 years of A Levels in one) is not the only way to get into university early. In Scotland it is perfectly possible to go to university at 16 without doing anything extraordinary.

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by Craig_D)
I don't think so; if they're capable of doing the work then there's no problem.

I think intelligence alone is not enough to be allowed to go to university at 16. You also need maturity and discipline which might not be present in all applicants who are 16 years old.

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by mrt23498)
I only know of one person who entered uni at 16, who is now second year aged 17, so eveen though he can capably do his subject, there is still a lack of growing up. I think people mature (in one sense) a lot between 16 and 18. So I can understand why some people wish to push their children/students to reach their potential earlier, I don't understand why necessarily do it?

I think there is a maturity difference between the average 18 year old and the average 16 year old. However for those applicants who are 16 but have the maturity level well in excess of their peers then why should you hold them back in pursuing their goals?

In terms of pushy teachers/schools/parents I think that the transition from a highly structured environment constructed by the pushy teachers/schools/parents of the student to one that is pretty much made up by the student would be a difficult one. Also sometimes the dreams of the pushy teachers/schools/parents are put into the student and so it might not be in the best interests of the student and so would result in failure. The story of the child prodigy now prostitute I would imagine is linked to the pressure of the father trying to realize his own dreams through his daughter, which she probably didn't share, causing the whole thing to fail. The decision to study at university when 16 or younger has to 100% be made by the applicant because otherwise it won't work. That is not limited to 16 year old applicants but also for all ages.

[Origami Bullets]

(Original post by chr1stopher11)
Why would that be grim? There are other things you can do with friends that are just as fun if not even more fun than going out to a club.

You'll find that all your friends are going to be going out to pubs and clubs, you'll desperately want to go out with them too, and yet you can't, because you don't have ID. Even if you make friends through (say) a sports club, you'll find that all the socialising outside the sport is done in pubs & clubs.

That is a valid point. Although there are opportunities to make friends with people in their first or second year who would be willing to go out partying with you. It will probably be difficult to manage going out alongside an increasing workload but I'm sure it is possible and still be able to get good grades.

Every third year I know is moaning about their workload, how stressed they are, and how little time they have to socialise etc.

Also - you'll have to check that the university will let you live in halls when you're 16 - they may not, and no private landlord will allow a 16 year old to sign a contract.

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by sconter)
u wouldnt enjoy it.

Why do you say that?

[johndoranglasgow]

No reason why you couldn't do it.
It will be a pretty different experience for you though, and it'll keep some of the dodgier guys hanging around the union on their toes :P

[noobynoo]

I think it would be good since you are too young to drink so you can concentrate on getting good grades. Stephen Hawking went to uni early I think and he did all right (except for the disability obvs)

[chr1stopher11]

(Original post by Origami Bullets)
You'll find that all your friends are going to be going out to pubs and clubs, you'll desperately want to go out with them too, and yet you can't, because you don't have ID.

This is true, but not desperately. I have felt a little left out in this aspect but I have found a group of friends who are not majorly into going out so the vast majority of socializing consists of playing sport with them, eating with them and relaxing with them by watching tv or something. So I don't feel left out much.

Also - you'll have to check that the university will let you live in halls when you're 16 - they may not, and no private landlord will allow a 16 year old to sign a contract.

This is also true. This was a pretty fundamental part of choosing my university choices last year. I found that most universities do offer accommodation to 16 year olds but it is something that needs to be checked.

[StacFace]

(Original post by chr1stopher11)
Apart from the reason of saving up money to finance your studies why else would you want to hold yourself back and postpone university?

Why the need to rush? Uni isn't going anywhere and at 16 I hardly think you can class it as 'holding yourself back'.

So going out is the only aspect that differentiates university from college? What about independent study, moving out and relying solely on yourself, harder study etc?

You do some independant study at college, but do more at uni. You do study at college, but your studies are harder at uni. These aren't really new concepts (or shouldn't be, particularly in someone who has been able to pass their school and college exams early enough to start uni at 16). If you went to uni with a big part of the social side missing then you'd still get the 'leap' but it wouldn't be as much of a 'new experiences' leap as 18-year-olds have the opportunity to get. Most people only do one undergraduate degree, and even though you shouldn't go to uni just for the "uni experience" of drinking etc. you can't deny that it is still a part of the experience for a lot of uni students. There's also problems like whether or not you'll be able to get a place in halls so young, as if not this is another part of the uni 'social experience' gone. I know I'd regret going to uni at 16 because I'd miss out on a lot of the social side and it's not really something you can repeat (even if you can afford another degree it won't be the same 'second time round' as the whole 'new experience' part has gone).

I completely agree on this point. In my opinion, very few people have the required level of maturity who can start university at 16 and not encounter problems related to maturity. However, for those who will not encounter these problems, why should society try and hold them back? Shouldn't society support ambitious, capable, intelligent, mature young people?

Nobody is preventing them going at that age if they want, I'm just saying that personally I feel it is too young. I wouldn't have done it myself and if a young person was considering going to uni at this age and asked my opinion I would tell them that I think they should wait and explain to them why. Whether they then took my advice or not would be up to them.

[jus2sik]

You have to be 13 to enrol into university, but you must meet all the per-requisites; a levels/btec etc...

You will not be eligible for a student loan until you are 18 so you would have to pay yourself or something.

[Flan!]

Not too young to do the work maybe, but to be mature enough to live and take care of yourself? I'd probably say yes. Besides, there's no need to rush; if you have the a-levels at 16, just have a 2 year long gap year (yay! )