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Ragged Clown's avatar

I am not a woman but… I came top of my class in school but left at 16 to join the navy. I earned twice as much as my dad before I was twenty and ten times as much — working on Wall Street — before I was thirty. Only once in my career as a software engineer did HR make a fuss about the fact that I did not have a degree but my boss told them to mind their own business. Your argument that skipping college would be good for women is spot on, but I think it would be good for everyone who is smart enough.

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Susan D's avatar

I think some home schoolers have managed to work some version of this out - mostly by getting their children started on community college courses at age 16. Now that won't get you into the workforce at 18, but it does accelerate the education process.

My personal experience with 18 year olds is not vast, but I would think maturity levels would be more of a concern than actual aptitude or ability. Then again, people do tend to rise to expectations if they are motivated.

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