First, I went to a community college full-time for two years. Then, I transferred those credits later to a university where I took classes sometimes full-time, sometimes part-time, for a few years. Like metmom, I always commuted; I never lived in a dorm. (I did visit dorms when I was young and had friends who lived in them.)
Back then, in CC, the students were all different ages, from young adult to older adult. Most of us were going to CC for an education; we were working people. It was a very different atmosphere from a university. At the university, I had an apartment off-campus, so I was there only to attend classes. The night courses especially had older adults who were serious about their education; a young boy or girl wouldn't have had a problem in those night classes at all.
At both the CC and the university, there were only a few classes where the students were expected to work on a project together. For most of the classes, all the work was independent.
My young son and I sat together in an economics course at the CC last year. The professor told us the CC students were working students who mostly came for class and left - the same type of students I remember at CC.
Also, community colleges offer many programs for people of all ages today - including programs for young children and teens.
My only concern with enrolling a 13 year-old into CC college-level courses would be the subject matter covered in the courses. There are professors who look for ways to cover topics like sexuality explicity. I remember those topics being covered in courses when I was in college. So, I personally wouldn't put a 13yo into English Comp, Literature, History, Statistics, or Biology. A mathematics or science course (other than Biology) might be more appropriate, IMHO. But, different parents see things differently.
When you’ve got four years in which to meet the degree requirements and for a major that you’ve chosen, you’ve got specific required courses that you must have, then upper level ones that must come later, but only as prerequisites are completed earlier — and then with courses that happen only once a year “in sequence” (like Fall, Winter, Spring) — and you have certain electives that may only come once a year and maybe only two quarters out of that year — then you’ve really got a “scheduling problem” ... :-)
If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with 12 credit hours one quarter and then 24 credit hours in another quarter, which would be a “killer” schedule for that quarter, if you could even do it.
BUT, for those who just “saunter along” — and don’t really care if they get so many courses, and only take one or two courses here and there... it doesn’t matter too much. But, from my experience, most of the people who are going to university level classes — are getting their degrees and they’re trying to get it all done in the required four-year time span.
That may be the difference that some people “may not get” here ... :-) Some people (from what I read) are simply getting a few classes here and a few classes there, and that’s no big deal ...
I’m talking about “seriously” going to university and getting a four-year degree.