From the perspective of the U.K. I can’t imagine it being a very good idea going to university early. One reason for university to be better than high school is that you get to feel like you are learning a lot about your chosen subject, and you get a lot more freedom in how you do it. This is probably still mostly the case if you are under 18. The other purpose of university is socialising people into acting like “well-rounded” middle class adults, and in many ways this is an improvement from high school (for one thing, the students are willing and if they don’t like a situation, they can just leave). I would worry that socialising wouldn’t be the same for someone under 18. Obviously a lot of socialising revolves around alcohol but not drinking needn’t be a problem—the bigger issue is that a lot of socialising may revolve around places where alcohol may be served from which a 16 or 17 year old might be excluded. I also don’t know the laws about living alone at those ages either—if one were not allowed to live like the other students it would not be good, I think. It’s surely different in the US where lots of things are cut off from anyone under 21.
I suspect the argument against would be that the social aspects don’t matter, but I just don’t buy it.
I went to the University of Minnesota my sr. year of high school. I remember a sophomore in my physics class being less enthusiastic about hanging out when I gave her a heads-up that I was (1) under 18 and (2) likely moving to Massachusetts or Michigan the next year. Otherwise, I found socialization easier than in high school.
I’m talking about the U.K. and while there is certainly the option of binge drinking culture, it was definitely not required. But my time in university was full of events where alcohol was served and I don’t know how such things would work for someone who mightn’t be allowed in due to that—if you’re 18 you can turn up and refuse the drinks and no one will care much, but if you’re 17 you maybe can’t turn up, even if you would refuse drinks.
with the states being 21 and up - I think the pressure is not the same.
In the cities I've been to, many nightclubs/bars/pubs after dark will only let in 18+ but you'd get Xs on your hands or something and only 21 and over can drink.
I believe many have gotten use to this system and the expectations that you don't need to turn up alcohol to be cool - in fact it could get you in trouble.
I also know there are plenty that find ways around the drinking 20 and under prohibition - sure - but sneaking a drink in a dark corner or whatever is not the same as being expected to be doing body shots on the bar.. so there is less pressure in many ways I believe, compared to UK I suppose.
Also - alcohol and weed for many youngsters I think is not a big deal to get or leave alone, a lot of people shrug at those things and seek out X Y or Z, and those things are not generally done in large groups at parties - from what I gather - surely it's not 100% across the board like that - but most kids have access to all the drugs and alcohol they could want by 9th grade in most places I am pretty sure -
the legal alcohol and weed is legal in many places now - seems like a thing that 'old people do' cuz it's legal - and it's not the main thing on their 'coolness radar' - at least that's the vibe I've been getting from the HS/college crowd of late.
my very little experience is of course a very small data point and certainly not indicative of the country as a whole, and I am guessing the small towns around the country are a bit different than the cities in those regards.
I suspect the argument against would be that the social aspects don’t matter, but I just don’t buy it.