UConn Helping Boy, 12, Earn Degree

A 12-year-old boy says he is thankful to the University of Connecticut for agreeing to let him earn a liberal arts degree despite his age.

Colin Carlson said university officials came to his rescue after officials at Connecticut College overruled a deal that would have allowed the young boy to have an affiliation to an academic house while he sought his degree, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant said Monday.

They’ve made an incredible difference for me and helped me find who I am academically, he said. Conn has been very uncertain and UConn has given me a great deal more certainty. So, I think things will work out.

Connecticut College officials had been concerned that they would be unable to offer the on-campus supervision needed for such a young student.

The Courant said Carlson, who has a Stanford University Online High School degree, said he anticipates achieving science and arts degrees at the school in Storrs, Conn.

In his college application letter, Carlson even acknowledged that his young age may be a problem for some schools but also informed university officials his maturity level was higher than those his age.