PA Homeschooled Teenager Earns MBA 18

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Pennsylvania Teenager Earns MBA

POSTED: 7:45 am EDT May 13, 2006
UPDATED: 7:53 am EDT May 13, 2006

PITTSBURGH -- This black-clad, punk-rock fanatic whose hair has seen more colors than a rainbow is only 18 -- and she's not your average MBA.

Jessica Meeker was set to be the youngest student ever to receive an MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

"It just feels so good to finally be done," Meeker said.

At age 12, Meeker became the youngest student to enroll at Pennsylvania State University. At 16, she was the youngest to earn a bachelor's degree there, majoring in psychology.

Her parents said they always knew she was smart. Meeker could spell at 18 months and complained of being bored in the first grade, her parents said.

What Meeker will move on to, however, is an open question. She said she is considering getting a doctorate in psychology.

So far, she hasn't received any job offers.

www.wsbtv.com/education/9210558/detail.html

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Homeschool Grad, Jessica Meeker, is youngest grad student at IUP

www.pahomeschoolers.com/messages/11698.html

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Older article on Jessica

Kid on campus
Gifted 13-year-old college freshman juggles calculus, 'N Sync and puberty

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

By Cristina Rouvalis, Post-Gazette Staff Writer







STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Jessica Meeker lets out a whoop of delight from the back seat of the car.






Although a busy college freshman, Jessica Meeker, 13, still has time for friends her own age, such as her fellow youth group members at St. John's Episcopal Church in Bellefonte, Centre County. (Matt Freed, Post-Gazette)









Her excitement has nothing to do with the polynomials she just studied in calculus class or the Freud lecture in human development class.

It's about Pluto.

As in the Disney character.

Her mother has just picked up the Penn State University freshman after class and hands her the Pluto toy ornament that came in the mail.

Jessica is 13.

Clasping her gold dog, bouncing on the seat, she says: "Mom, guess what? Guess what? Guess what? I got a 100 on my calculus quiz!"

Jessica knows that as a reward, she can buy an 'N Sync concert video. But she is looking forward to a bigger prize at the end of the semester. "Daddy says if I get a B or higher in calculus, I get a scooter."

Any 13-year-old is a walking contradiction, a tug between adult and childlike urges. But when you start college at the newsmaking age of 12, the contradictions are even more startling.

Like going through puberty and freshman orientation at the same time.

Or reading the book "A Little Maid of Mohawk Valley" (recommended ages: 8 to 12) as she waits for the start of calculus class (recommended ages: 18 to 22).

Or giving a classroom speech on the venereal disease chlamydia even though she has never been to an R-rated movie.

Last semester, Jessica was a novelty, little girl on campus, "Today" show celebrity and home-schooled marvel.

This semester, she might be mistaken for just another short co-ed, hurrying to class on the overflowing sidewalks of a major research university. If there is a lot of pressure weighing down on her little shoulders, this commuter from nearby Bellefonte doesn't show it.

The university is more fun than elementary school, where she attended only first grade before her mother yanked her out.

"College is better because I don't have to go to gym class, and there's no mean art teacher."

more
www.post-gazette.com/magazine/20000221jessica2.asp