Kent State University student Maya McDaniel began her collegiate journey at age 14. Now a 17-year-old senior, she is set to graduate with a degree in game design and a minor in computer science and also set to become one of the youngest students to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university.
A native of Kent, McDaniel was featured on WEWS News 5 Cleveland for this accomplishment.
At 13, she took a college entrance exam.
“I wanted to take the ACT for fun just to see where we were at,” McDaniel told the TV reporter. “I almost passed the first time, and we were like wait a second, can I go to college if I actually get to pass the ACT? And it turns out yes. So, I retook it, passed and then I got accepted into Kent State as a CCP student and just started taking classes and going full time at 14.”
CCP is College Credit Plus, a program designed to provide qualified seventh through 12th grade students with the opportunity to enhance their high school education with a true college experience. Students enrolled in College Credit Plus earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from community colleges and universities. Those who are enrolled in College Credit Plus can reduce the time and cost of attending college after high school.
McDaniel has kept her age a secret in an effort to blend in.
“It was something that kept me, made me feel more like a student because if you go into something you’re immediately, ‘Hi, I’m different,” McDaniel told News 5 Cleveland.
McDaniel plans to attend graduate school after receiving her bachelor’s degree from Kent State. She's currently on track to graduate in summer 2023 when she will be 18, the same age that many students are just starting college.