Stop!!! Blanket statements about kids is just nonsense. Who is anyone to tell a parent when their kid should decide on where to go to college. Stop with your over academic analysis. Commit if you want in 8th grade or 12th grade, whatever suits your kid and family. The only people who get uptight about early commits are those who aren't early commits. Better advice is to take your ego out of the mix and let the process play out naturally.