<p>With respect to how much it helps in getting in...What if a student applies to be a freshman in college having already completed eight university courses in history (with a college GPA above a 3.5)? While in high school, the student is taking the college classes at a highly competitive public university. Also, this is a student in a most rigorous high school curriculum, but whose transcript will have some C's in math.</p>
<p>taking college classes in high school is one of the best things a student can do to boost their transcript. much better than AP classes. if they succeed in college classes, the college KNOWS (rather than just guesses, or hopes :)) that the student will succeed at their college.</p>
<p>Thx! I guess I'm wondering if it could in a significant way offset an imperfect high school transcript.</p>
<p>Taking college classes shows a lot of initiative but I dunno if it "looks" better than AP classes. At my local CC, Biology is a joke compared to AP Biology at my school.</p>
<p>but colleges won't know that, unless you fail. but if thats the case, don't report your pep enrollment transcript.</p>
<p>They can easily find out. Brown University's app asked me to tell them the exact textbooks and concepts covered in my science classes taken either in high school or college. Bottom line is that top colleges expect students to take AP classes if they are offered. I still don't think taking college courses by itself will necessarily look better than taking AP classes.</p>
<p>Actually, admissions counselors will tell you that AP courses are better. Why? Because there's at least a nominal benchmark for comparison. And admissions counselors are often familiar with the level of the high schools in their catchment area, so they know how well AP classes are taught. But there are so many colleges, particularly community colleges, that the schools you're applying to have no clue about their rigor. That's why a college may give credit for a certain score on the AP exam, but will evaluate your college courses one by one before deciding that they warrant credit at their institution.</p>
<p>It this situation, though, I am talking about classes at a top public university (not a community college), and also courses that have become increasingly more difficult (i.e. levels 1 through 8, so at the higher end this is stuff that juniors and seniors in college take).</p>
<p>^^^: The college courses might be very effective if these are regular courses at competitive colleges. I know of a student at my D's school who took Stanford courses during the summer that were regular UG courses. Eligibility to take such courses itself will put you in good spotlight during college admissions. Doing well at such courses will give you a tremendous boost.</p>
<p>But if the courses are at state universities then it might not give you any advantage over an AP course.</p>
<p>Also if these are high school courses at top universities like Stanford etc. then also it may not be better than AP courses at your school.</p>
<p>They are regular college courses, filled with college students, but not at a school as good as Stanford. On the other hand, the school is better than a regular "state u" - more like a UVA.</p>
<p>^^^: Those might be worth doing but do you do it along with APs at your school or you are choosing those over APs. If it is the later than you might owe an explanation of why you did so in the essays.</p>
<p>First of all are you being given college credit or will you get high school credit?</p>
<p>Are the courses part of a Dual-enrollment program?</p>
<p>Like Chedva stated there are so many colleges that the schools you're applying to may have no clue about their rigor (this includes 4 year schools also).</p>
<p>While taking college courses may show your willingness to go on to more challenging things, it will not offset your taking the most challenging courses your high school offers and doing well in those courses.</p>
<p>These are summer classes (as a part of a full-time college quarter), and over 10 AP's will be taken through 10th-12th grades. College credit is being earned - these classes are the same ones that full-time college students take, but as a non-matriculating (non degree candidate) student. The credits and grades earned will be a permanent part of any future college transcript (and there is already a college transcript from this university, separate from the high school transcript). This is not a part of a dual enrollment. This is about a student who somehow can't get enough of school during the year, so going to college FULL-TIME in the summer looked exciting! Also, the college GPA is HIGHER than the high school one.</p>
<p>That student may want to be careful, though - if he's taken that many courses, her may be considered a transfer student, not a first year, and may have to apply as a transfer.</p>
<p>Even if they are non-matriculating and taking classes only during the summer? Does anyone know the rules about this?</p>
<p>It depends on the college. Some may consider simply the number of college credits, not whether the student was matriculated or not.</p>
<p>If you take classes in high school without matriculating (actually applying to the school), then you are a freshman application. Period. You never transfer unless you previously were accepted to a school and are moving to another one.</p>
<p>College classes at any of the top 100 universities are a major boost. Community College, not so much. And you can always take the AP exams if you take comparable subjects at the university.</p>
<p>All good news, Knightshield! :-)</p>
<p>Sorry, knightshield, but things are not so black and white. For example, Washington State University states:
[quote]
You are considered a transfer student if you have completed at least 27 semester (40 quarter) credits of transferable credit and have not received a bachelor's degree at the time of application from a regionally accredited college or university.
[/quote]
It does not require that the student matriculated at the college.</p>
<p>UNLV's website states:
[quote]
UNLV defines transfer students as those who have earned 24 or more transferable credits from a regionally accredited college and/or university upon application to UNLV. Applicants with less than 24 transferable credits are considered to be freshman transfer students.
[/quote]
Again, no requirement of matriculation.</p>
<p>Schools vary in their requirements. The student should check with each school she is considering applying to in order to determine which application to file.</p>
<p>Sorry for the confusion. I was basing that claim on the schools I applied to (all of whom clearly defined as being freshman admissions). But you make a good point: check with the individual schools before taking college classes (and before applying).</p>
<p>One of the biggest benefits of taking college classes in high school is that you can branch out into new subjects (think Art History or Comparative Lit or Sociology). It all depends on the dual-enroll scheduling and how competitive your high school is. My HS is not that competitive, so I dual-enrolled with the University of MN to boost my application. It was enough to get into Stanford (1 of only 3 in the last 4 years).</p>