@momtogirls2 thank you for offering your input here! I was going to talk to my counselor about this because I’m still interested in the idea of privates, especially LACs, despite this program.
One thing I’ve worried about is SAP- if I take a bunch of EC classes that don’t lead to a degree by the end of HS, will that reduce my finaid at a 4 year? Or is that only for credits I elect to actually transfer to the 4 year?
The way I’m thinking about it, I can map it as:
-grad requirements- 1-2 per sem.
-“good for admissions” classes (I’ll count calc in this even though I enjoy math)- 2-3 per sem.
-electives- 1-2 per sem.
Hi all! I hope its okay that I’m bumping my own thread. I’ve narrowed my science choices for next semester down to 3 possible options, and it’s time to choose classes, so I would like some input.
Who knows, I might major in STEM, but right now I am doubting it. My passion for political issues and foreign languages is really exploding, and since I have a relatively high number of opportunities to travel to Germany, I’m seriously considering taking German as a second high school language (again, I’m in 3rd semester French, am taking earth science this semester at a high school level, not sure what to take at early college but 4th sem French is not offered. Currently petitioning for it to be offered senior fall).
So here are my 3 options:
1: Take German, skip science, take algebraic physics senior year fall. I am drawn to this option by passion but want to be realistic about admissions and overall practicality.
2: Take conceptual physics this semester then senior year do Intro Bio. The planner in me likes this option because it means I won't have to deal with being introduced to algebra based physics during college app season (combined with calc 1 might be rough even for a strong STEM student).
3: Take Intro Bio this semester and algebraic physics senior fall. Definitely the most rigorous science option. My determined side does like the idea of Intro Bio because it's requested for many non-science majors and I can transfer it to a state college.
I’d say either take German if you’re sure you can continue to level 2 or 3, and take Conceptual or Algebra based physics in the Fall, or take conceptual physics this Spring.
Non science majors take science for non-science majors. You don’t have to take them all before you graduate high school, leave one for college.
My daughter started college as a freshman with advanced credit standing (bringing in around 60 credits but no associates). At least at her school since she did not use financial aid for her college classes in high school she is eligible for the traditional 4 years of financial aid. Merit is also good for 4 years starting with her first year at the school.
Basically not having a associates did not hurt her. She was able to get freshman merit scholarships and her credits count though some are free electives which in reality don’t count as anything since they are not needed. She is on track to graduate in 3 years with a double major. I think it would help if you talk to admissions at interested schools since it can be different but it was the same at all the colleges my daughter ended up applying to
@MYOS1634 Thank you for the reassurance. An update is that Conceptual Physics doesn’t seem to be an option this spring because it’s offered the same time as AmHist 2 with my teacher this sem who I really want again because he’s awesome and I might get a recommendation from him. So I’m pretty sure Option 2 is a no
It’s unfortunate because I was leaning towards that today. I’m still intrigued by the idea of German but I’m having my parents drive me a long way to school now, and though they say driving 4 days a week is not a big deal I’m worried it’ll be a bad idea in practice. (If I did German I’d have to be driven in time for a 9:30 class M-Th. Hoping we can add the bus as an option though.)
And @momtogirls2 - Thank you so much for that. I’ve been embarrassed to tell my friends about German because I’m worried I’ll be seen as an elitist taking advantage of the early college’s intent (to give a practical set of courses so people can save money). My friends are working towards associate’s themselves and I feel silly for being a top student who’s not challrnging myself with that opportunity. Of course 2 languages could be highly applicable and helpful for an IR major! But I also worry that will still be seen as impractical. By the advisor too. I still haven’t made an appointment to talk about scheduling due to this internal conflict.
“But if it’s what you love to do, do it” —> I agree except I worry despite my history that I all the sudden won’t love it. And regret it in the future when something else would have been more helpful. For admissions included.
Thanks for listening to this- it’s down to German vs. bio (and physics later) now. Should I really go for it with German seeing as I won’t have any other classes but English, AmHist 2 and Precalc trig? I appreciate your input and promise the final decision will be mine.
Could you take German in the Fall?
Taking advantage of classes not offered at your high school that would further your goals is exactly why the program was set up.
With the CC model you only need one more semester of science, either the Algebra-based or conceptual course.
MYOS, that’s a super good idea! Thanks for thinking of it! That would also help me because German 1 is offered as a full semester in the fall instead of half (which means it wouldn’t take up 6 credit hours in one sem).
Thank you for the reassurance. It helps a lot, coming from a hyper-competitive HS where people rarely decided to take a class based on personal interest. (But no, German was not offered at my high school, it’s true!)
I take my earlier statement back; the college added a new section of US History. I’m going to check with my teacher to see if he’s teaching it and if so, I will take conceptual physics this spring.
For anyone else considering these science options, I recommend taking Biology. Of course, if you have a strong tendency towards math, you may enjoy physics.
@isla701 Perhaps I’m not understanding you but I don’t recommend picking your classes based on what your friends think. I’m sure they are taking what they belief is right for them just like you need to take what is right for you. Don’t allow your beliefs about what they may think influence what you ultimately decide to take.
I’m not saying it is not a good thing to get an associates since in some cases it might a great option. For my daughter a business transfer associates did not seem worth it for her when it was a time to also explore options. For instance corporate finance was not needed for the associates but she wanted to take it to help see if she had enough interest in a double major. I see your German as helpful for your future career depending on where you end up working.
It is important to consider transportation for college classes as well. My daughter was able to take public transportation there and back. It was a bit of a nuisance though in terms of going back and forth if classes were spread out too much so whenever possible her classes were back to back. One semester she did have a break but there were clubs scheduled those hours most of the time. She did not have the option of partial high school and college classes since the high school has a rotating schedule.
Sorry @momtogirls2 for the late response. You’re right. Like for most of us teenagers, that sort of thinking is too pervasive. I guess I’m also worried about what the advisor might say.
And thank you for your input about the associates. I do worry about pushing myself into a box too quickly with that. If I do end up at a school that takes transfer credit, it might make more sense to only transfer a few courses (like intro English) until I figure out my major.
The transportation part is definitely a factor, but my parents agreed to drive me quite a bit and they’ve been doing so. I’m trying not to feel bad about it; they could have requested that I stay at my high school for transportation reasons, but they were willing. I intend to try the bus with them soon; life has gotten in the way of doing that earlier.
@britain Yeah that’s the conflict I was having! I do believe it might be helpful to have physics for admissions, though, and take bio another semester.
@isla701 when you apply to college you have to send all your transcripts including all of your college classes - even if is on your high school transcript you need to send all official college transcripts as well. You may not have a say as to which credits a school takes or how it is used but that is something you can ask the schools you are applying to. Sometimes a college will have an online way to look at what classes have transferred in what colleges in the past but nothing is official until after you matriculate. My daughter has some classes that while technically she may have credit for they dont’ serve a purpose at her school. That is okay though we never expected every class to be utilized.
Even though my daughter’s school had full access to her college info she still had to request an official sealed transcript after her junior year she was able to give that to her high school guidance council to put on naviance which was fine for the schools she was applying to mostly. She had to do that again after the fall senior year semester ended at the college and after she finished the spring semester she mailed it directly to the school she was matriculating at.
As long as your on track to graduate high school etc and your high school and college approve of all the dual enrollment classes I would not worry about what the advisor thinks either unless the advisor has a valid reason. It could be a good time to take a class your interested in just because even if it doesn’t fit into a future major.
@momtogirls2 thank you so much for this!! Yeah, I’ve been thinking Conceptual Physics for the past few weeks, but today I’m realizing how little time I have left in French class and it’s making me sad, so German gets even more appealing lol. I am so glad to know colleges won’t fault me for not taking a super hard science load.
