<p>Im a sophomore and my school only offers 3 APs next year. Its not good enough if I go for the top 25 colleges, so I plan to self study more.
Should I self study 2 of the AP courses (AP stat, US government, micro/macro economics) or should I go to the local community college to take these courses and have community college credits?</p>
<p>AP courses vs. community college credits, which one college weigh most?
(Suppose I would get good scores on both) Thanks.</p>
<p>If you’re only a sophomore, it may not even be possible for you to take community college courses. Are you talking about for your junior year? (Some schools are already done for the year, so it’s hard to tell.)</p>
<p>Also, taking three community college courses might be difficult due to scheduling - college is very different than high school - and also caps that colleges usually put on the number of credits high school students can take. My local community college, for example, caps students at 8 credits, so that typically means two courses their entire time in high school. Those sorts of caps are the norm, though the number of credits varies.</p>
<p>I would say that the three courses you’ve proposed might be too ambitious. Focus on one college course in a single semester and then take the rest at your school.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/235249-ap-courses-vs-community-college-courses.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/235249-ap-courses-vs-community-college-courses.html</a></p>
<p>It would be best to check with the schools you are applying to. I do not think that most schools would look at your application any differently, but it may affect if those courses are accepted by the college when you go there. Some may only accept a certain number of APs, meaning that you should probably take more CCs instead of self study APs. On the other hand, sometimes CC courses aren’t accepted when you transfer them to a university. Check with your top college choices and/or a community college adviser (they can actually be helpful, I’ve talked to one!) to see how they roll.</p>
<p>Personally, I opt for AP over CC, if available. Look for online CC or AP courses (In Virginia, I have taken AP courses online for free, and next year I’m taking online CC courses) if they are not offered at your school, as they fit more easily into your high school schedule, and an online course would ensure a good AP grade more than plain self-study (though if you’re up to it, go for it).</p>
<p>THANKS TO YOU BOTH!
the colleges which I am interested in don’t give credits to either AP or CC. and AP or CC courses won’t change my school GPA either, so I don’t care.
the only thing I care is which one would made my college appl. look better, so I will be admitted.
freznow, why do you like AP over CC ? AP is harder, do college weight it more? Thanks</p>
<p>I chose APs because they are more convenient for me to take. (I do not have to pay for them, I do not have to go to a different campus, I do not have to adapt my already dense schedule to them, etc.) I do not know exactly how universities will view it, but one thing going for APs is that the college is assured of the rigorous nature of the course. CC courses are more iffy. And, if I were part of admissions decisions, I’d rather see a student that utilizes the opportunities given by their school, only going on to other things when those opportunities are exhausted. That would show loyalty and support for a school, which would hopefully translate into loyalty and support for the college. However, I’m not part of admissions, so I’m not sure exactly how they may see it.</p>
<p>One thing I’m not exactly clear on about your situation: Would your self study of the APs mean you get no grade/credit? If you do not get a credit, the colleges will only see the AP exam grade. If this is the case, then go for CC courses.</p>
<p>My school actually has 100% online enrollment because we cannot offer enough courses for everyone. I’m getting the first 2 years off college out of the way while I’m in high school through online college courses and face-to-face college courses with my local CC. While there is a valid argument for not replacing APs with College courses, you can take the AP exam after the college course. For me, AP courses are available online, but they go at a slow pace and earn less college credit than CC courses. Besides, high school isn’t about spending all day in an online lab just to impress colleges. </p>
<p>If I helps, my goal is to go to my state university (a top 30 school) and graduate with 2 majors and a minor in 2 years, when I’m only 20 years old. A few rankings higher isn’t worth 2 more years just to retake what you’ve already had.</p>
<p>Also, I’ve taken 3 AP classes online. Frankly, I don’t see the point of AP and find myself against the program. I can’t tell you which will look better, but CC classes may be the better choice… but see if you can take advanced courses instead of just intro courses like the AP program offers.</p>
<p>I’d say AP for sure. AP Tests are standardized whereas community colleges are not. I went to some college seminar hosted by Duke, Harvard, Penn, Stanford, and Georgetown last fall and all of the schools basically said they don’t count community college credit. I know a girl who was extremely disappointed with this since she took 0 AP’s and almost all community college classes. I don’t know where you plan on applying, but I’d say self study AP if you’re planning on applying at top flight schools</p>
<p>I’d say AP courses because it’s probably more convenient to you. However, see if you can enroll for one or two classes through running start or something at a community college. I do classes for my IB diploma/HS diploma (6 classes then my optional elective), and I take chemistry/pre-calc (and will take calc as a senior) through a community college, and during the school year I don’t pay for the CC classes, because I do them through running start. I am also getting an optional art credit by doing Art-History!</p>
<p>I think it depends on the school and the situation.</p>
<p>Our school offers CC classes on campus. They students pay a small amount (I think about $160 per class) and they don’t have to travel to a separate campus. The classes meet 3x per week (part of the regular school schedule) and for the other 2 days, the kids have free periods. For my son, his schedule is full so those will be the only study periods he will have during the day.</p>
<p>My son will be taking a mix next year. AP classes in the areas that directly impact his college major (Physics, Calculus) and CC classes for the others (English and Govt/Econ).</p>
<p>Thanks you all, it seems everyone has better luck than me. I envy you guys 
There is neither online AP courses nor CC courses (running start) provided by my school. If I want to take any more than the 3 APs my school offers, the money and time are both on me :(. It will not change my school GPA either.</p>
<p>I’ve 2 plans,</p>
<p>Plan 1.
Take 1CC in summer and 1CC in fall along with the 3 APs from school, so I’m done with CC in this year, so I can just focus on 3 AP tests in next May. I’m also in a spring sports team, so Spring is my busiest season.
Pro: lighter work load, more time for preparing for the 3APs and doing spring sports.
Con: I doubt CC courses will grab the college’s eye. I took a CC course before; I know my local CC courses aren‘t up to par with AP courses. Just hope out of state colleges don’t know it.</p>
<p>Plan 2.
I’ll start to study 2 APs this summer, and finish them at some point next school year, and take 5 AP tests in next May.
Pro: AP is a standardized test and all colleges acknowledge it. I might have the title “AP scholar with distinction” before I send my college appl. Is this title useful? Anyone know?
Con: Heavy work load, I have not taken any AP courses before, I don’t know whether I can handle it, It will be a busiest Spring ever in my life. Pressure! I must get 5 in 5 Aps.</p>
<p>What should I do?</p>
<p>To freznow,
I do want to show loyalty to my school, how can I?
Your advice is good; I’ll take online AP courses, and at least I’ll have grade/credit for the AP course. (If I can’t take AP test in May) I don’t know which online class is good. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>To aigiqinf,
Congrats to you.
If I had a good CC as you had, I‘d follow your route.</p>
<p>To rk33,
Agree with you, thanks for the info.</p>
<p>To Poseidonj,
My school doesn’t have running start,
IB diploma student? You are great:-)</p>
<p>To Grcxx3,
Thanks:-)</p>
<p>OP: This is really simple:
Take the 2 CC courses on statistics&government OR macro/microeconomics, depending on your field of interests. ALONG with those CC classes, invest a little extra time studying for the AP tests for the respective courses, then take 5 tests in May. The stuff covered at CC will cover most of what the AP tests cover, anyways.</p>
<p>Do you live in Florida? Florida Virtual School is free for Florida residents and $375 for a one semester course. Those numbers are according to wikipedia though, so they could be wrong</p>
<p>Just to let you know, college won’t care if you’ve only taken 3 APs you as long as you’ve taken the most challenging courseload in your school. Like, I would still encourage you to try to take online AP classes, do self studys, or take CC classes, but you can still get into top-25 colleges if you don’t do any of those, just because your high school doesn’t offer anything better.</p>
<p>Local friends of mine here have encouraged their children to take the community college (or state university) courses and then also take the matching AP tests. That kind of both-and approach maximizes the chance of fitting college admission, placement, and credit requirements.</p>
<p>I agree with the person who said that schools won’t punish you for your school not offering harder classes. </p>
<p>I can only take 4 APs next year, and I plan on doing everything through the school over the next year and a half. I don’t see myself self-studying AP courses unless my school will cap the number I can take senior year. Besides, the CCs in my area are totally garbage and classes are harder at my high school. </p>
<p>My mom’s high school offered no APs or Honors, and she got into two Ivies RD. The colleges will know what classes you took vs. classes available at school.</p>
<p>To complicate matters, the valedictorian this year at my school self-studied several APs over the past two years and got into Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, and Stanford. This guy is amazing and he’ll enjoy his time in New Haven the next year four years.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and I advise you to stick with APs! :)</p>
<p>I think you’re looking at things from the wrong end. What seems to succeed is that your application tell a story - for example, you took marine bio at the cc because your school didn’t offer it, and you spent the previous summer at a camp on the coast where you developed an interest in marine life. Or you took a language AP exam, even though your school didn’t offer that language, because you had the interest, had some opportunity to study the language and preparing for the exam actually helped you learn the language.</p>
<p>I think students (this is from a parent) ought to read and believe what colleges say about what kind of student they are looking for. When I read posts from HS students asking if X or Y looks ‘better’, I don’t think those kids are getting it at all. It’s not about who can rack up the most AP exams, or endure multiple SAT sittings. Colleges say they look at a student’s accomplishment in light of what was offered at the HS. Simply adding CC or AP courses because they are ‘notches’ on your belt isn’t as impressive, IMO, as a narrative that describes a student’s efforts to get the education they crave. Your ‘story’ should make sense - your interest leads you from A to B, and this is how you overcame obstacles to get to C. Competitive colleges have limited spaces. Why wouldn’t they award those spaces to the students who seemed to have a point to the work they’ve done, rather than just being very good at doing the work? If you approach your education this way, the essays will write themselves. Almost. I’m not suggesting that HS students have to know what their life long passion is; just that if you learn in HS how to pursue an interest, you can surely apply those skills to the next thing that captures your fancy.</p>
<p>^^^^^^^^^^^I agree so much with the above poster!! Excellent advice and the OP should heed this parent’s message!!!</p>
<p>aw, thanks.</p>