<p>I wanted to impress colleges by taking online courses. Would Coursera be acceptable?</p>
<p>You really shouldn’t be doing anything for the sole purpose of impressing colleges because if you aren’t driven or passionate about it - colleges can smell it a mile away.</p>
<p>lol exactly ^ so glad someone gets it… in all seriousness, if you’re living your 4 years to impress colleges, you’re living a sad life.</p>
<p>with that said, sure it helps, but I think only a little. It shows you’re willing to take a more filled courseload, but really it depends on the class. a self-taught AP class is way better than a drivers ed course.</p>
<p>why do you want to self studyy?</p>
<p>im not just doing it for colleges, i am taking the course in genetics, which is something that i am very interested in. what im trying to say is that would it look impressive to take additional courses that relates to something that i want to do in the future.</p>
<p>Did the OP say he/she was doing it just for the admission boost? Or did he/she just ask a question?</p>
<p>The answer to the question is “somewhat; it would help how they decide the rigor of your coursework”.</p>
<p>Then sure?</p>
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<p>I wasn’t aware colleges had mind-reading abilities.</p>
<p>You should be doing what you want to because you genuinely enjoy it, not to impress colleges. People kiss up to colleges too much, and it’s really pathetic how they wouldn’t even care if colleges didn’t care. Students in high school are pretty much taught to be phonies nowadays.</p>
<p>(I don’t know why people on here always act like doing anything to impress a college = being a complete sellout and losing your individuality. Some people have genuine passion but aren’t good at conveying it, and some people are really good at feigning interests, and I think it’s arrogant for a college to believe they can tell the difference after two seconds of looking at an application.)</p>
<p>But I don’t think Coursera courses would impress them any more than, say, self-studying an AP test would impress them. It’s a fairly common thing.</p>
<p>thank u halcyonheather</p>
<p>Which course on genetics are you taking? Is it “Genes and the Human Condition”? Because I think I might be taking the same one!</p>
<p>i think its “useful genetics”!</p>
<p>Yes, it would benefit a college’s perception, but likely only in the idea that it shows that you are highly interested in a certain field. </p>
<p>However, that Coursera stuff can be lethal. If a course requires 10+ hours a week, then it would be better for college if you were just taking an online AP course or self-studying during that time. Remember AP’s have special awards based upon the number of tests and the average score you get. Also, AP’s can allow you to have space to study abroad, graduate early or with multiple majors [or minors/certificates] and even move into graduate-level courses [Very important for resumes when applying to jobs and grad school]</p>
<p>+1 halcyonheather, she really knows what she’s talking about, pretty good poster.</p>
<p>Oh, “Useful Genetics”? I’m taking that one too!</p>