I was accepted to American University for the spring semester of 2016 and I am worried that I will be behind the rest of my classmates and I want to keep busy while I wait to go to AU. Is it possible I could take classes at my local community college for the summer and fall and transfer my credits over or am I not allowed to do that?
You need to ask AU whether or not those credits would transfer. If they won’t, find something else to do for the summer or fall.
Nevermind I misread your question.
Anyways, do what the above poster said.
Most universities are fine with community college courses, provided you check with them to see about transferability of the specific ones you plan to take.
Don’t worry. You can always enroll classes at CC as long as you are not seeking a degree there. When you register at CC, you do have the choice to specify. Whether the credits can be transfer would depend on the university you are going to enroll. You may ask the counselor at CC and they should have some information. Many students actually take prerequisites at CC before the term starts. My D is going to take a summer class at CC after freshmen year so she can save some time.
Check with American. There are two potential issues: 1) whether American will accept the classes, and 2) there is a chance that taking CC classes will make you a transfer student and no longer eligible for freshman aid. If your only concern is getting stale you can take Coursera courses.
Check with American. My S’s college did not accept CC classes once a student was admitted to the school.
…and you won’t be “behind”…you just started later and will finish later.