Colleges' perspective of outside high schools vs community college on math classes

Applying to College
1

Hello,

I’m taking differential equations (and will be taking multivariable and linear algebra as well) at a WASC-accredited high school (other than my normal high school, which does not offer these classes) rather than a local community college because of schedule constraints. As far as I can tell, the material is the same as the equivalent college-level courses. So will colleges view the classes I take equally as someone who took them at a community college, or will they not consider them as much?

2

You are more likely get transfer credit or advanced placement for college courses than high school courses.

3

Thanks for your reply.
Colleges still offer the opportunity to test out of required undergraduate math classes, right? And I also wanted to know whether they view them differently from an academic standpoint rather than eligibility for credit.

4

This can depend on the college, math department, and the department of your major.

5

Every college treats this differently and sometimes it depends on how the class is reported on your transcript. Some schools will not give you credit for college class IF it shows up on your high school transcript, which often they do if you’re dual enrolled. My daughter took Calc 3 at a local college and we went around and around with her school about how to handle it because we knew the credits would not be accepted at at least one of the schools where she was applying if she was dual enrolled and it showed up on her high school transcript. It would have been a hassle to handle it any other way though AND it would have impacted the cost of the class. We finally decided to just let it go because it didn’t seem worth the hassle since we weren’t sure exactly where she was going to go and she was taking the class more for the knowledge than the credit. It turned out that her college required her to retake the class, but she was OK with that. It’s a MUCH harder class where she is enrolled than where she took it and as a STEM major she needs a good math foundation.

SO, I guess my advice is if you are mainly worried about how it will “look” to schools: either looks great. You challenged yourself with a rigorous course load. Good for you!

6

If you’re asking “will highly selective colleges view advanced math classes taken at a high school the same way they would view the same classes taken at a community college?” I think the answer is probably yes.

From my experience, highly selective schools are more impressed with advanced coursework done at other highly selective colleges than the same courses taken at high schools or community colleges.

7

Thanks, that makes sense.

8

You’re fine. Point is, you’re taking the classes. Do well. Consider a LoR from one of those teachers.

High school classes, even highly advanced, may not be at the level of a top college. But a local low level college may not offer that, either.

Few kids get to take these courses at a local “highly selective.” Not how it works.

Just don’t count on these courses alone tipping you in. Learn what more it takes.

9

Yeah, I’ve already asked letters of rec from my teacher there for programs and such. Thanks for your input