<p>Since my high school doesn't offere any AP's they do a distance learning program through our local community college. Seniors take almost all of their regular classes through the community college and are taught by the actual community college professor but they never leave the school. The professor teaches through a television....My question is, do colleges know that my school doesn't offer AP classes and will taking these distance learning classes look better or worse than AP's do?</p>
<p>Colleges do know about each high school and they definitely compare what your transcript to what is offered at each high school. Taking AP courses is not the factor that is important. What is important is that you take the most difficult curriculum possible at the high school.</p>
<p>The college knows about the high school for two reasons. 1) Each HS includes its profile along with your official transcript. The profile describes factors at the school such as average gpa, racial breakdown, # of AP courses offered, and so on. The exact format of the profile differs a lot, but it will say what AP courses are offered. (The exact format of the transcript differs a lot, too.) 2) Each college has an admissions officer for each geographic region. It is their job to understand the different types of high schools in that region.</p>
<p>Being in the distance learning program is probably the most difficult curriculum at your HS, and that will count for a whole lot. You might talk to your GC and insure that it is emphasized in her rec.</p>
<p>Colleges also look for geographic diversity and like to have students from every state.</p>
<p>I guess my D is hosed then. Two of the APs that she signed up for Sr. year (Studio Art and Computer Science) were cancelled because not enough kids signed up. She tried to arrange for independent study, but you have to get a teacher to sponsor you, and the teachers couldn't be bothered. </p>
<p>She could have substituted spanish or social studies APs, but she dislikes those subjects, and chose non-honors, non-AP classes instead that she would enjoy (Digital Electronics and Painting). The school 'profile' will show that she passed on all these possibilities - Art, CS, Spanish and SS.</p>