Do college courses help in admissions?

<p>So over the summer I took 2 college courses at a Top 20 liberal arts school - and got A's (4.0) in both. They were with a professor from the college, alongside other college students, and for credit at that school. In other words, they were high-level, rigorous college courses - not at all like dual enrollment or community college courses or anything like that.</p>

<p>So I'm wondering, will this help a lot in college admissions (to the elite schools)?
From my impression of the admissions process, colleges have different criteria they look into, like the high school GPA and transcript (which is the most important), and then another, far minor criterion is whether the applicant spent their summers productively and challengingly.</p>

<p>Basically, I'm sure that these college courses will help in college admissions, but I'm not sure how much. Will it just count a little by showing that I spend my summers well and don't just laze around, or will it count a lot - like, as much or more as my high school transcript - by showing that I can definitely handle college work?</p>

<p>After all, admissions officers say that the reason they care about high school grades so much is because it's an indicator of whether the applicant will be able to excel academically at their school. So you'd think that taking college classes would be a far better indicator of whether the applicant can do well at their college, since they already <em>have</em> done well in good college courses.</p>

<p>See what I mean? Only I have no idea if this is true or not, beyond conjecture. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>Yes.</p>

<p>Or at least, it can’t hurt.</p>

<p>Yea, they show that you took more rigorous courses. I took 2 college math classes and a college physics class last year. I’m sure it’ll help for college admissions.</p>

<p>I have come to the conclusion that college classes in high school are not something college adcoms seem to care about. My reasoning is that 80%+ of those who apply to top schools are undeniably able to handle the coursework. Thus it comes down to “building a class,” and keeping those SAT/GPA averages up for the national rankings.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>They will NOT count as much as your HS transcript. Your HS transcript covers many classes over a 3.5 year period (some of which are likely college level) vs. 2 summer college courses. It’s good that you showed that you’re interested in academics, that you’re challenging yourself, that you can do college level work (although summer coursework is not always regarded to be as rigorous as during the school year), etc., but to think that it’s going to count as much as your HS record is pie in the sky.</p>

<p>They will help with admissions. Even though most top students are prepared to be successful at college, there are some high achievers with 4.0 HS GPA’s who have a difficult time managing their college work. You have already proven you managed to get to class, read the syllabus, write the paper, and get a good grade.</p>

<p>Despite all the people who talk about how APs are “college level work”, very few AP courses will be anything like a college course. Demonstrating that you can ace actual college level classes will certainly be a significant help to you.</p>

<p>^I agree. I took 2 college classes last year, at nearby colleges. My high school transcript only shows the 4 AP classes I took there, and I will send the college class transcripts separately. I’m almost sure that it’ll help, by indicating that you had a heavier courseload.</p>

<p>

None of my high school classes are college level (and I go to an excellent school); the AP courses are probably community college level I’d guess.</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m not sure I really see why high school classes over a 3.5 year time are a better indicator of how well one will succeed academically in college than actual college courses.</p>

<p>And if that’s not the reason that admissions officers care so much about transcripts, then what is? Could it really just be about the numbers and rankings like aigiqinf says?
I don’t think maintaining a simple stat is the reason that the high school transcript is the #1 piece of an application? Anyway, I don’t even think most top colleges publish the GPA Average. I don’t think I’ve seen a single “elite” college display that stat on their website or anywhere. Certainly they keep test score averages, though, but I don’t think GPA…</p>

<p>^^^You asked for input, I gave you mine. You are certainly free to assume anything you like, but there’s really no point in asking when you’ve obviously got it all figured out.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>The reason GPA is not readily published is because there is a great variation in high schools. A 4.0 from a student at a large public school where only a small percentage attend college is different from a student from a (using a local school as an example) small private school with 50 grads whose valedictorian got a 3.82 where everybody attends a 4 year university, and 85% of grads get an acceptance offer from a “top 50” school. Big difference. </p>

<p>In the adcoms eyes, SAT/ACT scores are designed to help equalize the discrepancy.</p>

<p>I still think the high school transcript is more important, since it indicates how well you did over 3+ years. It’s a more complete, and longer term record than a couple of isolated college courses.</p>

<p>

I just responded, trying to generate discussion. Sorry, I was sorta playing devil’s advocate a little.</p>

<p>Jason - yeah, I don’t think college courses count as much as a whole transcript/GPA, of course. Nor do I think they should. But do you think one single college course “counts” more than one single high school course (even a junior or senior year one)? I guess when one gets into such detail it’s hard to quantify (like, how much does one individual class (grade) count for anyway?), but just for speculative purposes…</p>