<p>Do a lot of smaller, less competitive universities allow high schoolers to dual enroll? I want to take some science courses at a university near me. Do you need to go through any special processes, etc?</p>
<p>Each college sets its own rules. In some states (for example mine), there is a regular state program for funding dual-enrollment studies, but some colleges opt out. Other states have less formal arrangements, but a lot of students in a lot of places do dual enrollment. </p>
<p><a href="http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005008.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005008.pdf</a></p>
<p>Yeah, i'm looking around and seeing some varying levels of rules for dual enrollment. I'm also homeschooled, and it seems like there's even more requirements for that. I might just go with community college classes, it's closer and it seems like I could easily enroll in that and possibly skip some lower level courses.</p>
<p>christi, quite a few public universities have programs that allow high schoolers to take college classes. Where we live it's called Early Entry and it's limtied to junior and senior level students. They get a very discounted tuition rate, and are allowed to register for lower division courses if space is available after the regular students have registered. My son appealed to a couple professors directly to enroll in upper division classes and they both allowed him to.</p>
<p>There is a step where your high shcool counselor has to sign off on your college registration. That's for 2 reasons. First they want to make sure your academically capable and also that you're not taking things at the college instead of other things at the high school that are graduation requirements, so that you won't be caught at the end of 12th grade with some unmet requirement.</p>
<p>Check with your local puclic univ. (There maybe some privates, too, for all I know, but we've dealt with and heard about this in public univ. and comm. college settings only.)</p>
<p>My kids are homeschooled too, christi. We didn't find any difficulty with them taking college classes. Actually it was easier because they weren't trying to work it around high school graduation requirements.</p>
<p>Just go directly to the college and ask how they handle dual enrollment for homeschoolers. You probably won't be the first homeschooler they've talked to!</p>
<p>Awesome, i'll probably call both the community college and the university near me. I will hopefully be using an umbrella school, so could my advisor sign off on that? </p>
<p>Also, any kind of test scores they might need? I've heard of some people getting actual placement tests, like COMPASS. I have ACT and SAT scores but they're not exactly the greatest right now.</p>
<p>My daughter needed to take the COMPASS test for two community college classes she took. It wasn't a requirement to take classes, though. It was used a placement exam so she could take a certain level of classes. </p>
<p>For the state univ. there wasn't any testing requirement, but I do know of one homeschooled kid who took in his test scores (he homeschooled through a public charter that required annual testing using one of the big standardized tests like Iowa Basic Skills or Calif. Achievement Test or something like that) and also a transcript of some online classes he took.</p>
<p>Both my kids and he also took the college's own math placement test when they wanted to register for math classes. That was expected of all students at the college, though.</p>
<p>However, every where that has such a program will have different ways of doing it. You just need to ask around and see what's available in your area.</p>
<p>My daughter had to present certain PSAT scores in order to register for classes. I've read that they would all transfer (as long as she received adequate grades) at Hunter/Macauley, which is on her list, so that would be good. For her, though, it was an opportunity to get outside the rigid list of classes for IB/regents. Even if they don't transfer, it'll be good for her.</p>
<p>My D is taking Arabic at the local CC this fall. Where we live, you have to be a junior to dual enroll, and only two college classes are allowed for HS credit. Every college has different requirements - she provided ACT scores (they also take SAT scored but not the PSAT, or you can take their placement test) and her HS transcript. She's doing it because she wants to pick up a third language and at the college level they cover in one semester what they cover in a year of HS language. </p>
<p>In this district, you can't take anything at a college that's offered at the HS. I wish she could dual enroll at college in Biology - her HS doesn't offer AP Bio except through an online class, and I don't think an online class would work for a science. How can it be a "lab science" without a lab? </p>
<p>I think it will be good for her. She "hates" HS, so she needs a different learning experience.</p>
<p>I'll give you my two cents:
As a graduate of a dual enrollment school, I am happy to have 45 college credits with a high school diploma at hand. It is quite convenient to be ahead of my friends because I will be saving approx. 1.5 years of college and money as well.
In addition to the mentioned benefits, I have been exposed to the "college" experience. I was in a college class, took relatively few tests in each, and felt the difference of the level of maturity in a college class.
All in all, it is quite beneficial for one to attend a dual enrollment school not just to get into a prestigious school, but to be well adapted to the college decorum and intellectual environment.</p>
<p>Both of my children have taken advantage of the California state program, which allows high school students to take coursework at local community colleges for free. Students can choose if they want the courses to count towards high school credit or college, but can't "double dip". My children took classes for a range of reasons. My son had advanced math courses because his school didn't offer them, and intro coursework in his possible college majors, to get a feel for them. My daughter is taking college coursework in a foreign language not offered by her school to fullfill the language requirements for graduation, and studio art classes to build her admissions portfolio. </p>
<p>Both of them had to have at least fairly modest GPA that's scaled based on your HS year -- freshmen have to have a higher GPA than seniors. They also had to have signed permission from the principal. While neither one did it just to look good on applications, it certainly doesn't hurt, I think. One of the college admissions folks we spoke to said that done thoughtfully, it suggests that the student put effort into finding challenges to suit his or her needs. </p>
<p>Of course, our family knew at the time that the courses wouldn't transfer to the colleges they would/will later attend -- that was never the point.</p>
<p>There is one HUGE advantage to duel enrollment: you generally get transfer credit for what you take if you choose your courses wisely. Surprisingly, this isn't as true with AP courses.</p>
<p>However, that said, the top college like AP better. Why? First, they can disallow the credit and get more money. Second, they know about the quality and content of AP courses and can campare that with other kids who take these courses. The quality and rigor of college courses, in the eyes of admission, can vary from school to school.</p>
<p>Thus, to increase your admission chances, take and do well in AP courses. To increase your credits that would be accepted towards your degree, duel enrollment is the better deal.</p>
<p>Frankly, I, for one, greatly prefer duel enrollment over taking any AP course. If you do very well in your college courses, it would be a tough pill to swallow to ingore how well you did in these actual college courses and insist that, "you didn't get a high enough score on your SATs."</p>
<p>Well, I'll put in my 2 cents, as I'm intimately involved with such a program.</p>
<p>I just finished my junior year of High School taking all of my classes except for one or two at Washington State University. Washington has this neat program called Running Start where the state will pay tuition for all classes that you want to take up to 18 semester-credits, and high schools will put all of those credits on your transcript, and if you choose to continue schooling in Washington, those college credits can be used a la "double-dipping" (herein lies the reason as to why the program exists; it's mainly to keep WA's talented in-state). I could probably enroll as a junior once I finish high school.</p>
<p>I estimate that I will have completed over 80 semester-credits (nearing 20 college classes) by the time I have finished high school, and the experience is definitely well worth it. It certainly distinguishes one from the competition, and allows one to take such a breadth of courses that it's just amazing. Already, I've finished the entire math sequence up to multivariable calculus and linear algebra and I still have one more year. I've finished basic chemistry and biology (equivalent to AP in content), and will continue next year into organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, and anatomy. I'm also going to do calculus-based physics for two semesters, as well as two levels of French in one year. I can finish the classes I need to graduate all the quicker, which leaves time for me to do the classes I want to do. American History is done, but this allows me to take History of Science, which looks interesting and would never be offered at my joke of a high school (I love it, but 2 AP courses? Come on...)</p>
<p>Sure, these credits may never be accepted at highly selective colleges, but they will help me to get in, and I'm certainly enjoying the academic freedom I have. One of my friends who was a senior last year managed to take enough courses (granted, he started some in middle school and is a certified genius) that he knew enough to get on the US Team for the International Physics Olympiad and earned a Master's Degree in Physics at the age of 17; he's now at Princeton majoring in Physics.</p>
<p>As for AP...personally, I think it's much easier to just take DE classes and then sign up for whatever tests you want to take. And my GPA is barely affected; sure, I don't have a 4.0 anymore (3.98, I think), but that's mainly due to my philosophy of winging most things not working in college classes. It's better that I've learned it now than go to college and get screwed over learning the lesson of hard work. I would've been caught like a deer in headlights without this experience, I think.</p>
<p>One last thing: I know that this may not apply much to a lot of the folks at CC (sterotype alert!), but for those concerned about missing out on the "high school" experience; you don't have to take as many courses as I did, and even if you do, the high-school experience is somewhat overrated and there are plenty of options to get involved, anyways.</p>
<p>Also, I agree with TrinSF completely; the fact that I will get college credits is definitely not the reason to do it. You take courses for the experience, not just for credits. It's a process of learning, not just a means to the end of getting some numbers on a piece of paper.</p>
<p>For those curious as to why I would want to get into a highly selective college like an Ivy instead of just finishing college in 2 years...some programs are better than others (though there are great schools in WA, especially the University of Washington), and I think 4 years in college instead of trying to skip ahead is worth it. I'll have more time to explore internships, study abroad, take more classes and do all the things that make college a unique experience; it's not like I'll ever have this opportunity again.</p>
<p>Other people have already made a bunch of well-reasoned points that I could elaborate on, but I think I'll stop for the moment...this was more like a dollar worth of thoughts, not two cents. :)</p>
<p>It's not always about the credits (though they are nice to have). Taking extra classes at a community college, or a nearby college during high school can also help you shape what you want to do in the future. I find it kind of interesting when my peers tell me they want to study architecture, sociology, or astronomy when they haven't even taken a class on the subject. </p>
<p>There are also many college essay prompts out there that ask "Explain why have you chosen this particular major?" or something along those lines. I found that the college courses I took during my high school career helped with these prompts so much.</p>
<p>It's also when you're in an interview. A common question is "why do you want to study ____". Saying that you've taken a college class on the subject (being that the major isn't something common like bio, chem, english, etc.), can be impressive, since it's better than "my parents did it", or "It sounds cool".</p>
<p>It would allow more time for dual major if I finish with 60 credits at high school graduation.</p>
<p>I'm actually taking college classes at a local cc right now. I started in 9th grade and I'll be a senior next year. I would like to complete my AA in math before I graduate hs. I'm taking AP classes at school, along with classes at the cc. I've taken 10 APs so far, and 45+ college credits. Would the Ivies be appreciative of this?</p>
<p>Ivy admission officers would be "appreciative" but that doesn't mean you'd get college credit for your CC classes. Your best bet for credit is from good scores on AP exams. However, Ivy adcoms will indeed take note of the fact that you have challenged yourself since 9th grade by taking college classes and aiming for an AA degree while still in high school. </p>
<p>You can talk to admission officials about applying as a transfer, not a freshman, if you prefer. However, if you took the college classes for high school credit, you may not get the okay to do that. If you took them on top of your high school credits, you might.</p>
<p>There's no particular reason to seek an associate's degree as a dual-enrollment student. That may cause more problems (causing you to be treated as a transfer applicant rather than as a freshman applicant) than benefits. Ask the admission officers at any college of interest to you, for example at regional information sessions. </p>
<p>Ditto what tokenadult said about having an associate's degree. That means nothing unless it is where you stop your education. Any in-state school that has to accept an AA will also accept any credits you earn at the cc.</p>
<p>At any school, there are certain courses that you are required to take to earn a degree in a specific major. Having an AA will not exempt you from any of those requirements. Therefore, it would be a waste of time and effort to take any courses the cc requires in order to earn an AA unless you will also need those courses for a) h.s. graduation, b) degree requirements or electives at your future university, or c) your personal interest/wanting to be better prepared for university courses.</p>
<p>As to "what's the rush?", that isn't always the goal. Both of our S's have had 40+ hours of dual-credit courses. They were home schooled, and some of those hours were just to fulfill our h.s. requirements for them. Even with all of those hours, neither S will graduate early. They are both on ROTC scholarships, so they have to take 18-24 credits of ROTC courses in addition to their degree requirements, so those DE credits "leave room" for that. Also, it allows them not to carry a heavy course load, so that's nice.</p>
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That means nothing unless it is where you stop your education.
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<p>Well, it would help for part-time work during college. :p</p>