<p>By the time I finish high school, I'll have about 36 credits from dual-enrollment. Because I want to transfer these credits to whatever school I go to, should I apply as a transfer student? I was accepted to and have been attending a local state college (yes, accredited) for a year. I'll also probably have my Associate of Arts by the time I graduate. I'm really confused about the difference between a transfer student and a high school student looking to transfer dual-enrollment credits. Can someone give me some advice?</p>
<p>Hey, chippednails. I’d be glad to help.</p>
<p>I’m sort of in the same boat as you, though I’ll be graduating with an Associates in the Arts and will be attending a small private school rather than a local state college.</p>
<p>First, I am assuming that you are currently a senior in high school, correct? If so, I’m also assuming that the 36 credits that you took satisfy both your high school graduation requirements and college core requirements for your Associates degree. This is the primary definition of “dual-enrollment”, also called “dual-credit”.</p>
<p>Thus, a transfer student is defined as: “A college student who is transferring from one college to another and is obtaining credit for some or all of the coursework completed at the prior institution.”</p>
<p>So, say a Senior in high school applies to a local state college. They would NOT be a transfer student because the credits they earned were through dual-enrollment/dual-credit.</p>
<p>But say if that same student went to a local state college and stayed there for one semester, THEN they would be a transfer student. Do you see how that works?</p>
<p>Now, here’s where the complexity begins.</p>
<p>Depending on what school your transferring to, it really depends how the school is going to look at your dual-credits and your work at the local state college. The best thing to do is to visit the schools transfer website or call their admissions office. They’ll definitely work with you, for the most part.</p>
<p>Also, when you say that you’ll have your Associates when you graduate — you mean in a year? Are you attending a local state community college or an actual university? If so, make sure your institution grants Associates degrees.</p>