<p>so i figured there was a way for high school students to take summer classes over the summer. I'm just wondering if there is any difference between taking a class at local college( like univ. of Maryland) and taking it at community college. What's better? I know for a fact that it's much cheaper at local cc, but i'm aware of the fact that it's less competitive than that of CP's. The year is ending(2 weeks left) and i have to decide quickly. I have credit problems due to my postion as a transferred student, so i wanna free one spot in my schedule next year by getting one credit over this summer. well, my questions are:</p>
<p>1) Would you recommend taking a summer class over the summer at local cc or state school?</p>
<p>2) How is the competitiveness compared to the AP classes offered by my high school (pretty good public school)?</p>
<p>3) Which of the following subject would you recommend to take? Bio AP, Physics Ap, Chem Ap.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading, btw i'm rising senior.</p>
<p>I can't comment on your specific situation, but in Calif it's pretty well known that equivalent classes at our community colleges are much easier than AP courses in competitive high schools.</p>
<p>Taking anyone of those sciences at the University, however, would put you in competition with many premeds at that school, so the curve is likely to be extremely difficult unless you are particularly strong in the subject matter, and have the prereqs, such as honors Bio in HS. Also, if you are planning on taking the AP test next May, you would likely forget a lot of material once the class ends in August. But, then again, you might not need the AP credit if your college credit is transferable. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>In my opinion summer college courses should be taken to supplement the highschool offerings, not in the place of them, most of the time. Or they should be taken for subjects of interest not addressed by the highschool, or to accelerate the highschool progression for some students. I do not recommend taking the courses so that you can take an easier course load at your highschool In general, college do like to compare you with your peers so if youa re taking a light load at highschool but taking the other courses in community or local colleges, you may not fare so well in comparision. SOme of these schools do not have very competitive students and the courses are slanted to a lower level than the AP courses which are taught to a national standard with an exam to see if the info was absorbed. </p>
<p>If you have credit problem due to transfer, that is perfectly good reason to take a course at a local college. Pick the one that suits YOU the best. It would help to see what courses you have already, what you need and what you intend to take as a senior. If you are intending to go into the sciences, it might be a good idea to take the course at a more competitive school than the community college. If you are taking the course as a stepping stone, it is not so important. For instance, I know some kids taking Bio at the comm college, because they want to take AP bio next year in highschool rather than the regular bio. The sequencing for AP bio requres chem and at least some bio seminar before taking it. By taking a summer bio course, they will be in good shape for AP Bio and chem next year (sophomore year) and can take AP Chem and AP physic the year after, and they can then do indepedent study sciences their senior year or reverse senior and junior year. It isn't important where they take the college bio because they are topping it off with the AP course which from what I can see puts them in very good shape for a top score on the exams and a most thorough grounding of the subject rather than flying by the seat of the pants going right into AP Bio.</p>
<p>I am of an opinion similiar to jamimom, in that courses taken over the summer shouldn't be entirely tailored towards college admissions. (Then again, I am of the opinion that you should never do anything solely to put it down on paper. It's like selling your soul to adcoms.) Anyways, with this idea in mind, it doesn't really matter where you take the courses, so long as you are challenged reasonably with the workload. I make my summer plans by keeping in mind the challenge, then convenience - both geographically and financially.</p>
<p>As for the 'competitiveness' of said classes with AP classes, there often is a HUGE difference between AP courses and intro college classes. Granted, you have those easy slack classes here and there in classes, but students with a lot of AP sometimes go to college thinking they can handle the workload. And they can, but not to the point of coasting. That is my personal experience 1. with taking summer classes at BU in my junior summer 2. watching kids go to UMCP and UMBC (which is where you seem to be talking about) and come back to talk about it. The science classes at CP in particular are said to be noticeably more accelerated during the summer, which, in addition to the curve, makes it a lot tougher than AP. The local CC around here, Montgomery College, tends to have easier classes about on level with AP (maybe harder, depends on what you take. Statics for Physics isn't a laugh, but some Eng and Phil is about the same as AP).</p>