I have a current high school junior. She is taking several dual credit classes, whereby she receives college credit for the class, as well. By the time she graduates high school, she will have approximately 15 hours of college credit.
As such, does this mean that she will be considered a transfer student, rather than a prototypical freshman? Would she still be eligible for incoming freshman scholarships and such?
Thanks in advance!
No. As the credits were earned before HS graduation, she would be considered a freshman applicant.
Note that not all colleges will give credit for those DE courses. At us unlikely that crefir6will be granted by private colleges or out-of-state publics.
Credits earned while still in high school do not change the incoming status - she’ll still be a new freshman. She may get a higher priority in registering for classes or other perks.
Some schools allow students to retain “freshman” status even for credits earned after hs graduation for application and merit scholarships, but make sure to check before taking those after graduation courses. I’ve seen some schools allow up to 26 credits before being considered a transfer student.
My nephew had something like 39 credits from AP and dual enrollment (all earned while in high school) when he started college, but he was still a freshman.
Generally, college enrollment or credit before leaving high school does not disqualify a student from frosh admission or scholarship status. Both high school and college records will be used when applying to colleges.
It is only college enrollment or credit after leaving high school that may disqualify a student from frosh admission or scholarship status, but the exact criteria may vary from one college to another.
Note that if the student enrolls in a college after leaving high school and later applies to transfer to a different college or to graduate or professional school, any college enrollment or credit, including while a high school student, must be included in that application.