<p>My counselor told my class that when we start applying to colleges(which I have been) that even if we're taking college classes (dual credit and/or on campus classes) that we say "no" when colleges ask if if we've taken college classes. She says that the colleges will think you're a transfer student and the colleges will be waiting for you college transcript (or something like that).</p>
<p>I'm taking one ap, and two college classes on the campus of the college. Is that true what my guidance counselor told us? If I do mark "no" that i'm not taking college classes, then i'm afraid that the colleges i'm applying to will think that i have gaps in my school schedule and be like "what is he doing...?" since they aren't seeing that i'm taking college courses.</p>
<p>What do I do? Is my guidance counselor right?</p>
<p>Your counselor is wrong. It’s fine to dual enroll by taking college courses while one is in high school. You are right in that colleges look favorably on that. In addition, colleges want to see the transcript of those courses, and will calculate those grades into your gpa (which colleges calculate themselves based on their own criteria). You will not be considered a transfer student due to having taken college courses while in h.s.</p>
<p>Since it’s unwise to take advice on such an important issue from strangers on Internet boards, I also suggest that you contact colleges admissions offices to verify what I’ve told you. You can do this anonymously by calling or e-mailing.</p>
<p>You’re counselor is whacked out. Why would you take a college class in high school and then not let the colleges know that you’ve been doing higher level work? Seriously, ignore what your counselor said. If they still try to persuade you to not let the colleges know, tell them to go find another job cause they don’t know what they’re talking about.</p>
<p>Your counselor’s advice is so flat out wrong that I’d suggest triple checking anything your counselor tells you. Also, use CC and get a good college guide because you can’t rely on your counselor at all.</p>
<p>Just joining the choir and urging you be very careful about anything your GC tells you since what you’ve reported above is so absolutely wrong. I agree with NSM, this is important, so seek out some other reliable resources to inform you about college admissions.</p>
<p>Yes, you will need to send the college transcript, but that only supports the fact that you took higher level courses while in HS, it in no way makes you a transfer applicant. College courses only make you a transfer student when you take them AFTER graduating from HS.</p>
<p>As a college counselor in a high school, I will say this information is most definitely incorrect. There are two different points here-</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You will need to send a transcript to the college you choose to attend (after you graduate) from the college you are now attending to get the credits at your future college. Do not rely on the recorded grade on your high school transcript as most colleges will not accept those grades for credit. Some colleges will not give you credit for a class if you received credit in high school for the same class. This is on a college by college basis.</p></li>
<li><p>College classes taken in the summer AFTER graduation may jeopardize your admit status as a freshmen (ie put you in transfer status) but not always. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>When in doubt, call the college.</p>
<p>Double check EVERYTHING your counselor tells you until you are out of there.</p>
<p>I’m going to add a different piece of advice
Is your program like a dual enrollment? does it count for HS and College credit?
If it does, don’t put that you have taken college classes, instead have it in your GC rec… our kid who got into yale did it like that</p>
<p>Both my kids took college classes before applying to college for real. They put them down, no problem.</p>
<p>When you fill out your application you will indicate whether you’re applying as a first-time freshman or a transfer student. No confusion is caused by having taken college classes as long as you apply as a first time freshman. The colleges to which you’re applying may have different policies about accepting those credits. My daughter’s college did. My son’s did not (nor did he expect them to.)</p>
<p>Is the GC so wrong? I thought I heard if you took too many college courses while in high school (not APs), you could be viewed as a transfer rather than as a freshman applicant.</p>
<p>My D did dual enrollment and just put it down on the application as taking college classes while in HS. It was on her HS record and she sent in course descriptions and the college transcript, it wasn’t a problem.</p>
<p>oldfort, the OP is taking 2 college classes, I’m assuming sr year.</p>
<p>The GC is very wrong. Prospective transfer students and undergrads sometimes don’t even do the same application. Even if they do, “Undergraduate” is clearly marked, as opposed to “Transfer.”</p>
<p>My son took 10 college classes and he was still considered a freshman when he applied. His enrollment status at the local college where he took the classes was “Non-admitted student” – which is what they call everyone who is taking classes but is not on a degree track.</p>
<p>Guys. The only way you’ll be seen as a transfer student is if you take college courses AFTER you graduate from HS. Take as many college classes as you want during HS, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Okay, good thing I posted my concern here. When she said those things to me, I was like “what?” and I was pretty sure she was wrong.</p>
<p>So when I apply, I tell them that I’m taking college courses (one is FRENCH, which i’m taking bc language classes at my hs are verrrrrrrrrrry slow and nobody is really interested in them, and i’m also taking english, which i AM taking to fulfill graduation requirements…i didnt want to take the english at my hs)? When do I send the transcript? If I send it when I turn in my application, there won’t be any grades on it?</p>
<p>I’m more familiar with the scenario rocket6louise and entomom described. If the classes are part of a dual-enrollment program, count for high school graduation credit, and appear on the high school transcript, then a separate transcript is not usually required.</p>
<p>^Actually, my D sent in a separate college transcript per the instructions on the CA. Now it’s possible that this may not have been necessary, but the CA doesn’t stipulate about whether or not it was dual enrollment, it just says to list all college courses and send a transcript ASAP.</p>