I am taking a gap year next year, and am taking 3 college courses this summer to stay in academic shape. I am wondering if taking these courses for a total of 10 credit hours (after graduating high school) will impact my standing as a freshmen at the schools that I apply to.
Most likely they will so contact the schools you are interested in.
^ This. At some schools you will still be considered a freshman. At others you will be a transfer after 1 hour. Talk to your school to see if they will even allow you to take classes during a gap. There is also a chance they will not accept the classes for credit.
Check all of the schools you could possibly apply to.
“I am taking a gap year next year, and am taking 3 college courses this summer to stay in academic shape.”
Are these courses only offered for academic/college credit, or is there the option of taking them for as non-credit or “continuing education” credits? Sometimes classes (especially at community colleges) are listed both ways. Most often taking the class for academic/college credit means that the student has to do more homework and take all of the exams and pay a bit more money, while the continuing ed or non-credit student at the next desk pays less money, isn’t expected to do as much (if any) homework, and can skip the exams.
I’m taking Gov, Calc, and Macroecon at a local 4 year non-flagship state university. So far I’ve called a couple schools, and the responses have been incredibly varied. One college course taken post-hs graduation and you are a transfer at Dartmouth, while WashU and Harvard have no limits. Syracuse has a limit of 15 credit hours.
Wait–are you saying you graduated, but didn’t apply to colleges yet? You’re taking your gap year at the same time that you’ll be applying to colleges? If so, you absolutely want to call all the schools to which you will be applying and ask that question.
My son is taking a gap year after applying and enrolling in his college, Univ. of Pennsylvania. They said it would be fine for him to take a course or two just for his own learning, so he’ll be taking Calc-based Physics for fun this fall at a local community college, and will likely take it credit/no credit. They were ok with it, but we certainly asked first.
At most schools, a gap year means no academic work whatsoever. If you take 3 or 4 classes next year, you’ve enrolled somewhere and will be considered a transfer applicant. Many schools will block you out until you achieve Jr status. Some schools will still consider you as a transfer applicant based on your HS performance. It varies school to school so, carefully validate your plan with a couple of your target schools.