<p>Hi Parents,
This is a Common App question, but really more of an ethical question so I'm bringing it to you.
A friend's child with an almost-perfect high school transcript took a 400 level college course on the local college campus during his 11th grade year. He received a B in the class and received college credit.
He is now filling out the Common App and would prefer not to report this class because of the B.<br>
The Common App question on the Education/Colleges and Universities reads:
"If you have taken a college/university course since 9th grade, check this box."<br>
This opens the menu to fill out details, and further prompts the student to order up transcripts to be sent to colleges.</p>
<p>I think the student MUST check the box, and that it's dishonest to suppress this information. I also don't think it reflects poorly on the student, but that's subjective.</p>
<p>Did it fulfill high school credit?
Then I don’t think you are obligated to note it.
What they are looking for are students who will be considered transfer students I expect, but really this guy must be really anal if he thinks a B in a 400 course as a high schooler is detrimental to his application.</p>
<p>Yes, it would be unethical not to report it.</p>
<p>I would be very concerned about the emotional state of any senior who is so worried about reporting a B from a college course taken in his junior year of high school that he would consider lying about it. Is he under that much stress?</p>
<p>I don’t think the B in a 400 (!) level class would hurt his application, and might even provide a nice opportunity to stand out a little by letting him humbly reflect on the differences between college and high school level work and how this experience has helped him prepare etcetcetc</p>
<p>emerald, that class didn’t fulfil a high school requirement but was in an area of high interest to the student, taught by a visiting adjunct professor.</p>
<p>stradmom, I think your idea is right on target.</p>
<p>I really hope someone takes this poor kid aside before he goes to college and tells him, “You will probably get some B’s in college. OR LOWER. And that is okay.”</p>
<p>This is not a kid with perfection issues. Rather, he’s acutely aware of how competitive the application process is.<br>
I think framing this experience the way strad suggests is best. Kid took on a challenge and it didn’t go quite the way he thought it would. Nothing to apologize for.</p>
<p>How many credits was that class–aside from the B he didn’t like, if he transfers in too many college credits that did not count for high school credit as well, that could affect his status coming into the college–i.e. not a freshman but a transfer and that makes a big difference, especially with merit aid. He should have just audited the class…</p>
<p>Absolutely yes, he needs to check the box. My kid challenged himself in freshman year of hs by taking a tougher math course and skipping a year of French. B+ in both courses, his lowest grades in high school, but definitely 2 great choices. I made sure the GC noticed this.</p>
You state that this is not a kid with perfection issues, but this is a kid with some type of issue. He took on a challenge fully expecting to get an A (ego perhaps?) Anytime we take on a challenge, one of the things that makes it a challenge is that it is a step beyond what we know and the outcome of taking that step is unknown. Getting a B is hardly an indication of failure. Basket weaving can be extremely difficult at that level ;)</p>
<p>Strongly disagree with emeraldkity4. Thousands of high schoolers attend summer programs at local/distant colleges, some in dual enrollment, some because an equivalent AP is not offered in HS, or some for just enrichment. It would be unethical to hide it.</p>
<p>Da’ kid challenged himself/herself, took a 400 level class (stupidly, IMO), and got a decent grade. List it on the Common App and move on.</p>
<p>Point well-taken, sylvan. I think he was a 16 year old who thought if he applied himself he could get an A. That’s how it’s always worked. The class involved a lot of creativity and group work. The other students were most available starting at 10 PM and liked to kick off the project at a bar. Hey, they were seniors in college. Not uncommon. </p>
<p>The student wasn’t able to fully participate at times, but did his best and got the B. </p>
<p>As Steve commented, I think he wishes he had just audited, in retrospect. </p>
<p>The more I think about this, the more I think it makes for an interesting story. Maybe warrants a short, unapologetic, honest accompanying letter.</p>
<p>Oh, please no. Don’t try to explain it away; it just looks like an excuse, (which is the last thing that you want an adcom to read). Moreover, it makes the kid read as a gunner, i.e., will drop any class in which he/she thinks he’ll earn less than an A.</p>
<p>He has to check the box. Period. He has to send the transcript. Period. For the rest of his life he will have to send that transcript when he applies to grad school or for a job that requires all college transcripts. Period. So he’d best not ever lose the address of the place where he took this class. This is part of his permanent academic history. </p>
<p>It is completely beyond my comprehension why a high school student who took a 400 level college class (which could be taken by a grad student for crying out loud) would not want to admit to a B (which many a grad student would be delighted to earn, by the way). Tell him to send the transcript.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with common app as neither of mine used it for applications.
I just was familiar with college classes that were used to fulfill high school graduation requirements and knew that student was still to be considered entering freshmen.</p>
<p>Glad for the correction- this stuff does get complicated.
So if the class wasnt taken for high school credit, would the student be a transfer student? And if not, what is that based on, number of credits and how many?</p>
<p>I also agree with Sylvan- Op says he isn’t obsessive, but not wanting to state a passing grade in a upper division university course because he didn’t get an A, sounds like control issues to me.
You can try and explain it as he is worried about the admission process- but what is that about except control?</p>
<p>Please, please, reassure this kid that all will be well!</p>
<p>While in HS, my straight A dd wanted a challenge, and took a 300 level calculus class at a nearby college. It is called the Post Secondary Option in our state, and it’s free for high achieving high school students to enroll and take a college class. It also is reported on the students high school transcript, even if it does not fulfill a high school credit. AND it factors in the high school GPA. It is considered somewhat of a “big-kid” gifted and talented program.
The point is: Colleges like to see a student challenge him/herself in this way, even if they do not get an A. It looks GOOD on an application to show that you stuck your neck out in search of a challenge, and found it.<br>
My dd received a B in that calc class. She still made it into her dream school, and admission rate is very low at that school. Please tell him not to worry!</p>
<p>One more thing: Colleges know about the Post Secondary Option for high school students. They do not consider these kids to be transfer students.</p>