Online Courses as a Compliment to Public High School?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello, everybody. As I've stated in previous threads, my GPA (I'm a current junior) is a bit on the low side due to an illness my sophomore year (I'm currently looking at a 3.5 GPA). I'll be taking rigorous courses my senior year and will surely score straight As in all of them, but due to the selectivity of the schools to which I plan to apply to, I desperately wish to improve my record.</p>

<p>I was wondering what top schools (Yale, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, NYU) would think of online courses (Keystone National High was what I was looking at, if anyone has any other suggestions please do tell me) taken during the summer. I know for a fact my high school will not add to my transcript with these classes, but if I send these courses in separately, would the schools consider them equally and factor them into their own GPA calculations? Has anyone had any experience in this area? How would they weigh these scores differently than the ones I took in school, if at all?</p>

<p>In addition, if I do take online AP courses this summer, I obviously wouldn't have the AP scores in time for admissions - would they still consider the courses as rigorous despite the absence of AP testing?</p>

<p>Thanks, I appreciate any and all assistance.</p>

2

<p>They're like community college credits- just extra stuff to prove you're motivated. They're not factored into your GPA unless they're published on your high school transcript.</p>

3

<p>Okay, so, despite the fact they wouldn't be factored into my GPA, would admissions regard them in a meaningful manner? Could a few of those courses serve as an offset (in the mind of an admissions officer, not literally) to a low GPA, since they do prove I'm motivated and capable? In other words, is it worth it to pursue these courses over the summer?</p>

<p>I'm trying to weigh my options and I'd certainly take courses I'm interested in (taking AP Gov, Calc AB, Composition/Language, Bio next year, so if I did do this I'd probably take Psych, Lit, and MacroE), but I want to know if I'd be rewarded for my efforts.</p>

4

<p>Bump. Any more opinions or thoughts on this? Thanks.</p>

5

<p>Wait is there a class available over the summer through keystone? Is it honors/AP? I think it is definitely a good idea.</p>