Hello everyone!
I just had this nagging question in my mind for about a year now, and after confronting teachers and counsellors, I’m hoping there are some students here who had some experience with this matter.
Big Question: Are universities hesitant about students taking courses online, and using those courses to apply for university?
Lately I’ve started considering taking many courses I could have otherwise taken in school and taking them online over the summer. This would lessen my workload for the school year. All courses in school are largely dragged out, making students learn a bit of information over the vast school year. This, of course, applies only to regular courses and not Advanced Placement or Honours programs. It’s quite painful to have to learn the same thing for a month when it can be easily taught and absorbed in a week.
And I am not trying to critique the public education system, but I am rather explaining my own experience and thoughts on what works for me.
As I’m going to apply to fairly selective universities (Ivies, Oxbridge, etc) as well as universities in my general area, I’m worried that taking online courses will raise red flags and limit my opportunities.
Is there anyone here who has gone down this path before, and taken key courses online? What are some of your experiences?
Thank you!
In college, you are mostly going to take in-person classes that last a semester.
You want to show that in HS you can take in person classes and do well in them.
Also, how rigourous are these courses? Do you know? Does the college know?
What would your GC say about you taking these courses? I would think they would say why you are not taking normal courses…like if you were sick or somethign. “Because s/he doesn’t want to”?
Also, would your HS accept these courses? If not, there is no point to doing them.
Can you take more advanced courses if they are so boring? Can you get extra work?
Talk to your GC about how to increase the difficulty level of your courses.
Since you seem to like to immerse yourself in a class, maybe consider colleges where you take one class at a time.
Bates College (Lewiston, ME): In May, after the second semester, a short term is offered. Colorado College (Colorado Springs, CO): Operates on the Block Plan, in which students take one course every three-and-a-half weeks. Cornell College (Mount Vernon, IA): Students take one course at a time.
^^ Adding Tusculum College to that list.
@bopper @awesomepolyglot
Interestingly enough, I was told that it was okay to take online courses to lessen my workload next year. Especially since I’m taking it through the School Board, licensed and paid for by the government.
My original idea is merely to get credit for my courses that I can do during the summer. I mean, there isn’t much to do in the summer, and working through necessary courses to graduate seems like a good use of time.
I was just worried that universities would decline acceptances because I took online courses instead of in-school courses. It seems like a rather biased idea, since not everybody should have to conform to societal education methods, but lots of things in life are like that.
Thank you for your replies! I will definitely consider some of your tips.