Hello, I am currently a HS Junior (NC Resident) and plan to apply to one of the state universities here in NC. Most likely NC State and hopefully UNC -CH. My UW GPA is a 3.93 and my WGPA is a 4.34. Rank is currently 34/471. The classes I have taken up until now have been mostly honors classes and I have only taken 1 AP class (APHUG). I didn’t do well on my APHUG exam and won’t get college credit for it. This year I am in dual enrollment at a local community college and I am taking Sociology and Communications classes and just honors level classes for English and Science. I like the idea of getting college credit but I am concerned that my course rigor appears weak. Is taking courses like sociology, communications, micro and macro economics at a community college frowned on vs. taking HS classes such as AP Bio, AP Chem or Calc? At my school the dual enrollment classes at the CC have the same weighting as AP classes so I was attracted to the CC classes because of the guaranteed credit. Am I making a mistake?
Your course rigor for college admissions will be judged according to HS rigor standards. While most likely not as rigorous as some four year college courses, the community college courses taken while still a HS student will be looked upon as being rigorous.
You should look at knowledge gained, not just grades. AP classes are like those of average colleges. Your CC classes probably cover similar material.
This is the time to have a discussion with your HS guidance counselor. S/he will know more about your local CC’c reputation and other factors. Ultimately it is up to you to learn material. Just getting college credit does not mean being prepared for subsequent classes at the college you attend. You should be able to do well on AP exams with a well taught HS class and your own learning. Another consideration- your classmates in a HS AP class may be different than the students attending the local CC. Your peer group of intellectual students could be more stimulating in your HS.
Seems like an apples (college social studies courses) to oranges (high school AP science and math courses) comparison.
Or are you saying that you cannot do both? If so, what science and math would you take if you take the college social studies courses, and what social studies would you take if you take the AP science and math courses?
There are two questions - course rigor and course selection.
The first is covered above. The second depends on your intended major. If you are looking at a STEM major, then rigorous Sociology, Communications, etc., won’t hold the same weight as Calc, AP sciences, etc. If your intended major is Sociology, Communications, etc., then they are as least as good.
@ucbalumnus Thanks for your reply. If I continue with the dual enrollment then the courses i would take at HS in my senior year would be honors English IV, AP Calc AB/BC, and honors American History 1&2. I have already taken honors Bio and Chem so I may not take any more science courses. Honestly I am a bit gun shy about the AP courses since I got my only B in APHUG and after doing a ton of work and not passing the AP exam I am drawn towards the safety of guaranteed credit at the CC courses. I am mostly taking the courses that would help satisfy the general education requirements at most of the state colleges I intend on applying to.
You should have, this year and senior year:
- one math course
- one English course (senior year, the dual enrollment class can include comparative literature, writing/composition, or philosophy)
- one social science/history course
- one science course (conceptual or algebra-based physics; senior year: environmental science or CS; calculus-based physics, general chemistry if you’re interested in a STEM major).
- one foreign language course (note that you can complete two levels in one year junior year and be done before senior year, or take one level this Spring then one level in the Fall and be done, too. You need to reach level 3-4.)
- one elective
That leaves you some leeway as to how you spread them out (HS, full year; or college, semester-long).
Generally, you’d need to have 6 high school courses or 4 college courses each semester.
Dual Enrollment classes are considered equivalent to AP classes. They may go less in-depth but go much faster and require more autonomy.
I am in NC and lots of kids seem to do DE here. We have friends (twins) that did DE as homeschoolers during their Jr and Sr year, took a third year to complete their Associate’s, and then both headed to college as juniors, one at UNC-CH and one at NC-State.
One thing to consider about DE is that you really do have more control over your grades, since they don’t depend on a single exam sitting. In a class you’re going to have multiple opportunities to keep your grade up.
I would encourage you to reach out to the admissions offices at UNC-CH and NC State with your specific questions.