My daughter is a sophomore at a private school. Due to experiencing a concussion AND covid she missed a huge amount of school last semester and her grades dropped. Her school has a specific grade cut-off to be allowed into AP courses vs. other schools that allow a student the choice to challenge themselves. She did not make the cut-off for most including AP Biology which she really wants to take. School rule is they cannot take an outside AP course if it is offered at their school. Can she take a course on her own (online or preferable in-person elsewhere) and have that transcript sent to the college on it’s own without her school being involved? I don’t care about it not being added into her school GPA as I know colleges look at all course material and make their own GPA for the applicant (we are in CA and she wants to go to UC’s.) What would you do in my situation? Obviously her counselor will not give me this information. Thank you.
Colleges will want to see all high school and college courses taken by the applicant, regardless of whether the applicant’s primary high school consolidates them into its record of the applicant.
However, if the student goes against school rules with outside course work, that may result in the counselor being less favorable or helpful to the student in assisting with college selection, applications, recommendations, etc., since the student will be seen as a rule breaker. This may not be that big a deal for a student who applies only to UCs and CSUs (which require no recommendations and only ask for transcripts on matriculation to confirm self-reported courses and grades), but could be more problematic if counselor support is needed for private colleges.
My big question…will her high school transcript reflect all of the required courses for admission to the UCs…if she doesn’t take biology at her high school.
@Gumbymom your thoughts?
UC and CSU have the student enter all high school and college courses taken (with grades) or in progress into the application. This includes courses at all high schools and colleges. If the student later matriculates, the student will have to send transcripts from all high schools and colleges attended.
So it does not matter for UC and CSU whether the student’s primary high school includes the outside course on its record for the student. But it may matter for other colleges, and the “political” implications of being seen as a rule breaker by the counselor and others at the school may be more important when there are recommendations and other school support needed for applying to other colleges.
Also, check the high school rule book to see if there are any specific penalties for taking a disallowed outside course.
She is currently slated to take Physics which will complete her science requirements. AP Bio would be an elective.
Technically, the course is not being offered to her, so she should have the option. I think she should discuss this with her counselor or the head of school. It does create a risk that they still say no but that is where she is now, so I can’t see that it matters.