My summer’s free, so I was thinking of taking a college course, but first I want to know if it’s going to be of any value, as it is going to be a sizable commitment of time and money. For those of you who have taken college courses while at HS, have you found them to be a worthwhile experience, and something that will go a long towards your college app? Or am I better off just doing my usual thing and just reading books from the library?
<p>my high school offers a concurrent enrollment with the local community colleges (which basically means tuition is free). i've taken advantage of the program, taking 2 courses each summer. it's a great way to not have to take AP courses and getting kinda used to the college environment--somewhat. it also looks better when colleges see it because it means youve actually been challenging yourself.</p>
<p>Yeah, mine too. I think its an easy way to a good head start at a high college GPA as my community college class was much easier than my high school AP class. My high school district offers the same concurrent enrollment, but I had to buy a text book for the class so I spent basically the same amount of money as I would spent on an AP test. However, I thought my class was much more fun and lax than high school classes. Well worth it. =D</p>
<p>I concur Community College Classes RULE!</p>
<p>I highly recommend you taking a college course at a Community College while still enrolled in high school. That way, its not as academically demanding so you have time to do other stuff, and its not as big of a financial commitment (it's actually cheaper than paying for an AP test that isn't even guaranteed that you'll pass). I found the course worth my time. Perhaps you can look into courses that might be transferrable for General Education requirements, so that way, you're actually getting a head start on your real college degree!</p>
<p>Even though a community college isn't the same as a four-year college, its nice to get a preview or taste of college life... buying expensive textbooks, sitting through long lectures, no homework required and grades based mostly on tests, getting into a new environment with people you don't know. Overall, good for your own experience.</p>
<p>I had a 3.5 and it JUMPED to a 3.82 after getting a few A's in a couple community college classes because they transfer as a lot of high school units.</p>
<p>I say absolutely, take a college course over the summer, it can be a huge benefit. And if possible, take it at a university, not a community college. I feel that one of the factors that got my D accepted to UCLA was the fact that she took a summer course there. This was the summer just before her senior year. It was a Gen Ed sociology course with full college credit, and she got an A in it. I think having this on her transcript sent a clear message about her capability to do college work despite her low SAT scores.</p>
<p>It also saved her from having to take the same class in her senior year, giving her an extra free period, AND college credit. So the 6 weeks spent in summer school (only 2 sessions a week) was, I thought, a VERY good investment.</p>
<p>Wow you guys are lucky...we are only allowed to take ONE CC course per 'term' (fall/1st semester, spring/2nd semester, and summer). We do NOT get this put on our HS transcript or put into our gpa or get credit for it or anything. its basically just for your own interest. and its something around 100$ per class.
I will already hav so many 'credits' from AP classes that I cannot get any more advanced standing (unless i go to a state school), so it didn't help with anything related to school (besides my interest in the classes)</p>
<p>its is DEFINITELY worth it as you can tell by the other posts. i had a great time at my cc class and the tuition was free for high school students ( i hade to pay like $100 for the damn book though). neways the class was really relaxing and the teacher was really cool and funny. i think cc profesors are probably more personal and warm toward their students. however one downside is i got no educational value from that class watsoever, i mean i did the work and i understood it but it has not stuck with me. our tests were basically our homework assignments.</p>
<p>i took physics btw.</p>
<p>and another bonus is u get to write a nice essay about how u challenged urself academically and socially by entering a new environment and all that stuff such as i did</p>
<p>My school allows you to count many upper-level courses as courses at Rhode Island College- no outside classes necessary- for a small fee. It's great. And OSU takes the courses' credits for full credit.</p>