<p>I'm a hs junior in FL who is also (credits wise) a sophomore at our local CC (I just finished my first semester) and honestly I'm very confused about a lot of things. After this Spring 2015 semester I'll have all of my requirements done except for 1 science, which will hopefully come from the AP test in May. Assuming everything goes well, I pass the AP test, I don't have any surprise illness or anything of that sort, and I'm allowed to take summer semester, I will have enough credits for my AA at the end of the Fall 2015 term.
Now I was excited by this originally because I thought that I could get some kind of temp job during what would have been the spring/summer semesters and get some real work experience, or get an unpaid internship as I'll still be 17/turning 18 and won't have any expenses as I'm at home. However, after going to a few different college open houses and asking about transferring with my AA, I was surprised to learn that to be considered a transfer student at these universities, I'd have to have 12 hours earned AFTER high school, claiming it was state policy, which brings up a whole new set of questions. This means I would not only be considered a freshman when I move to whichever university I chose, I would also have to apply as a freshman. This means having to send in hs transcripts, send in ACT/SAT scores which aren't awful, but aren't 36's like everyone else on here seems to have (1970 SAT/ 28 ACT, scores from Dec. aren't back yet), live in freshman dorms, take any "new student" classes they make freshman take, potentially not take my car with me when I go away to school, etc.
The official state university system of Florida says "Students who have previously attended a postsecondary institution and have earned more than twelve (12) semester hours of credit are considered transfer students", and since I am in college I would think that would be considered postsecondary even though I'm "in high school" (my only hs class is the AP one, and all of my classes that involve actually going to a physical school are college, with other college students).
So, since I have the potential option of graduating next December, I'm curious, should I (a) fight this, as in FL if you have an AA from a CC you're supposed to be guaranteed entrance into at least 1 university as a transfer student, and actually the college I'm at has a deal with UCF that if you get your AA from the college you're guaranteed to transfer into UCF, and neither of those mention leaving dual enrollment students out of those deals. Or, should I (b) go with it and just use the fact that I graduated early to my advantage by taking classes in spring semester to reach 12 hours as opposed to working. Also, if (b) is best, which classes should I take? I'm conflicted over taking ones related to my major (which I still haven't decided, but I'd need to by next spring) that may or may not transfer to the university as they'd be beyond the requirements for an AA, or should I take 'blow off classes' (ex. my school offers classes like yoga, or 'technology' classes that really just involve tips for iPhones)
I almost want to fight it based off of principle alone. I mean it's bad enough to have high school kids think you're arrogant for taking college classes, college kids complain that an 'immature 16 year old' is in class, and have to work harder to show professors you deserve to be there (all things that have made up this first semester), but now I'm not even getting the full benefit of free college? I'm going to have to either be a freshman or pay for 4 classes to ensure that I receive my transfer status? But I also want to know what to do if these schools don't budge on their 12 hour rule, and whether I should do major related classes or just classes for the sake of having hours.</p>
<p>You know a lot of people with dual-credit would be pissed if they had to be accepted as transfer students because it would mean missing out on the freshman experience with dorms and making new friends. IDK why you seem in such a hurry to get through life but I would advise slowing down and enjoying life. </p>
<p>Then maybe they should provide that as an option, but I would not like to be with people who are just starting to experience college, as I’ve already gone through my freshman courses and finished them. It’s possible to get involved on campus without being in freshman dorms, where, at some of the schools I’m looking at, you get screwed over by having to share a bedroom or have a communal bathroom when upperclassmen have lockouts or ensuites. I’m not in a hurry to get through life, I’m trying to not waste money on an extra 12 hours. Dual enrollment is paid for, so if I have an AA when I finish dual enrollment, I see no reason for me to have to pay for another 4 classes/fees/books to be recognized at a school I want to transfer to as a transfer student. I understand that they think that the fact you did college in hs means you didn’t have a real college experience, but I know many people who graduated from hs this past May going to the same CC I’m at, typically because it’s cheaper, living at home, doing most of the same activities I’m doing (which is what I know them from), and basically having the same experience. Yet theirs is considered valid and they can transfer to an entirely different university where they may know no one and come in as a Junior but I will have to go in as a Freshman unless I get these other credits because otherwise it is “missing out on the freshman experience” when I have earned the right to be an upperclassman just the same as my friends who worked towards their AA after hs.</p>
<p>And also, my problem with this isn’t that I just have dual credit, I’m going to have an AA, which counts as a legitimate college degree, and in FL universities aren’t supposed to be able to pick and choose classes from that degree and make you take their intro/required freshman classes if you come to their school with your AA. Like if you come in with an AA they can’t make you do those as they’re freshman classes, if I just had, say, 9 credit hours from casually going to college while in hs that would be different.</p>
<p>Dude if you were coming off this way in your classrooms it’s no surprise that people thought you were immature. Given the amount of winning and your lack of compression on ‘the system’ I really think you should go in as a freshman and dorm. The experience will probably help you grow as an adult more so than any class you will take during university. </p>
<p>I understand your view point of freshman year/the experience being important, and while I think it is for some, I do not believe it is something I will miss or regret. I have been doing online classes on flvs for all of hs because the school I’m zoned for doesn’t allow for dual enrollment, so I’ve already supposedly missed out on the high school experience and I’m not bothered by not having homecoming/prom or ‘missing out’ on sitting with the same people at lunch every day. I understand this is important for some if not most people, but for me what’s going to come first is school, not social life or friendships at school, and going through it with the least amount of debt possible (hence why I want to avoid taking another 12 hours to be considered a transfer, or being forced to take freshman classes at a university, as I see it mostly as a waste of money)
I appreciate your view on this, and I know many are relieved to come in as freshmen even though they already have credits, but that is their personal feeling towards this and I am allowed to feel differently than the majority. I have already made up my mind that I /will/ be a transfer, it’s just how to go about it that I’m curious about. If you or anyone else think that taking the extra 12 hours or fighting for my status with the schools I decide I really want to go to is better, I’d like to know and I’d like to know why. (And if the 12 hours option is better, do I take blow offs or classes that are interesting/major related but may not transfer, and risk having to repeat them)</p>
<p>At your age, you cannot possibly know what experiences will or will not really matter in your life. I think the same inconsequential today, as you look back on your life you’ll realize they were some of the most important decisions and experiences you’ve ever had. </p>
<p>School should definitely be your priority, and I wouldn’t try to tell you anything different. However you can’t discount the importance of social relationships and the social aspects of school that you can’t learn in the classroom.</p>
<p>I don’t know you, and I have no way of knowing what the best situation for you would be, but you do seem to have the mindset that you are above and beyond certain things, and that is not the case. I am many years older than the average college student, and before returning to school I would’ve thought there was little for me to gain from social interactions at school because of the age differences and my different life experiences. However only by actually being in school, in the classroom, and being in the environment, was I able to really see that I wasn’t beyond any of it. At different stages in life you’ll learn different things from different people and different experiences, but never think that you’re beyond learning from any of it.</p>
<p>Are you a super genius? If you are so smart that people will overlook your flaws than you can be the next Newton. Else just about every activity in life involves working with other people: Engineers gotta work in teams, managers have to manage their subordinates, etc. So the experiences you gain now will come back in a multitude of ways down the road. </p>
<p>To answer your question on units. You need to take classes that transfer even if they don’t articulate as direct course equivalents. </p>
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<p>You might still need to take frosh-level courses if the courses you took for your AA are not applicable to your major and/or general education requirements at the four year school.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.flbog.edu/documents_regulations/regulations/6%20004%20Admission%20of%20Undergraduate%20Degree%20Seeking%20Transfer%20Students%20(mv%20edits).pdf”>http://www.flbog.edu/documents_regulations/regulations/6%20004%20Admission%20of%20Undergraduate%20Degree%20Seeking%20Transfer%20Students%20(mv%20edits).pdf</a> indicates that Florida specifies that “undergraduate transfer students are defined as students who have earned twelve (12) or more semester hours of transferable college credit since receiving a standard high school diploma or its equivalent.” If all of your college credit was earned before high school graduation, then Florida does not require you to be a transfer student, although it appears that you have the option of applying as either frosh or transfer if you have sufficient college credit (in both credit units and subject requirements for your major).</p>
<p>Note that it is still possible to enroll as a frosh, but start in more advanced courses if you have completed the introductory-level courses while in high school. If your college courses taken while in high school match up well to the requirements for your major and general education, you could still have the option of graduating in only two years even though you started as a frosh.</p>