We are trying to find out if colleges would allow high schoolers to do independent study in college? Our son is taking college class in mathematics in community college. However he finds that these classes are too easy for him and he is just bored in the class as he has nothing new to learn. Also he is a very fast learner. So trying to find out if colleges would allow high schooler to do independent study as a dual enrollment.
Any responses would be helpful and are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Why doesn’t he just take a higher level math course? Could he take an online class that would be more appropriate to his math level of expertise?
Does your HS offer independent study courses in math?
Our son did do independent study in 9th grade in 1st semester before taking calc3 at the community college. The question is would colleges allow dually enrolled high school students to do independent study. Would it be within limit of the professor to allow high school student for independent study? or would college administration determine \approve? What would be the process to do independent study at the college?
I would check with your HS and the college that does the dual-enrollment program. My guess is they would suggest taking higher level math courses.
The OP may be asking the wrong question. For me, the right questions are, first, “How can this student get math instruction appropriate to his interest level and prior studies?” and second, “How does he get appropriate high school credit for that?” I think when you answer the first question, the second will fall in line fairly easily
I am assuming that some of the blanks in the OP’s presentation get filled in like this: The kid is in 10th grade. He’s taking (and not being challenged by) the highest level math class available at the community college. There’s no four-year college convenient with better math that has a dual enrollment program.
If you want upper grades math courses, I have heard from many friends that it happened to their children. Try contacting local 4 years university’s math department or individual math professors. Some children take upper grade math/science courses at 4 years universities even before they start high school, which they usually skip anyway.
But will community colleges provide independent math study, which they normally don’t have, to a gifted young student? I am guessing it will be tough because community colleges are often under funded and professors are often over worked and low paid. They might have intention but not time.
What is he proposing to do in his independent study? A student has to have a project or plan or study to get credit for the independent study. What’s the plan or proposal, just to do a different level of math? To complete a current course in 2 weeks instead of 10? Does the CC he attends even have independent study? If it does, then you need to get the high school to accept it.
What class is he taking? What classes does the CC offer? How was he placed into the class he is currently taking? (Was it based on transcript? Compass test? ACT score?) It seems to me that there is a lot more information that needs to be shared before solid advice can be given.
FWIW, I would not opt for the independent study route if other choices exist.
Dual enrollment policies vary widely. No one here can tell you what your school’s policy is. Ask your school . That said,why does he need the dual enrollment credit? Is he planning to graduate early?
Instead of DE, maybe he could take classes through OHS. https://ohs.stanford.edu/academics/courses?division=40
Don’t understand Mathyone’s reply :
“That said,why does he need the dual enrollment credit? Is he planning to graduate early?”
The credit earned from dual enrolment would help student not paying for those credits in college.
The student recieves A (100%) in community college classes. And there is no additional learning. Also these are the highest level classes offered at community college.
Starting another thread…
“Should students done with taking highest level classes at community college take a class at college and pay more than a college student taking same class (colleges charge part time fees to these students) Or it is better for these students just to take online class”. If so than how do they fullfill high school requirement of taking 4 year mathematics class as many of these schools (May be all high schools) would not consider online classes.
Let me clarify. The college credit will be a college credit. How it will be accepted is going to be up to the college he enrolls in for a degree. Most colleges will accept credits from other colleges. However, some colleges, for instance some Ivy leagues schools, will not accept credits from other colleges. Some top schools may consider their own class far more rigorous than the class taken elsewhere and even if they give credit, they may not give credit for the major or they may strongly recommend repeating the class anyhow. A kid this advanced may well end up in such a school.
In my previous post I was asking why he needs dual enrollment status from the high school. He has already completed all the math in the high school and so presumably doesn’t need any more high school math credits to graduate, and probably also not any more total credits (unless he is planning to graduate early from high school, then the total credits may be an issue). If this is the case, then you don’t need to worry about dual enrollment policies. The student can simply enroll in college classes. It won’t appear on the high school diploma, but that won’t matter.
Our high school has a small approved list of college classes for which students can dual enroll. Anything else is regarded as something the student does in their spare time, which has nothing to do with the high school, although they are willing to try to schedule study halls to accommodate college classes which meet during school hours.
Note: actually you should check on the total credits. Our school is on an 8 block system and it’s not unusual for our kids to graduate with 10 or more high school credits than they actually needed. I guess in schools with a 6 or 7 period schedule it could be a problem.
And be aware that even a college that accepts a credit from elsewhere is likely only going to accept a Gen Ed credit, not a required course for a degree program. So the dual enrollment credits often aren’t as “valuable” after the fact as you think they will be.
Is your son enrolled in a brick and mortar high school or is he home schooled? If the former, I would make an appointment with the guidance counselor to verify what “counts” towards graduation. If dual enrollment is limited to CC and he’s maxed out, you can inquire about four-year college. However, you should double check to make sure that classes taken at a 4 year school, for which you would pay tuition, would then interfere with his status as an incoming freshman when he applies to colleges. You don’t want to compromise his eligibility for merit scholarships that typically are offered only to incoming freshmen.
Is the main goal for him to be challenged, to complete his HS requirements, or to get college credit? Or all of these?
There are on-line courses geared towards gifted kids through many universities. The Stanford one mentioned above is one such option.
Thanks to all the users who posted replies. Specifically the last post is very helpful. Because our son was refrained from getting scholarship at community college (merit based in the same subject he was taking at college) even when he was a top student just because he was dually enrolled and scholarship was available only for fully enrolled students.
My D did an independent study through her high school, for high school credit, but her mentor was from a nearby college. She had to ask the professor if she was willing and designed the coursework/study on her own (with mentor OKing it, and high school as well). If your school will allow this is may be something to pursue.