Taking NVCC class this summer -- to "dual enroll" or not? Pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

Rising junior will take Chem 111 class at NVCC this summer. DC has the option to check the box for "dual enrollment" or "college credit only."

What are the pros/cons of checking either box? DC plans to take AP Phys 1 as a junior, and probably AP Phys C as a senior -- but that could always change.

[Anonymous]

I’d call the CC admissions office and ask this question.

[Anonymous]

I believe but you should verify that if you do college credit only and so it’s not on your HS transcript, you’ll have to send that college transcript to every single college you apply to.

[Anonymous]

You need to talk to his HS counselor. If the class may be hard and he already has a good HS GPA, then I wouldn’t check DE unless he sure he can get an “A” final grade in the class. But definitely consult with his counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to talk to his HS counselor. If the class may be hard and he already has a good HS GPA, then I wouldn’t check DE unless he sure he can get an “A” final grade in the class. But definitely consult with his counselor.

BTW, DE is usually a GPA boost like AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior will take Chem 111 class at NVCC this summer. DC has the option to check the box for "dual enrollment" or "college credit only."

What are the pros/cons of checking either box? DC plans to take AP Phys 1 as a junior, and probably AP Phys C as a senior -- but that could always change.

What school system are you in and has your kid already taken Physics honors? My son was told he have to take physics over the summer in order to do Ap physics. However he has a full time 40hr work week internship at a tech company this summer which will be more valuable, so AP physics is out for next year in favor of Honors.

I will tell you as a parent that has a kid who is taking DE Chem right now through NVCC, but at his school is absolutely is a weed out class. Only 60% of the class remains standing. Maybe the summer class is a joke and won’t be hard, but the regular class has been brutal.

Best advice my kid had gotten from his counselor is that with the current admissions climate if you don’t think you’ll get an A in an AP/ DE class, don’t take the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior will take Chem 111 class at NVCC this summer. DC has the option to check the box for "dual enrollment" or "college credit only."

What are the pros/cons of checking either box? DC plans to take AP Phys 1 as a junior, and probably AP Phys C as a senior -- but that could always change.

What school system are you in and has your kid already taken Physics honors? My son was told he have to take physics over the summer in order to do Ap physics. However he has a full time 40hr work week internship at a tech company this summer which will be more valuable, so AP physics is out for next year in favor of Honors.

I will tell you as a parent that has a kid who is taking DE Chem right now through NVCC, but at his school is absolutely is a weed out class. Only 60% of the class remains standing. Maybe the summer class is a joke and won’t be hard, but the regular class has been brutal.

Best advice my kid had gotten from his counselor is that with the current admissions climate if you don’t think you’ll get an A in an AP/ DE class, don’t take the class.

College summer classes are usually more intense because the pace is quicker.

[Anonymous]

A summer course with a lab will be intense. Even if the student is academically prepared, you'll need to check with the HS counselor first. Regardless of DE status, colleges will require the transcript and see the grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe but you should verify that if you do college credit only and so it’s not on your HS transcript, you’ll have to send that college transcript to every single college you apply to.

To clarify, grade gets seen either way but I mean it’s potentially an extra administrative burden if it’s not on high school transcript since you’ll have to get the college ones sent separately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising junior will take Chem 111 class at NVCC this summer. DC has the option to check the box for "dual enrollment" or "college credit only."

What are the pros/cons of checking either box? DC plans to take AP Phys 1 as a junior, and probably AP Phys C as a senior -- but that could always change.

What school system are you in and has your kid already taken Physics honors? My son was told he have to take physics over the summer in order to do Ap physics. However he has a full time 40hr work week internship at a tech company this summer which will be more valuable, so AP physics is out for next year in favor of Honors.

I will tell you as a parent that has a kid who is taking DE Chem right now through NVCC, but at his school is absolutely is a weed out class. Only 60% of the class remains standing. Maybe the summer class is a joke and won’t be hard, but the regular class has been brutal.

Best advice my kid had gotten from his counselor is that with the current admissions climate if you don’t think you’ll get an A in an AP/ DE class, don’t take the class.

Thank you. I appreciate the experience from someone who is actually taking Chem at NVCC.

I don't need to talk to DC's counselor b/c I already have. She hasn't advised for or against it. Just saying one will be on the HS transcript and the other will not. DC will take AP Phys 1 as a junior. And likely take AP Phys C as a senior.

The NVCC professor for this Chem class gets very mixed reviews on Ratemyprofessor. So, that worries me a bit. DC is doing well in Hon. Chem now (FCPS). So, we *think* he'll do ok in CHEM 111 (college chem) at NVCC -- but if you have a flakey prof. who confuses things or is hostile/crabby during labs -- that could send things into a nosedive quickly. It would be much more convenient to have all classes on one (FREE) HS transcript -- but if the course is brutal b/c of the teacher, then having a less than good grade on the HS transcript isn't a plus.

To all: Please keep giving me your thoughts and experience.

[Anonymous]

I’m a parent of a high achieving kid and I caution you against this path. You seem very very involved and I’m guessing add to the pressure your kid is under. Taking a class like college chemistry is no way a 16yr old should be spending their summer. What is your end game here? Having a well rounded student is what colleges want. No college will be impressed by a kid who took Chem 111 at community college. If you are so driven to this goal (because let’s get real this is about you) then you need to be encouraging your kid to work on an EC this summer they love. Colleges weigh ECs heavily now. This is not 1999.

My kid spent his summer before junior year building and maintaining a very particular and niche self contained ecosystem. All of his applications looped back in some way to this hobby of his. It was even mentioned in a few of his acceptance letters. He’s a STEM kid so this spoke to his intellectual curiosity and true love of science. Plus my kid got the benefit of spending the summer and his precious free time exploring his intellectual interests. Kids need downtime and time for intellectual growth. That’s not going to happen in a Chem 111 summer class.

[Anonymous]

My child’s college didn’t take dual enrollment credit because it was used toward HS graduation. So something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent of a high achieving kid and I caution you against this path. You seem very very involved and I’m guessing add to the pressure your kid is under. Taking a class like college chemistry is no way a 16yr old should be spending their summer. What is your end game here? Having a well rounded student is what colleges want. No college will be impressed by a kid who took Chem 111 at community college. If you are so driven to this goal (because let’s get real this is about you) then you need to be encouraging your kid to work on an EC this summer they love. Colleges weigh ECs heavily now. This is not 1999.

My kid spent his summer before junior year building and maintaining a very particular and niche self contained ecosystem. All of his applications looped back in some way to this hobby of his. It was even mentioned in a few of his acceptance letters. He’s a STEM kid so this spoke to his intellectual curiosity and true love of science. Plus my kid got the benefit of spending the summer and his precious free time exploring his intellectual interests. Kids need downtime and time for intellectual growth. That’s not going to happen in a Chem 111 summer class.

I disagree with this post. My DC took Chem as a rising senior at NVCC and got an A. it demonstrated he could take college level courses and succeed and his college counselor thought it gave his application an added boost - he got in to UVA, Ga Tech, Purdue, deferred at Ivies, etc. UVA took the credits which gave him some flexibility later.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, GMU offers dual enrollment courses. They might have better instruction. Check ratemyprofessor.com before signing on. NVCC uses some terrible adjuncts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent of a high achieving kid and I caution you against this path. You seem very very involved and I’m guessing add to the pressure your kid is under. Taking a class like college chemistry is no way a 16yr old should be spending their summer. What is your end game here? Having a well rounded student is what colleges want. No college will be impressed by a kid who took Chem 111 at community college. If you are so driven to this goal (because let’s get real this is about you) then you need to be encouraging your kid to work on an EC this summer they love. Colleges weigh ECs heavily now. This is not 1999.

My kid spent his summer before junior year building and maintaining a very particular and niche self contained ecosystem. All of his applications looped back in some way to this hobby of his. It was even mentioned in a few of his acceptance letters. He’s a STEM kid so this spoke to his intellectual curiosity and true love of science. Plus my kid got the benefit of spending the summer and his precious free time exploring his intellectual interests. Kids need downtime and time for intellectual growth. That’s not going to happen in a Chem 111 summer class.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Save your armchair psychoanalysis for someone who cares. DC is choosing this summer option. He would rather take a class (this class) than get a job or volunteer. So, respectfully, shove your opinions up your ___.