Thoughts on best college classes for HS junior

[Anonymous]

DS high school (not in DC) offers option for certain students to dual enroll in HS and the local community college for junior and senior years. DS is strong student and is looking forward to the opportunity but uncertain as to which courses would be best to take. I'm thinking basics that cross over every major such as English Comp 101 and 102, Western Civ, sociology, psychology and perhaps an art or music class would be good options. He can take up to 2 classes per semester (including this summer and the summer between jr and sr years) so he could realistically complete 12 courses by the time he graduated high school. Any thoughts on best courses for a kid who isn't sure of a major?

[Anonymous]

Does your son's high school also offer AP courses? Depending on post high school goals, it might make more sense to do AP vs. Dual-enrollment. This is definitely a conversation to have with the guidance counselor.

[Anonymous]

Not really sure what would be best for a kid who isn't sure of a major but if he's interested in being prepared for college, a course where he has to think critically and write would be helpful. You say he's a strong student so it may not be necessary but I found, back when I was teaching at the college level, that some students had been trained in high school to memorize and repeat back the course material but they had little experience thinking for themselves and/or articulating arguments and supporting those arguments with evidence. If your ds can develop that skill, that will serve him well throughout his college career.

But otherwise I think he should take something that interests him. And maybe he should see if he can check course evaluations or go to Rate My Professor to see which professors are well-regarded by students. You want your kid excited to go to college and apply himself and learn more. This is a great time for him to try things on and see how he likes them!

[Anonymous]

This summer DC will take an undergrad course at a highly competitive private university and receive 3 credit hours. If DC receives elective high school credit that's fine too. The experience will be invaluable and certainly won't look too shabby on the college app when the time comes. DC will be a rising sophomore with excellent creds and years of study in language courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This summer DC will take an undergrad course at a highly competitive private university and receive 3 credit hours. If DC receives elective high school credit that's fine too. The experience will be invaluable and certainly won't look too shabby on the college app when the time comes. DC will be a rising sophomore with excellent creds and years of study in language courses.

Believe me not all that unique or different than many other top applicants. We also have "years of study" in a foreign language (7 to be exact) and so far it hasn't been the hook we thought it would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your son's high school also offer AP courses? Depending on post high school goals, it might make more sense to do AP vs. Dual-enrollment. This is definitely a conversation to have with the guidance counselor.

AP does not have an advantage over real college classes.

[Anonymous]

Dual enrollment usually cannot transfer as college courses if student used them for high school credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This summer DC will take an undergrad course at a highly competitive private university and receive 3 credit hours. If DC receives elective high school credit that's fine too. The experience will be invaluable and certainly won't look too shabby on the college app when the time comes. DC will be a rising sophomore with excellent creds and years of study in language courses.

Believe me not all that unique or different than many other top applicants. We also have "years of study" in a foreign language (7 to be exact) and so far it hasn't been the hook we thought it would be.

PP here. As I said, it shouldn't look too shabby. It was never meant to be a 'hook' but more to show how DC has continued with their serious interest on a college level. This is a win-win for DC whether or not the college sees it that way as DC will enter college ahead of the game. Not everything is meant to 'impress' colleges but for the betterment of the kids that are interested in taking it to another level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your son's high school also offer AP courses? Depending on post high school goals, it might make more sense to do AP vs. Dual-enrollment. This is definitely a conversation to have with the guidance counselor.

AP does not have an advantage over real college classes.

Maybe not over classes taken at a university, but I've also heard that the level of rigor in AP classes is considered to be higher than most community colleges.

OP, I'd look at what AP's are available and plan for college courses that complement them. So, I wouldn't take English Composition if AP Lang and Comp is an option, but I'd consider a class in a subject not available at her high school, perhaps a specific area of literature or history.

[Anonymous]

We just finished the college app process and I have read that schools prefer HS students to first exhaust the most rigorous courses offered at their high schools before seeking dual enrollment alternatives. I also second what a pp said that many AP courses can be more rigorous than equivalents at community colleges. The APs follow a set curriculum and a standardized test is administered, so a college admissions office has a better idea of what an A or B means in an AP class if a kid gets a 3 or a 5 on the AP exam. Probably harder to evaluate what an A or B means in US history, for example, at a community college unless it is one the college DC applies to is very familiar with it. .