How common is it to enter college with sophomore status?

[Anonymous]

If we are bragging... Mine will be a junior after first semester

[Anonymous]

Its very common for kids with a rigorous AP and dual load. More so at state schools as T20 doesn't accept many AP or DE courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How's being first year sophomore different from eventually graduating as a junior?

I'm not from the US but my DC will in all likelihood got to college in the US, so would be interesting to understand how these things work.

And, just to confirm, this issue arises as High School Students get college credit by taking classes labeled college level, and also if they go to camp at a college during summer?

Summer camp at a college doesn’t usually grant college credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How's being first year sophomore different from eventually graduating as a junior?

I'm not from the US but my DC will in all likelihood got to college in the US, so would be interesting to understand how these things work.

And, just to confirm, this issue arises as High School Students get college credit by taking classes labeled college level, and also if they go to camp at a college during summer?

Summer camp at a college doesn’t usually grant college credit.

Really depends. My kid went to UMD and Boston U summer programs and got credit for all the classes.

[Anonymous]

Many mediocre students at our high school ,who's parents wanted to save money and students didn't have a shot at good colleges anyways, did lots of dual enrollment from local community college and two years at state school.

Most of them regret missing out on a true college education and experience. Not many went to post grad or professional programs.

[Anonymous]

*good students saved more money by getting full rides at same state school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS and many of his friends are going to be sophomores when they start college.

I think they need 24 credits so about 7 AP Classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why rush getting out of college, you get so much more out of 4 or 5 years than 3, academically, socially, fun, etc

I would rather my kid take a biology class at a university taught by a well respected college professor than some disgruntled high school teacher with 3 years on the job and no real world experience with a world class lab.

My DS graduated from UVA college of Engineering in 3 years because the school accepted over 30+ credits from his high school AP courses. He graduated in May '23 in three years, and I gave him 44K, the money I would have to pay for his last year at UVA, to travel the world before he comes back and either starts grad school or works for the NSA. Staying in school for 4 or 5 years only benefits the university, NOT you.

Btw, some of those "disgruntled" HS teachers have degrees from MIT or CalTech, something that you do not have. Be respectful....

When he applies for jobs or tries to create something on his own, he's going to be competing against people with a full 4-year education, some including a masters or a double major.

He also missed out on building connections with the top students at his school who spent the 4th year doing the most advanced work leading to stronger post-college placements.

NP. Why would an employer prefer someone who took 4 years for the same degree that PP’s child got in 3? On top of that he’ll have life experience and possibly deeper understanding of a foreign language and other cultures depending on where he travels to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS and many of his friends are going to be sophomores when they start college.

It's common. Lots of mcps schools have dual enrollment with MC. You can save a lot of money. But colleges that take them may be limited, like umbc, gmu, etc.

This is not true. Lots of large state schools take them. My kid had full sophomore status and got to register for classes ahead of the freshman.

[Anonymous]

What’s the rush? I graduated at 20. I am now 50 yo and burned out. Wish I had taken the time to smell the roses and enjoy the journey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's so common at selective schools that you aren't special if you come in with credit. You're normal. Average.

Indeed, this should be obvious to anyone paying even the slightest attention to high school class choices and college admissions.

It’s common at most colleges. The credits are accepted and my kid didn’t have any problems with taking upper level courses their freshman year. Kid said the ap courses were in some cases harder than the college course. Kid would tell you college was much easier because of the rigor of the ap classes.

Also disabuse yourself of the notion that parents are pushing this trend to save money. The kids are so competitive in hs that kids feel like they have to take ap classes. I argued with my kid for months because kid loaded up with too many ap classes. Kid refused to back down. I know other parents who went to the principal to try to drag their kid out of some ap classes. Most of the parents I knew agreed that it was insane but by hs the kids who are academically talented are intense about competing with each other.

[Anonymous]

There's really no such thing as sophomore "status" or "standing." I entered college with the number of credits (AP + CLEP) most earn in their first two semesters on campus, but I was still a freshman (and I still took 4 years to graduate).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the rush? I graduated at 20. I am now 50 yo and burned out. Wish I had taken the time to smell the roses and enjoy the journey.

I agree. Spouse and are aren’t competitive types and hated the pressure that took away from enjoying high school. If you ask any kid at any large hs though they will tell you the kids who aren’t in ap classes are dumb. I have kids who took a lot of them and kids who took took few. For most of the kids, it’s a knock to the self esteem to not be in that rat race. I feel so sorry for kids living thru this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's really no such thing as sophomore "status" or "standing." I entered college with the number of credits (AP + CLEP) most earn in their first two semesters on campus, but I was still a freshman (and I still took 4 years to graduate).

That is not true. Just because it was true for you doesn’t make it universall. My kid at a big well known state school was considered a sophomore, every document mentioned kid was a sophomore, and kid got to register ahead of the freshman.

All the kids my kid was in hs with who loaded up with ap classes graduated in3 or finished with a masters in 4. This is not unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*good students saved more money by getting full rides at same state school.

Who got the full ride other than under represented minority students? They are rare.