Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of the dozen or so kids I know who got into Ivies last spring, I can't think of one who took college courses while in high school. Take college-level courses if you want to explore something that's not available at your high school, but not because it's the next leg of the rat race to college applications.

I'm the second poster here. DD's desire to take classes in her area of interest was not to game admissions to an Ivy League. It was to do what she loves in a field she is exceptionally talented in. She took her credits over the summer. Although she did have options to continue into her senior year and the strong support of her professor and the department head, she chose not to, so as to take it easy with the typical load of APs. I don't see how this is any different from playing club soccer or going to a college "enrichment" course, which many kids do. She thrived in her classes and it was the farthest thing from a "rat race," it was the best educational experience of her life so far.

OP here. I agree with you. DS has really enjoyed his college classes (only three and two were over the summer), and I've seen a maturation in him that may or may not have come from the interaction with college students. For instance, DS was given the opportunity to take a college class taught wholly in the foreign language he's been studying since 3rd grade. That opportunity was not available at his school.

Anonymous wrote:Of the dozen or so kids I know who got into Ivies last spring, I can't think of one who took college courses while in high school. Take college-level courses if you want to explore something that's not available at your high school, but not because it's the next leg of the rat race to college applications.

I'm the second poster here. DD's desire to take classes in her area of interest was not to game admissions to an Ivy League. It was to do what she loves in a field she is exceptionally talented in. She took her credits over the summer. Although she did have options to continue into her senior year and the strong support of her professor and the department head, she chose not to, so as to take it easy with the typical load of APs. I don't see how this is any different from playing club soccer or going to a college "enrichment" course, which many kids do. She thrived in her classes and it was the farthest thing from a "rat race," it was the best educational experience of her life so far.

Every kid I know took college courses about something they like.

Of the dozen or so kids I know who got into Ivies last spring, I can't think of one who took college courses while in high school. Take college-level courses if you want to explore something that's not available at your high school, but not because it's the next leg of the rat race to college applications.

Anonymous wrote:I agree that taking college courses can't hurt. But I don't believe this is necessary to get into even most selective colleges. AP and IB classes are taught at a college level. If a kid can get a 5 on several APs, that's enough to demonstrate capability at even the colleges that take 7% of applicants, in DC's experience.

The thought of a world where kids have to take APs, tons of ECs to demonstrate "leadership", AND several courses at a nearby college scares, me, frankly!

Most kids who take college courses do so because they want more of a challenge and/or the high school has maxed out on courses of interest.

I agree that taking college courses can't hurt. But I don't believe this is necessary to get into even most selective colleges. AP and IB classes are taught at a college level. If a kid can get a 5 on several APs, that's enough to demonstrate capability at even the colleges that take 7% of applicants, in DC's experience.

The thought of a world where kids have to take APs, tons of ECs to demonstrate "leadership", AND several courses at a nearby college scares, me, frankly!

^^I agree. College courses taken in high school show you can handle the work and dedication. Check with the colleges about transferable credit. He may be able to skip a course or two of general requirements or move to more advanced math or language courses as a freshman.

DD is a senior with 6 college credit hours (all A+/4.0) from a major university in the DMV. These are not dual enrollment. They are in addition to her high school load. Her high school GPA is lower, but I don't think the college credit is being factored in at all in a systematic way with the admissions committees. It does not help them with US News rankings.

It was actually a pain to forward the credits to each school she is applying to. Colleges are not set up to do it the way high schools are.

In sum, it can't hurt. It shows she is qualified for university level work, but I think it only helps in an intangible kind of way - plus the credits are in her intended major so it shows interest, too.

Does anyone have insight how college admission teams regard students who have earned college credits with excellent grades if they are carrying a B+ average in high school? DS has taken college courses in his strong interests (math and foreign language) and has done extremely well. Of course, most people get their best grades in their favorite courses.

I'd love to hear from those who have actual experience. Not really looking for responses of where DS won't get accepted with a B+

TIA.