Graduating HS with Associate degree vs AP credit

[Anonymous]

DC can choose between multiple HS tracks. Not sure which option may be most attractive in college admissions?

Option 1: AP courses at the HS
Option 2: Mix of HS and Community College courses and they graduate HS with an Associates degree
Option 3: Mix of CC and AP courses

DC is not interested in graduating college early and is ok with immersing themselves in HS experience. Could take a significant number of AP courses and not pay for exams. Also has honors options available. Many at the school graduate with 4.0+ GPA.

DC has not decided on a college major or career path. CC could be a way to get a “general studies” associates by knocking out courses typically taken as a college freshman and sophomore. It could also be a way to try out something they may want to major in (say psychology) or another interest to possibly stand out in application (so computer science associates for Psychology pre-med or pre-law major in college).

In case this is relevant - DC does play a sport but plans to apply for scholarships and merit aid to attend college. Leaning towards private universities but considering some publics as well.

Appreciate any insights in advance!

[Anonymous]

Check each university policy on associate's degrees; some will make you apply as a transfer student if you have that and will not consider you a first year student. This can impact financial aid and scholarships too.

[Anonymous]

AP classes all the way, you come across as wealthier to admissions folks and that in itself is very valuable.

I am not saying don’t take any CC courses, but there is no need to add the socioeconomic stigma of an associates degree to his CV if it is not necessary for financial reasons.

[Anonymous]

The associates degree has no value in highly selective college admissions.

Go with APs. Add CC courses only as needed for some particular reason, such as an advanced math student wanting multivariable after taking calc earlier in high school, or some other course not available at the high school.

[Anonymous]

OP here

Thanks for the replies thus far. Has anyone used CC to get a head start on figuring out a major or career? For instance CC business or math classes to confirm college major? Maybe to help fine tune a college essay or narrow down which schools may be the good fits?

Also for AP does it matter if the classes are very different than college major? For instance art or history classes if ultimately the kid decides to major in math?

[Anonymous]

You need to select a few colleges the kid is likely to apply to, & check out their policies. There is great variation on individual colleges’ policies on accepting comm college credits (especially if the comm college classes counted towards high school graduation) & how much credit (if any) they will grant for a given AP score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here

Thanks for the replies thus far. Has anyone used CC to get a head start on figuring out a major or career? For instance CC business or math classes to confirm college major? Maybe to help fine tune a college essay or narrow down which schools may be the good fits?

Also for AP does it matter if the classes are very different than college major? For instance art or history classes if ultimately the kid decides to major in math?

CC is great for a specific technical degree like nursing, or to save money and time to fulfill minimum requirements for 4-year state college degree.

For liberal arts and engineering, preparing broadly for a range of high-education professions, AP for high school and then 4 years of university.

[Anonymous]

If DC were mine, with those options, it would be all AP classes.

Only exception would be if already maxed out ALL of the AP math course options before 12th grade. In that case, maybe maybe a CC course in super advanced math.