AP*/DC ..….not AC/DC; Part 2

In the previous blog AP*/DC....not AC/DC; Part 1 we looked at the option of Dual Enrollment courses for your high school student who is considering college.  In Part 2 of this blog we’ll look at how Advanced Placement is another option to consider in the academic mix for your  home school, public or private school student. 

Advanced Placement is a program created by the College Board which offers college-level curriculum and examinations to high school students.  Public and private high schools offer courses which meet certain standards set by the College Board.  As far as home school curriculum, you should check with the publisher to see if the content meets standards set by College Board.  Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) also has information regarding online Advanced Placement classes.  Based on exam scores, which are taken in May of the academic year that the student takes the course, a student can receive college credit for many introductory college classes.  Each college sets guidelines as to what score a student has to receive in order to receive credit for that course.  To find out more information about these courses try College Board. 

As in the previous blog, let me share a bit of personal reflection on the different choices we made for our daughters.  When it came to our youngest daughter, circumstances were different in terms of her college selections due to her career interests.  She did take dual enrollment courses at the local technical college.  Additionally,  during her senior year she wanted to take Advanced Chemistry.  After talking, we decided to make it an AP* course.  Before beginning this process, I looked on the College Board website to make sure to follow their instructions on finding an exam site.  College Board lists high schools that will allow outside students to come in and take the exams which are taken nationwide on specific dates/times.   I expected to pay for the exam ($89), but what I didn’t expect was the level of difficulty I faced in locating a high school that: 1) gave the chemistry exam 2) would allow my daughter a seat for the exam.  I called six different high schools, even calling my alma mater.  Half of the high schools weren’t giving the chemistry exam.  Of the other three, only one allowed my daughter a seat for the exam.  I started making phone calls in January because the schools order the exams as late as March.  

For those who home school I offer some words of caution.  Before you start the curriculum, begin making phone calls and make sure your student can take the test at a high school that is giving that particular exam.  There are 22 different tests and most high schools don’t offer all 22 courses.   Of the six high schools I called, only three were giving the chemistry exam.   I also ran into the issue that the school wouldn’t allow outside students to take the exam.  Even the school that did allow my daughter to take the exam did have to “check” and see if it was permissible for her to take the exam.  If she hadn’t been allowed to take the exam, I was resolved to count the course as honors. Also, keep in mind that if your student makes the appropriate grade on the exam(usually a 4 or 5) and gets the college credit, some graduate schools will not accept college credits gained through taking the AP* exams.  I know of a student who graduated from a prestigious university and began the long process of getting prepared to apply to medical school.  She discovered that she had to retake two undergraduate biology courses for which she had received AP* credit because medical schools do not accept those college course credits.  Again, check with an admissions counselor at your student’s preferred college if in doubt.

*AP is a registered trademark of the College Board

Until Next Time,

Johnna

AP*/DC....not AC/DC; Part 1

If your student is considering college, then you might want to consider adding Advanced Placement or Dual Enrollment Courses to the academic mix.  Whether your student is enrolled in a home school, public or private school, Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment Courses have a great deal to offer your future college student.  In Part 1 of this blog we’ll look at Dual Enrollment Courses (DC).

Dual Enrollment Courses are named as such because they offer high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while still earning credits toward their high school diploma.  These courses can be offered on the high school campus, online, or on the college campus.  To find out more information about Dual enrollment courses check with your state’s commission on higher education.  In SC, you can go to SC Commission on Higher Education for more information.  If you're in another state, just check out you commission on higher education.

Just a bit of personal reflection on the different choices we made for our daughters.  During their senior year my two oldest daughters took 2-3 dual enrollment courses each semester at the local technical college.  They drove 45 minutes on Tuesday/Thursday to attend classes.  Our oldest daughter took an online course her second semester.  Additionally, during the academic year they were still completing their course work for our home school.    My goal was to expose them to a college classroom setting which included learning study skills needed for college, communicating with college professors, engaging with other students and earning college credits.  

As we began the process at the end of their junior year, I was able to find information at the following SC website:  transferring Dual Enrollment courses. Based on this information and their interests, we selected their courses.  In order for them to take classes at a technical college (cheaper per hour than a 4 year school), we had to submit their SAT (or ACT scores) and have our third option home school association sign off on paperwork.  Students can also take the COMPASS test in order to take college courses prior to graduating high school.  If you’re not sure what to do, contact your local college and find out more information.  Usually, they have staff that deal specifically with dual enrollment students.  Be advised that they may call the program something different than Dual Enrollment….our local technical college calls them PACE classes. If your student is in public or private school, contact the guidance counselor to see how to proceed.

When it came to our youngest daughter, circumstances were different in terms of her college selections due to her career interests.  Many of the colleges she was looking at were private or out-of-state and her GPA wasn’t going to get the “big” scholarships.  For more information on this topic, check out my blog post The Money GPA. We decided the best course of action for her would be to take 3 courses each semester at the technical college during her junior year.  Was it risky to send a junior on campus for classes?  Yes, but we felt like our daughter was academically, emotionally and mentally prepared for the challenge.  As a parent you have to make that judgment call because you know your student better than anyone.  At the end of her junior year she had 20 hours of transferable college credits and her GPA gave her the opportunity to compete for the “big scholarships.”  One word of caution:  if your student has too many college credits, they may be considered a transfer student and not an incoming freshman.  They may not be eligible for the big scholarships that are usually available only to incoming freshman.   Each college is different…..so check with an admissions counselor at the college(s) where your student intends to apply.

*AP is a registered trademark of the College Board