Taking college classes while in high school is becoming more popular as students see financial as well as admission advantages to earning college credit before starting college. While community college courses may be more expensive than taking the $87 AP exam, they provide a relatively low-cost way to earn college credit.
Some students take college courses during the summer, while others take a college course during the school year. In some areas, community college courses are offered at the high school, making it easy for students to take a college class right after school. Online classes are also becoming more available.
Students who have taken several college courses while in high school may start college with enough credits to graduate a semester, or in some cases, a year early. That means you can start working and earning income rather than paying tuition for that fourth year. Even if you plan to spend four years in college, at some schools your registration time is based on the number of credits you have earned, so having extra credits means you would be able to register for classes before other students. That can be a real benefit at schools where it’s tough to get into classes and students struggle to graduate in four years.
But not all colleges look kindly on college courses taken in high school. While some community college courses are challenging, others may not prepare a student for advanced college work. If you are planning to apply to highly selective colleges, college courses should not be a substitute for AP courses. Admissions officers will wonder if a student is taking community college courses because they are not as rigorous as AP courses, or because the student wants to avoid AP exams.
If a student has exhausted the AP offerings at her school, taking college courses would obviously not be seen as trying to avoid more rigorous classes. Or if a student is interested in a subject not taught at the high school, taking a college course would be evidence of intellectual curiosity.
For students who have not taken AP courses, taking a college course can strengthen their academic record. It’s not just about impressing colleges. Some students who take a summer class at a community college gain confidence in their ability to handle more rigorous coursework and go on to take AP or honors classes. Some students feel less anxious and more prepared for college after taking a college class and reading a college textbook. Under-achieving students who are bored with the high school curriculum may find college courses more interesting. Successfully completing college courses while still in high school can help those students who might otherwise have a difficult transition to college.
If you plan to take a community college class or even a summer course at a four year college, choose one that is likely to be accepted for transfer credit. Look for a course that is offered at every college. Introduction to Psychology is likely to transfer to most schools, but Introduction to Business may not, especially if you end up at a liberal arts college that does not offer a business major.
