3 answers
Gabrielle
Student
Tracy, California
2
Questions
Asked
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How can dual enrollment help or hurt my college application/experience?
I'm taking dual enrollment classes next year, and plan to throughout high school. These college credits, however, only transfer to state colleges, and a couple others. I also plan on taking some AP classes in later years as well. I plan on both applying to colleges like MIT and state colleges. Would this benefit my future and myself?
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3 answers
Jonathan Mei
Research Engineer
2
Answers
Mission Viejo, California
Updated
Jonathan’s Answer
Hi Gab,
A number of my high school friends and I all received 5's on plenty of AP exams throughout high school, and we dual enrolled at our local state university in junior and senior year of high school. I can tell you about two particularly relevant experiences that come to mind, involving both state school and MIT. I won't speak too much to admissions, because there are so many other factors that play into that decision. But at the least, getting good grades while dual enrolling won't hurt your chances!
I went to MIT for undergrad. It took 2 math courses at my state school to count as placement (not even credit!) towards one math class at MIT. That meant that even though I was able to start at a slightly higher level of math than otherwise, I still had to take the same total number courses as everyone else. Also, even though MIT didn't directly accept my 5's on AP exams, they let incoming students take what are essentially comprehensive final exams to place out of certain courses as well. AP classes were merely a good starting point to help in preparing for those. Mostly, I benefitted from dual enrolling by already knowing how college classes are structured and having additional exposure to prerequisite material when it showed up in later classes.
One of my friends went to the state university for undergrad. With all the credits he had from both AP's and dual enrollment, he was able to graduate in 2 years and then came to join me at MIT but for graduate school instead! For him, one of the toughest parts of the undergraduate experience wasn't the schoolwork, but instead not meeting other students in his major at his class level from the usual intro courses. Then, when he was just starting to hit his stride in his 2nd year, it was time to graduate. Fortunately, he was much happier on the social front in graduate school, and of course saved a bunch of money on his undergraduate tuition.
Hope that's helpful as you think about what you want to do after high school. Good luck!
A number of my high school friends and I all received 5's on plenty of AP exams throughout high school, and we dual enrolled at our local state university in junior and senior year of high school. I can tell you about two particularly relevant experiences that come to mind, involving both state school and MIT. I won't speak too much to admissions, because there are so many other factors that play into that decision. But at the least, getting good grades while dual enrolling won't hurt your chances!
I went to MIT for undergrad. It took 2 math courses at my state school to count as placement (not even credit!) towards one math class at MIT. That meant that even though I was able to start at a slightly higher level of math than otherwise, I still had to take the same total number courses as everyone else. Also, even though MIT didn't directly accept my 5's on AP exams, they let incoming students take what are essentially comprehensive final exams to place out of certain courses as well. AP classes were merely a good starting point to help in preparing for those. Mostly, I benefitted from dual enrolling by already knowing how college classes are structured and having additional exposure to prerequisite material when it showed up in later classes.
One of my friends went to the state university for undergrad. With all the credits he had from both AP's and dual enrollment, he was able to graduate in 2 years and then came to join me at MIT but for graduate school instead! For him, one of the toughest parts of the undergraduate experience wasn't the schoolwork, but instead not meeting other students in his major at his class level from the usual intro courses. Then, when he was just starting to hit his stride in his 2nd year, it was time to graduate. Fortunately, he was much happier on the social front in graduate school, and of course saved a bunch of money on his undergraduate tuition.
Hope that's helpful as you think about what you want to do after high school. Good luck!
Thank you so much! It is very helpful as I think about my high school/college future!
Gabrielle
Jennifer Lygren-Snyder
Medical Laboratory Scientist
30
Answers
Kansas City, Missouri
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
In my experience (as a parent of children that did both recently) you have to do your homework and research what schools want and are willing to accept. If you are interested specifically in MIT then you need to reach out to MIT and have a conversation with an admissions counselor. Do this at all the schools you are interested in right now. It won't hurt and you may be surprised at the answers.
NONE of my daughters received credit for any of their AP classes at the colleges they attended. So, they felt (I did too) they put A LOT of effort and time into a class and then had to retake in college. And while they did well in the class (just not good enough on the exam) the college class was different than what they learned in HS (AP classes prep you for AP exam). All of them took dual enrollment classes their junior/senior years of high school and their colleges accepted the coursework, and they were able to complete many gen ed classes (ENG 101, 102, communication, statistics, college algebra, biology etc...) My daughter that took AP Biology and then Dual Enrollment Biology at local college said the Dual Enrollment demand of her time want much less than AP Biology in HS. Material was similar, emphasis on certain subject matter somewhat different, overall, MUCH less reading and writing in the dual enrollment course.
Do your research - not just what the website says, reach out to admissions counselor. have copies of your transcripts and course descriptions to send to them. This is what is used to make the determinations. Talking to admissions counselors does not obligate you to a specific school but they just may remember you when you do apply.
Good Luck!!
NONE of my daughters received credit for any of their AP classes at the colleges they attended. So, they felt (I did too) they put A LOT of effort and time into a class and then had to retake in college. And while they did well in the class (just not good enough on the exam) the college class was different than what they learned in HS (AP classes prep you for AP exam). All of them took dual enrollment classes their junior/senior years of high school and their colleges accepted the coursework, and they were able to complete many gen ed classes (ENG 101, 102, communication, statistics, college algebra, biology etc...) My daughter that took AP Biology and then Dual Enrollment Biology at local college said the Dual Enrollment demand of her time want much less than AP Biology in HS. Material was similar, emphasis on certain subject matter somewhat different, overall, MUCH less reading and writing in the dual enrollment course.
Do your research - not just what the website says, reach out to admissions counselor. have copies of your transcripts and course descriptions to send to them. This is what is used to make the determinations. Talking to admissions counselors does not obligate you to a specific school but they just may remember you when you do apply.
Good Luck!!
Thank you so much, Jennifer!
Gabrielle
TRAVIS UPCHURCH
Federal Contract Admin
83
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Dual Credit/ AP or CLEP Test credits give you college credits, but do not affect your college GPA. Meaning you wont have a grade reflected on your transcript. Just the completion of those courses. I think it is good to complete as many credits as possible. You will save time and money. For example CLEP tests cost about $100 and if you get 51% of the answers right on most tests you get the credit. No time wasted in a class or money wasted on books. If a college wont accept those credits, it might not be a legit school to begin with.
Thank you so much for your advice!
Gabrielle