<p>To each his own. I agree with oldfort, but I understand there are exceptions.</p>
<p>My opinion is based the my kids’ class experience in a CC, a State U, a prestigious private, and a top tech. Unless you have one of a few rare high caliber CCs in your town, my recommendation for elite-college bound kids is to avoid CCs, or at least forgo the credit and retake the class later. Time can be better spent on a part time job, a research project, another EC or volunteering.</p>
<p>To each his own is right, but why push your kid to have less of a high school experience by moving him/her into college (even cc)? The cost saving factor is small compared to the cost of college overall and the missed experiences. I never heard of this being done but I"m glad we don’t push our kids ahead in my community. Interesting contradiction as to how kids stay adolescents longer that another thread was discussing.</p>
<p>Amtc- the dual enrollment classes are taught in the HS, not in the CC. An example is AP Bio. Our AP bio teacher teaches the AP Bio class, but adds in some additional labs that the kids all do as part of her curriculum. These labs have allowed the kids to sign up for up to 8 credits of college credit. It’s the same class, with the same teacher, with the same work taught in the HS. If we pay $800, my DS get “college credit” and can apply for college credit if he goes to a SUNY or any other school that might accept the credit. Maybe the school DS eventually goes to will accept it, or maybe not. SUNY will. So the HS kids aren’t really missing anything. However, as a possible bio major, I see no reason for him to take his Into bio class in HS. He should take it at his university. </p>
<p>People take these classes for different reasons; some just to show that they took the most advanced classes, others to actually get college credit. Everyone is different. Like I said, I think my kids should take their college classes for credit at their college. But that is just me.</p>
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<p>That’s interesting and convenient. You’re very fortunate. </p>
<p>Here the CC classes are taught at the CC, according to traditional college scheduling. Any HS kids who want to enroll must arrange their own transportation and manage the time away from HS appropriately. </p>
<p>For example, an athlete would have to make sure all his/her CC classes occur in the mornings, then drive to the HS and attend those classes in order to join team practice right after school. Likewise for band/drama/etc. It’s a pretty big hassle.</p>
<p>Yes, to each his own. Blanket statements are rarely advisable. My D goes to a competitive private HS. They pride themselves on their science curriculum. They teach college science courses stretched to two years in the advanced level. It is wonderful for science oriented kids. It is also time consuming since to complete an advanced science course one needs to take it for two years. Many at her school are interested in going to a medical school. They take Chem for one year and move onto Bio 1 and 2 making total of 3 advanced science courses completed.</p>
<p>My D is one of the top students in advanced Calculus and was the top in the advanced Physics 1 course last year. She is however not interested in going into any kind of science. She would much rather take a history course that interests her. No, no, her GC says, with your GPA and test scores you need two more years of advanced science. instead of her original plan of continuing with advanced Physics 2. She signed up for a chemistry course at a CC over the summer. Now she is in the advanced Chem 2 with kids who has done the advanced Chem 1 at her HS. At the beginning, she wasn’t sure if CC prepared her well enough to be compatible with her classmates. It turns out she is ahead if anything.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it is never in good taste bashing an organization that helps the less fortunate in the society even if one has a good reason to do so. In my one experience, I have a one-on-one comparison. My D’s highly prestigeous private HS chemistry course doesn’t necessarily come out on top.</p>
<p>In some states, high school students take the CC classes for FREE. They just pay for their books/lab fees. For some students/parents that’s a great deal. Even one or two classes a summer, carefully selected, can make a postive impact on both admissions and the ability to get the classes they need at registration. Dd has thought about this one, I doubt it will happen since she needs next summer to do the research for her Extend Essay (IB).</p>
<p>Our daughters have taken a lot of CC and SUNY courses in the high school. They have taken them because they are the most rigorous courses offered in the respective acdemic disciplines. On the other hand, we have never paid for them for two reasons: 1) the college credits would not be accepted by the colleges my daughters attend/want to attend and; 2) we doubt these courses would serve as an adequate “foundation” for advanced study in French/Spanish, biology, math, [pick your subject]. For kids who know they will be attending a SUNY it might make sense to pay for the credits, however.</p>
<p>At least we have a choice. There are some neighboring high schools where if you do not pay for the “college-in-the-high school” course you cannot register for the course.</p>
<p>I think CC’s vary. Our HS district offers two kinds of CC classes. Dual enrollment is where the student gets CC credit along with HS credit and the class is taken at the HS. In our district it saves the HS money. The CC class is free including books. The 2nd option is HSers are able to enroll in up to 9 units or 11 for a senior at the CC for free. You must pay for books. These classes are taken at the CC.
2012 D hated her regular HS. She opted to do a program that is part independent study and part CC classes. This semester she is taking English 110 which is basically college composition. The amount of reading and writing she is doing in this class far exceeds the amount she did last year in GATE English at the HS. I think she is getting a great education. She is also taking a college algebra class. Next semester she will be able to take 2 or 3 more CC classes. Our CC is known to be one of the best in our state and has a reputation of sending a large percentage of kids off to all levels of 4 yr universities.
By the end of her senior year my D will have at least one semester of college credit. I don’t know if she will use them or not. I know I will push her to take classes that she might need down the road. Especially classes in disciplines that are required but not in her major. For example many humanities kids in our community like to get their science credits done so they are done with that and can concentrate on classes that interest them.
Both D1 and S1 did the traditional HS program. For D2 this alternative program is working for her. I have a much happier student who I think is actually learning more.</p>
<p>OK, having an issue with my DD. (First lament: feel like just got my DS situated in his first year in college, and I’m having to start worrying all over again)! My DD has always been a good, not great student. A’s and B’s in the hardest courses. She’s taking AP English, AP Physics, APUSH, pre-AP pre-calc, pre-AP Latin, 3rd year graphic design and independent art studies (to work on her portfolio). She’s also working 20-25 hours a week. Her first 6 weeks grades were her worst ever (by far)!! 2 C’s, 1 barely B, high B and an A. And to make matters worse, they’re not getting better into this next 6 weeks. My DH is about to lose it, while I’ve been advocating patience. </p>
<p>My question is, am I showing too much patience? DH wants to have a pow-wow with her tonight. Her attitude is that the classes are hard, some of the teachers are very picky, etc. and that she’s doing fine. Any advice?</p>
<p>mom60 - It sounds like your D has found what works best for her and that is great! My D1 (college freshman) took 4 dual enrollment classes in hs along with all of her AP classes. She actually has enough credits to be considered a sophomore at her college. She will not graduate in 3 years because she has to take certain classes in each year for her musical theatre major. But she has many more choices especially by her senior year as to additional classes she will be able to take.</p>
<p>Newtothismom: I know from S workload this year, 20-25 hours of outside employment would make the grades take a hit. APUSH is very reading intensive and AP Physics is not everyone’s walk in the park. Is she having difficulty getting her homework done? Can she cut back at work to 10-15 hours?</p>
<p>newtothis mom: Have the powow. Junior year grades can be make-or-break in some situations. If her grades drop a lot, she will be closing some doors. She may be working too much at the part-time job for that course load.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest the same as above. She should cut down on her work hours. The reading for APUSH and Eng Lang and the problem sets for AP physics are labor intensive. </p>
<p>My '12 son’s grades are also taking a hit from the increased workload this year but, he knew that this would happen and opted for this workload regardless. Some doors may close for him because of it but, just maybe, he will end up where he belongs anyhow. </p>
<p>I would have the talk with your daughter about what the decrease in GPA may mean (less choices later) but, ultimately, it is up to her. If she is “fine” with her grades and efforts then, so be it. She will find her path.</p>
<p>I agree about the part time job. It’s new to her - she didn’t get it until the end of July and she just loves working. She doesn’t have many ECs, so really work is “her thing”. I’m thinking about laying out our expectations (bring those C’s up) or work may have to go. In some respects, we’re lucky that the schools she’s looking at aren’t as selective as DS’s were. She’s looking at non-art schools that have good design programs that also have strong co-op programs (see, there’s the work aspect again)! It’s hard to tell sometimes if they’re just being lazy, or if they’re really struggling - at least it is with my kids!</p>
<p>What are your DD’s goals? What does she want to do with all those AP classes that she isn’t doing well in? If she wants to be a science/math major in college, then maybe she should stop working and focus on school. Perhaps she should consider dropping back to Honors level in some of her courses? I’d say two C’s aren’t that great for an A/B student. Before doing anything have her talk to her teachers and see if these grades are based on one two quizzes and they think she will be able to pull them up. Good luck!</p>
<p>Can you look at all her grades in each class? Are those low grades based on a single bad test/quiz? I would be very concerned if things were continuing along these lines…and the job would go. Her primary job is school, and things aren’t going so well there. Does she have any real options to change classes? Does she need a tutor to catch up in a couple of classes and then she can take from there as long as she has more time to work on her school work?</p>
<p>More problems to dwell on… D just got diagnosed with MONO! This is a real problem as she is in a 4x4. Her “finals” for her first term are next week. She is missing this entire week (fever WILL NOT go away) and may miss next week. She is FREAKING out. She has missed several AP Art History quizzes, two Trig tests, and I don’t know what in APUSH. And then, of course, she has the equivalent of her semester “finals” next week. (In a 4x4, each quarter is the same as a semester and a class that typically takes a year takes one semester.) I gave the attendance and her counselor a note from the doctor. I have been writing her teachers, who all say “she will get caught up.” She is a 4.05 as of end of last year. She currently has all A’s going into this week, some comfortably. Her AP Art History is the closest to a B (91 percent.) And now she can’t get ready for the softball season for 4 -6 weeks…</p>
<p>Has anyone had this problem? What did you do?</p>
<p>D1 had mono in college freshman spring semester. She had a mild case of it. She came home for a week then went back to school. She took it easy for few months. She stopped dancing and partying.</p>
<p>Your daughter should try to get as much rest as possible, no sports for a while. Other than school, and absolutely necessary activities, she shouldn’t be doing anything but rest. It’s easy to get a relapse. Once she is better, ask her doctor if she should get a flu shot (with swine flue).</p>
<p>Hope she feels better soon.</p>
<p>Funny thing is she had just got the flu shot last week. I thought this was the flu and that the flu shot just hadn’t taken effect. But she never got fevers that high for that long with the flu before… Thanks. I will try to curb her. Ha! That should be hard. She is supposed to play second base this year. She was just starting to “gear up” for the season. Now she won’t be able to practice for the next few weeks.</p>
<p>Not to discourage you, but I had mono as a H.S. sophomore and was out for 8 weeks or more. The first 3 or 4 are a complete blur.</p>