Question about taking non-dual credit college classes during high school

Mom2aphysicsgeek
Sat, 09 Jul 2016 23:22:42 +0000

@purpleplum In terms of graduating early, what coursework will she have completed? You say, “This raised a red flag for me because it is possible that my DD may need to take an advanced college math class her senior year of high school that is not dual credit, because she may run out of advanced math classes to take at her school.”

Your description makes me ask b/c you said “an” advanced class, not multiple plural. The kids that I know who are graduating early are significantly advanced. They are taking the AP BC exam in 9th or 10th grade. AP chem is a 9th grade course. They truly are maxing out appropriate level course work.

Kids that are applying after regular graduation age that are competitive for some of these schools will have major awards, high AMC/AIME scores, etc.

The questions I would ask myself is what will she have if she graduates early compared to 12th grade applicants and what will she accomplish if she has more time in high school. Then weigh the pros and cons of graduating early vs. not.

I strongly encourage her to become active in the AoPS forums and take their online classes. They are truly a blessing for advanced kids. They are kids they can relate to each other, challenge their thinking, and really develop their problem solving abilities. AoPS filled a huge void in our ds’s life. I cannot say enough good things about what it did for him academically.