Should HS's offer Associates Degree

Parents Forum
1

<p>According to this link there is a HS in New York that has joined forces with Bard College and is offering its top students the opportunity to spend their Jr & Sr years taking college classes with the end result of an Associates degree upon HS graduation. </p>

<p>[Op-Ed</a> Columnist - A Very Bright Idea - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/opinion/18herbert.html]Op-Ed”>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/opinion/18herbert.html)</p>

<p>I guess I can see this as a successful endeavor for some kids and it does bring the courses right to their doorstep. But to me, something just doesn’t feel right. Your high school years are supposed to be about so much more than just school work. (EC’s, friends, and maturing)</p>

<p>Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>My daughter turned down a seat at Bard to do the IB program elsewhere. There were a lot of reasons, but she was aware that many colleges do not take the associates degree credits because they would have been (at that time 4 years ago) on the high school transcript. Bard is a great school and a wonderful choice because entrance criteria is, IMO, more balanced than that of the specialized high schools which is by test only. Bard requires a test, some writing and an interview. While it is rigorous and prestigious, the kids do have a regular high school experience in most ways. The real problems for that particular school are that the facilities are horrible and the location is worse.</p>