| One small detail about going to college as a freshman | | | | to make sure to check on that. There are some |
| means you have to remain a freshman until you begin | | | | universities that are dissatisfied with the academics of |
| at the University. Taking college classes within the | | | | community college classes. For that reason, some |
| context of dual enrollment is fine. When college | | | | universities do not accept community college courses |
| classes are counted toward high school graduation, | | | | for credit, and those classes will count just like any |
| then they are counted as high school courses, and the | | | | other high school level course. With policies varying |
| student is still considered a freshman in terms of the | | | | widely, it is important to check. |
| university admission. In junior and senior year of high | | | | Although I have not done research on the NCAA, I |
| school, you can take college classes that are placed | | | | have heard people say that dual enrollment courses |
| on the high school transcript. | | | | can affect your ability to play NCAA sports, so that is |
| Here is the big problem: the moment the student | | | | also something worth checking. |
| graduates high school, all community college classes | | | | These scholarships usually come from the university, |
| are no longer considered high school classes. That | | | | and they make the decisions about the admission |
| means if you take even one single credit during the | | | | status of each student. I am not sure if federal grants |
| summer after senior year it can cancel your freshman | | | | are tied to community college courses, or if they are |
| status on your application. One single course taken | | | | distributed based on how the university determines |
| during the summer may mean you are a transfer | | | | your status. |
| admission instead, and not eligible for freshman | | | | For some families and in some situations, it will make |
| scholarships. So taking community college courses | | | | sense to take summer course at the community |
| while you are in high school is not a problem. Taking | | | | college and delay admission into a university. While it is |
| ANY community college courses after you graduate | | | | true that the student will not receive freshman |
| high school, during the summer before going to the | | | | admission scholarships, community college courses are |
| university, can be a BIG problem and it can eliminate | | | | so inexpensive the strategy can still save a family |
| the freshman scholarships. | | | | money. University freshman do receive additional |
| It is a good idea to contact the university you are | | | | scholarships, but that is not the only financial |
| applying to - well in advance, if possible. Each university | | | | consideration. |
| can set their own policy about these kinds of things, so | | | | I hope that helps! Remember that in Washington State, |
| it can vary widely across states and counties and | | | | dual enrollment in community college is funded by the |
| colleges. Because dual enrollment for public school | | | | State of Washington, and is called Running Start. |
| students is not usually offered during the summer, they | | | | Colleges refer to it as "dual enrollment" and it is |
| may assume that ANY summer classes at a | | | | common across the country. |
| community college are not dual enrollment. You want | | | | |