Deseret News | Utah students swell the ranks of AP classes

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Utah students swell the ranks of AP classes

Anonymous | 6:54 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Or, as some home schooled teens do, you can skip high school and start taking college classes. We know of at least seven youth who have done so. One started college classes at 14 and earned an associates degree at age 18. Others received scholarships and are at UVU and BYU. Our son just completed an online course from BYU, and is now attending college classes in our community. He started the online university course at age 13.

Quality | 7:50 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

The fact that a 13-year-old is attending (and presumably passing) courses at BYU should tell you something about the level of education you're going to get at BYU.

Word of Caution | 8:52 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Concurrent enrollment can be wonderful if you are attending an in-state university/college and are not majoring in areas that don't have a large number of lower-division prerequisites.

Concurrent enrollment classes, for the most part, are not accepted at out-of-state colleges. They also do not waive many lower-division prerequisites for majors like engineering. Although the concurrent enrollment classes may provide coverage for some general credits (humanities, social science), they don't satisfy the specific lower-division prerequisites that some of the majors have. In other words, a communications major is going to get more coverage from concurrent enrollment classes than a nursing major.

AP classes, because of their national standardized curriculum and the rigorous nationally administered final exam are recognized at all universities. Additionally, based on my kids' experience with both AP classes and concurrent enrollment classes, it is my perception that AP classes are much more academically rigorous and do a better job of preparing students for college...especially those students majoring in the tougher areas like engineering.

Students should familiarize themselves with the requirements at their universities of interest and decide what works best for them: AP or concurrent enrollment.

Comments continue below

HarryL | 9:51 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

In California a student needs to be 16 and have a 2.7 or above high school GPA, along with counselor approval can attend a community college with the state paying for the tuition. The colleges are flexible and a person can be maybe 14 but 15 is not uncommon.

My son took two classes when he was 15. They appear on his college transcript, but he got sick and could not go back. Often younger students absorb the course information more deeply and store it differently than even 18 year olds.

I met a girl who came out of a very messed up life. She was 16 and seriously injured by a car. Decided to change her life, passed the high school equivalency exam, went to college and has done extremely well.

I don't think it is about the weakness of college classes but the punitive and restrictive environment in many high schools.

In CA some finish their AA degree by the time they graduate from high school. I endorse taking college classes in high school. It is a maturing event. Also it is surprising how accepting and helpful older students are of the younger ones.

Why so serious? | 10:00 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Why are so many in such a hurry to get through college before they even graduate high school? I really think we as a society need to slow down a bit. Where are we going in such a hurry? I don't mean to say that those who can excel at higher levels shouldn't be allowed to do so... I just think we need to take a breather and smell the roses! Why can't there be Advanced Placement courses just for the sake of advanced placement? Do they really need to be given college credit?

RE: caution | 10:13 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

What universities are you talking about? BYU used to have a policy that if you took a college class on the high school campus, they wouldn't accept it, but they've changed their views on this. College classes are college classes - it makes no difference. There's nothing on the transcript to indicate that a course was taken during high school, unless you look at the age of the kid. My kids did several concurrent enrollment classes while we lived in CA, and we didn't have any trouble transferring credits. It's really not that hard to get the Gen ed courses out of the way during high school.

In response to "quality", there's nothing unusual about a young teen doing college-level work.

Anonymous | 10:30 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Just what we need. A bunch of 13 year old home schoolers trying to get into college.

Why would any parent subject their kid to that?

Rich County MOM | 11:20 a.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Concurrent classes prepared my teenagers for upper division university courses. They have been able to complete 60 credit hours of college courses in high school. (Associate Degree) Our small high school could not offer so many choices, nor do we have enough staff to offer AP classes. It has been a blessing. It has been a savings, too.
When a college professor teaches the course, how can anyone say it isn't college. Just because the prof is on a screen, instead of in the room; they have cameras and microphones both ways and can communicate quite well, ask and answer questions and interact. It is a good thing and those who think to end it or decrease the offerings should think twice. It is very needed in rural UTAH.

Re: RE: caution | 1:17 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Actually, if a 'college' class is taken at a high school and taught by a high school teacher (which is the norm in UT and ID - the HS teacher is hired as an adjunct of the college or university) it may very well make a difference.

I know of students being granted college credit in courses through calculus and then when they arrive at a college campus they take a placement test, are sent to a pre-algebra class and struggle to pass.

If you can take the course from an actual college professor, you will be much better served.

Tami | 1:55 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Both AP and concurrent enrollment classes can be a valuable resource and a great way to cut some time off a degree. However, some knowledge and precautions can be helpful. For instance, AP classes do not transfer to the gpa. Since the credit comes only after passing a test, it goes to the college as a pass/fail. I know from family experience, that at BYU it can mess up a scholarship because it dilutes their gpa. So, be careful.
Quality, as far as BYU accepting homeschooled kids, we are among the ranks of such "mediocre" universities as Princeton and Harvard who recognize that sometimes highly intelligent and motivated kids do not fit into the regular school system we have set up and so they welcome these gifted kids.

Henry Drummond | 3:03 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

There is another thing students should be aware of with concurrent enrollment. If they walk away from a class and fail it, it stays on their official transcript and will affect scholarships and acceptance into many programs. Make sure you are serious before enrolling.

Midlife crises waiting to happen | 6:18 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Seriously to believe that 17 year olds are ready to make huge life decisions like majors and careers. How many of the adult you know didn't figure out their career until they were at least 20 to 30 something... Why speed things up? isn't the purpose of a university education to help an individual become an academic, well rounded in educational pursuits? Why do we try to make Universities into trade schools? if you want your kids to "finish school" more quickly why not send them to welding school? I hear the going rate for a welder is soemwhere around 60K!

concurrent enrollment | 6:23 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

As long as the class offers college credit from an accredited college... All universities will accept the credit. But it just looks like transfer credit... Then comes the question of whether that credit will transfer from that college to whatever university the individual is wanting to attend. For example if you take a cosmetician course at SLCC it is unlikely to transfer to the U because they have no comparable credit. If it does transfer it only transfers as credit but does not count towards graduation (other than as elective credit)

Increase with New Century | 6:28 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

I would think the increase would have a lot to do with the new century scholarships... a terrible idea in my opinion. Seriously, an Associates before you graduate... then what your BA at 20 and then your PHD at 25. What do you do then... start your profession? so by the time you hit retirement you work for like 40 years instead of 35? wow sounds fun! I way rather play around for a few extra years! Seriously, does life already come too fast why push these kids to go faster... go join a sports team or club or do some volunteer work!

When I went to school | 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

all we could do is like 4 AP classes. My friends and I still seem to be doing fine in life... who needs an associates degree by 17 anyway? Do these kids not do student government, sports, hang out with friends and such?

Go get a job | 6:31 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

you want your kids to get ahead in life, have them go work a job. That will be way more marketable then a degree by 17 the only people who want that are those looking to look good... oh welcome to Utah!

Mathman | 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Why all the hate on concurrent enrollment classes. They are a great way to get started on a college education while saving families a huge amount of money in tuition.
I cannot speak for other subjects, but CC math classes taught in Utah schools through SLCC have to have teachers with a master's degree. The teachers are observed by faculty from SLCC and course work is dictated by the math dept. from SLCC. At our school, it is considered the honors track to AP Calculus and AP Statistics.

Some of you are silly . . . | 9:40 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

concurrent enrollment kids still play on sports team, work at part-time jobs, hang out with friends, etc. What they *don't* do is spend mindless hours in front of the boob tube. If a kid has a good work ethic, it isn't hard to fit a college class or two in. Also, many times groups of friends will take these classes together.

mom of five | 11:15 p.m. Aug. 26, 2009

Amen to "Some of you are silly . . ."

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