I do think this is a worthwhile topic, but I don't actually agree with this. Many gifted kids dabble in college courses well before they have a particular program or university in mind. Should they really hold off on learning at that level if they don't know if it will "count" later? What about learning for it's own sake? What about being challenged? In my opinion, learning is never "wasted". I do appreciate the advice, but perhaps this will apply more to some than to others.
Hi Lorel!
Thanks for clearing this up. I referred to this in an earlier post, but the way this thread covers different topics, it's kind of lost back there. I'm all for learning for learning's sake. I was specifically trying to share about applying credits to programs.
Here is where I kind of referred to taking courses that won't count to a major degree program:
If your kids don't have a strong science interest or background, these are fine for a starting point, but not the same depth as the regular science for science majors which always requires a lab. Depending on their major, they will need to then take "the science for science majors" courses. Sometimes this is a viable option, if they have a heavy load and want an introduction to physics, before taking the fast paced one, for example.
I am trying to keep my posts shorter than longer, and I do think it's kind of confusing to follow.
The problem here is when the college students think and believe they have checked something off way back in high school and now have 3 years of college finished and are ready to start their major (some prerequisites for some majors are a little over a semester and don't overlap).
Having to go back and take math and sciences after a few years break when you didn't plan to can be expensive, as well as annoying. Her friends are wanting to go to their degree program, one is staying to redo his AP classes for a few med schools. Rent, tuition, and books are expensive, not to mention the time factor...anyway, that's what I was referring to. They need to double check with the head of the department, before they just assume that it can apply to the program they intend it to.
I think it is logical to think that if the university accepted the AP/IB for admittance, the school/program within will. It was news to me that not only do they not, some medical schools (and probably other higher degree programs) do not. Also, they use index scores for admissions into some of these programs, and AP courses do not add points. It will help us in planning, so I thought I'd share.
(I hope this high school/college thread will work out for all topics...maybe not
)
