Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Experience w/ Dual Degree Programs?

My younger two are entering middle school in the fall so we still have a few years before deciding. However, our district's dual enrollment program with the local community college has been in the spotlight recently. I believe that the decisions are typically made by freshman year as there are many course requirements to satisfy to get that AA degree the same time as the high school diploma. In reviewing the list of participants, I did note that only a small minority are headed toward top private colleges with the majority attending state universities and decent private colleges.

Does anyone have experience completing these dual degree programs? My concern relates to preclusion from some of the top colleges if you apply with an AA from a community college. In my day, transfer students were accepted sparingly at my selective alma mater and have generally completed only freshman year at another college. Similarly, a few students may be allowed to spend only three years to get their undergraduate degree based on one year's worth of specific AP credits.

I don't know and would like more information myself. It's something I would consider for my son if it was an option. From what I have heard about it if H.S. and AP Classes work well and are avaiable for your child, and their/your goal is a top tier university than your are probably best sticking to a traditional H.S.

The only student I know who did an "dual" early college program (AA & H.S. dipolma) applied for transfer to Ivy League & other tops school and didn't get in. He ended up a state university.

Maybe "community college" means something different in different places, but from what I've seen of community colleges, they offer high school remediation, and vocational training. They do not offer proper academic university level courses. Not at all.

22B, many community colleges have transfer agreements where all CC credits count for full college credit. CC is not as rigorous as a full college, but transfer rtes are not the whole story because CC students are not all the same IYKWIM. MIT accepts transfers.

http://tech.mit.edu/V129/N56/transfers.html

In CA community college can often a first step to university. We have a program that if you do 2 years at the community college, in a prescribed course of study and get a minimum GPA you are eligible for transfer University of California. Other transfer to the Cal State schools. The community colleges even has "honors" programs. Students have to take a prescribed set of classes, mostly general ed requirements. There are AA majors like Math for transfer to Scientists/Engineering.

Students that transfer into UC from Community College are often indistinguishable to professors from those whom entered as freshman. Reasons to go the community college route vary from community college being a lot cheaper, some kids not being ready to be on their own, or messing up in H.S. Classes in lower division classes are smaller & than the flagship U.C.'s and although not taught by top researchers many are taught by good educators.

It also does vocational training & H.S. remediation.

And while it's not my top choice for my children. I've taken classes to update my skills. My daughter will be taking a summer class at one and it's good to know that is always an option if my son really messed up.

My son has been enrolled full time at our local community college as a high school student for the past year and a bit. For the most part, I've been impressed with the quality of the instruction, and he has gotten a lot out of his experience there. One thing that has been good for him is that he has been able to take courses that are not offered as APs. I like that there hasn't been a lot of busywork and that he has had to learn how to actually study.

I know what you mean. The problem is partly the timing for making the decisions. If top-tiered colleges were not a consideration, then I think that the dual degree programs would definitely be a good choice. The few transfer students that I knew from way back were from 2nd tier schools with none from state universities, much less community colleges.

Thanks for the link. That is exactly what I remember of the transfer program at my alma mater. Those students really wanted to be there and many of them were rejected the first time around and then really excelled at another college. A student does not get an undergraduate degree unless he was enrolled for at least three years.

Our community college at issue offers many specialized courses that are not available in high school. The AA degree includes a specialty with many courses beyond freshman typed general education courses. The high school remediation and vocational training are also available for those who need it.

That's a nice comprehensive program in place and great for a subset of the population that needs the community colleges for financial or other reasons.