Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Community College Grade Concerns

Our local community college admits 8th graders under a GT category if they have high enough SAT/ACT scores. This would be for actual college courses rather than courses designed for young GT kids. It's not incredibly selective but at least higher criteria than CTY/NUMATS/TIP. I think the specific summer course would be a better fit for DD and frankly a lot cheaper plus college credit towards likely dual enrollment in high school. One of my concern is that the course she is interested in is not an introductory 100 level course like college composition but rather an upper (200) level course requiring high writing ability and permission from the instructor if she hasn't taken 100 level courses. She has a 99th percentile English score on the ACT and writes well (for a middle schooler) but I am a bit concern with the potential concerns/pressure of "acing" the course to protect her college transcript. How have other parents dealt with this issue? Do you think it is reasonable to expect her to do well against 2nd year college students?

Is there a way to audit the class....or take the class pass/fail?

Back in the day, we were able to convert courses to audit or credit/no credit any time before the end of the term. At that age, my parents had us start classes for grade/credit, and then switch to audit if it seemed like too much.

There were courses that I wanted to take as an undergrad, but couldn't until I'd met the prerequisites. I took the prerequisites. I've taught undergrads, and I see the point. I've had students who hadn't taken the required courses, but convinced me to let them stay in the class. It was a mistake. They lacked basic skills that other students had, which made it harder for them to learn. They also slowed the class down at times.

I know that each case is different and that there are some students who may have self-taught the required material. At the same time, the ACT is a multiple choice test, and the essay section doesn't reflect the real world of analysis and expository writing. Writing well for a middle schooler is a long way from writing well as a college sophomore.

Not knowing the specifics, my advice would be that she should take the prerequisites. They may not be as interesting to her, but the college has a right to require them and probably a good reason for doing so.

I think she is unlikely to gain approval to take it without the prerequisites at he age and exoerience level.

I would talk to the instructor about the level of the prerequisite course and try to determine where your dd is truly at relative to what's expected as a prerequisite for going into the course she's interested in. I agree with everything Val said above, especially with the note that a score on the ACT is a very different measure than actual written composition.

I wouldn't automatically assume she doesn't have the prerequisite knowledge (I've seen examples in some coursework at our local university that's truly basic catch-up at a very low level), but I would definitely talk to the instructor or another instructor within the department to be sure she does have the prerequisite knowledge before assuming she does. If she doesn't (and even if it's a close call), I'd recommend she sign up for the first level course, and explain to her that it's required before moving into the other course. If she really wants to take the other course, it's a small life lesson in putting in the work required before accomplishing something that's worth accomplishing.

Best wishes,

polarbear

eta - another person to talk to might be the coordinator of the program your dd would be enrolling under - our uni has a specific person that high school students go through when applying and registering for courses, and that person has been very helpful to us in understanding what courses etc as well as what other issues to consider for our ds.

Agree with all of the above.

You can also get a copy of the course syllabus in advance which will say what grades are based upon.

With a little luck, the instructor might be teaching the prerequisite this semester and maybe she could attend a few classes this semester?

I agree with a lot of community college 100-level courses being remedial. At the one near me MAT 105 is Algebra 1 and MAT 110 is Algebra 2. I took 110 and used a Saxon Algebra 2 textbook and Khan Academy to supplement.

Can she take the college's placement test to potentially test out of the prerequisite?

Don't be afraid to set up a meeting with the instructor. I did that with my son and it was incredibly helpful. Turned out the class I thought he might be ready for was a stretch, but they offered 3 other courses they would approve him to take.

I received advice from another forum member to place radically accelerated children one "level" less than their intellectual challenge level first to give them a chance to learn the system and pace of work in the higher level. When my son is ready for community college, I intend to take that advice.

Also check the dates to drop a class without it appearing on a transcript. If it's a couple days, I'd be cautious. But a couple weeks? Maybe....

Oh, you can also ask for examples of student work that received an A grade in the prerequisite class and compare to your daughter's work.

There are usually plenty of loopholes and flexible instructors, BUT they're flexibility is probably limited. If it doesn't go well, in 2 years they might be less accommodating even if she's truly ready then. Maybe this is my insecurity talking, but it's keeping me back from putting my son into community college even though he has taken placement testing, has been on campus and in classrooms fr a semester and has instructor approval for some classes. If I put him in before he's really ready and can be successful in the setting, I might lose a valuable education resource for him. My son has ADHD, which is why I'm holding back so strongly. Go ahead and start connecting with instructors. The more familiar you are with the people and the courses, the better you will know when she is ready and what she is ready for.

Thanks, there was an option to audit but DD was comfortable with standard grading and really I think she will get more out of the course with skin in the game.

Audit is an option for the community college but DD wants college credit.