a. How early is it realistically possible to attend college?
b. How early is best for my student to attend college?

There have been numerous documented cases of students attending college before they’ve reached double-digits in age, but these are rare cases, and certainly not the norm. If a student has completed the necessary requirements to graduate high school, there is nothing to keep him from attending the local university, unless they have a minimum age requirement. (Always check with the admissions department of the intended school to verify their specific requirements.)

So the answer to the first part of the question, “how early is it realistically possible to attend college?” is as soon as the student has met the necessary academic requirements for high school graduation, as opposed to a certain age.

Now, just because a student can attend at such an early age doesn’t necessarily mean that he should. The college years are a time of growth and maturation, a time when most students are on their own for the very first time, away from mom and dad, and the rules and regulations that go along with living at home. Because of this, and also because the majority of their peers will be in the traditional college age range of 18-24, I would recommend against it before age 16 or so.

Statistically, few students below this age can handle the many pressures and influences thrust upon them for the first time in college, especially if living on campus in a dormitory environment. Although many students at this age can handle the academic rigors of college, psychologically it’s not recommend, as they will have missed out on the high school developmental years that play a huge part in college preparation.

All of this aside, every student is different, and you’ll need to make the decision based upon your own child’s needs and abilities. If your student is on pace to graduate early, have him take dual enrollment courses to get a feel for the college environment before making the jump to a four-year university with on-campus living. Part-time work in conjunction with online courses are another option. Finally, remember that the high school years are a great time to volunteer or cultivate a hobby that can provide enjoyment for years to come, as well as possible business ideas for a future career.

A rigorous homeschool curriculum is always recommended, but make sure to balance it with extra-curriculars that will round out your student. Balance is the name of the game. A well rounded student will be the most prepared for college along with whatever else life can throw at him!

I downloaded the material and although it was good, it was all things I had heard before. The questions I am asking now are is it better to take AP classes or Honors? Does it look better on a college transcript to have attended a junior college for credits the junior and/or senior year or is it just as good to have taken Honors classes?

It is good information and useful for some I am sure. We have done so many of the steps that I am looking for more details. Merry Christmas!

As with most things when it comes to what colleges prefer, it really depends on the college. Some schools will accept Honors/AP credits, but will not accept high school dual enrollment courses taken at another school, whether community college or state university. (These are generally your top tier/Ivy League schools.) Even though that could be the case, your student will not be looked at adversely if he has taken dual enrollment courses, since these are college level classes that “prove” he can make the grade in college. (Assuming of course that he did “make the grade” that was required to pass the course.)

As far as which looks better on a transcript, that would depend on if the student has taken the AP test and passed it along with taking the course(s). If a student has taken the class but not the test, or if his scores are below the requirements for college credit (usually a minimum of a 3 or 4 needs to be achieved), then his transcripts will not be as well received as the student who has excellent dual enrollment scores on his transcript.

My final recommendation as always is to check with your student’s potential school(s) to see which they prefer, as it can and will vary from university to university.

Our community college offers classes to high school juniors and seniors in our area; if my student takes college courses there in conjunction with his/her high school classes, will the credits transfer to a major college or university? Is there a limit to the number of credits that will be accepted?

Every college and university is different. Some will accept all, some a few, others none at all. Most large state schools accept dual enrollment courses without issue. Most Ivy League schools don’t accept any type of transfer credit, no matter if it was taken in high school or not. Your small private schools may or may not accept the credits, depending on what courses were taken and if it’s similar to what they offer.

The best advice I can give you regarding dual enrollment courses is to check with the admissions office of the college or university your student plans on applying to and find out their specific requirements.

Now, all that being said, have your student take as many community college courses as possible, even if they won’t transfer to his intended school. The reason is that these courses will add an element of credibility to your student’s transcript that high school courses alone will not have. College admissions staff see these classes as a more objective evaluation of your students academic ability. Any time a course is taken and graded by someone other than a family member is seen as a good thing by the collegiate admissions personnel.

So. Check with the intended school(s) on their transfer policies. Take the community college courses. Get good grades. Add the courses to your transcripts. Apply. Get accepted. Succeed. Any questions?

How do dual enrollment classes work and are they worth taking?

Dual enrollment courses are a great way for homeschooled students to take college classes while still in high school. Many colleges offer them for high school students, including homeschoolers. Check with your local college or university to see if they offer a dual enrollment program. I wrote an entire article on the dual enrollment process last week. You can view it here.

How important are service projects to colleges?

Local community colleges and some state schools will not expect or require service projects. However, most private colleges and state universities will want to see that your student has been “giving back.” I would recommend that you document any service projects your son or daughter has been involved. If you keep a portfolio, this would definitely go in there.

First of all, what is dual enrollment? Glad you asked. Dual enrollment is a process where a high school student can take college level courses at a local college or university, while still in high school, often at a reduced rate. These courses will generally count towards both high school and college credits.

So far so good? Keep reading, there’s a lot more to learn.

Since these courses count towards high school credits, a student could take a course that his parent-teacher is not well versed in, which would ease the burden and learning curve for the parent. The drawback of course, is that the parent is not teaching the student, so technically, it’s not “home schooling.”

Since the courses are actual college courses, (as well as counting for high school credit) they should transfer to most colleges or universities upon your student’s graduation. This can be a great way for him or her to gain some basic 100-level courses while still in the high school years.

Simple enough? Now for the complications.

Depending upon the college or university your student is considering, these courses may or may not transfer; it will depend upon the school’s admissions policy regarding transfer credits. For instance, most Ivy League and Tier 1 schools seldom allow transfer students or transfer credits. If your student plans on attending one of these schools, be aware that his or her hard-earned dual enrollment college credits may be for naught.

On the flip side of this, if a student is simply trying to get into a local state university, most likely these credits will transfer in without hassle. You will probably need to provide a copy of the course description from the school’s website or course catalog to confirm the similarity between their own offerings, and the course(s) taken. This is a standard requirement.

One of the first questions parents ask me regarding dual enrollment is how this can effect scholarships and financial aid. This is a tricky issue, and here’s why.

Depending upon the number of dual enrollment credit hours your student has completed, he or she may not be considered a “first-time-freshman.” If this is the case, he or she will be ineligible for most scholarships, specifically those designed for college freshman, and typically the most lucrative. A “first-time-freshman” is a student who is not transferring from another college or university, but attending for the “first-time.” This is not a hard and fast rule, it will depend upon the number of credit hours completed. Most schools have a standard that says if a student has 24-30 or more college credits completed, he or she is a transfer student, and not a first-time-freshman.

Something else that can make a difference is whether or not the credits taken actually transfer in. Post-secondary institutions are under no obligation to accept transfer credits from another institution, although a good majority do; with the exception I mentioned before, Ivy League and Tier 1 schools. These schools may not even consider a student for admission if he or she is labeled a “transfer student.”

Another aspect to consider is the cost. When a student dually enrolls, he or she is considered a “non-degree-seeking” student. This would be similar to you or I going back to school and just taking a class or two for fun. Because of this, he or she probably won’t qualify for any type of financial aid for these courses. The good news is that some schools offer dual enrollment courses at reduced rates. Even if they don’t, since most students will be taking them at a state school or community college, the costs incurred will be negligible, in comparison to courses taken at a private institution. (Dual enrollment can also be taken at private schools, and they are more likely to offer a reduced tuition rate compared to their normal degree-seeking student rates.)

So, now that I’ve thoroughly confused you, here’s why I’d always recommend your student take dual enrollment courses. Number one is credibility. The largest complaint from college and university admissions counselors dealing with homeschooled students, is the lack of objective grades and transcripts. Dual enrollment can help alleviate this argument by proving that your student can hack it. (Standardized test scores are another way, but we’ll talk about that in a future posting.)

The second reason is cost. So long as your son or daughter is not attempting to get into Harvard or Yale, have him or her take as many dual enrollment courses as possible, as the cost savings will be significant. I personally know a homeschooling family who have had their daughters take dual enrollment courses throughout high school, and upon graduation, the girls entered the university at the junior level, due to the sheer amount of dual enrollment courses completed. Since most of these courses are taken at the local community college and transfer in, this represents a substantial savings over attending the university for all four years. For a family on a budget, or the student who’s not getting massive scholarships, this is huge!

The third reason is experience. Even if your student only takes one dual enrollment course at the local community college, he or she will have gained a great experience by simply observing a typical college lecture course.

Since there are so many possible course options, have your student take classes that he or she is really interested in, or ones that can’t be taught at home. Maybe that’s photography, botany, or even psychology. The most popular dual enrollment courses tend to be English, math, and history, simply because these are all required courses at most universities, no matter what major is chosen.

So how do you go about signing up your son or daughter to take these courses? That’s the easy part. Call up your local community college or university and ask what their entrance requirements are. You can also inquire if they offer a dual enrollment program, and if there are age or grade restrictions. Since every school is different, the requirements to enroll will vary. You may need to provide a PSAT score and transcript, or perhaps nothing at all. Do your due diligence and it will work out fine.

There you have it. The whole scoop on dual enrollment courses. Need something clarified? Let me know.

When should applications be sent?

Applications should be sent to each college or university you are applying to before the end of first semester senior year. (Of course this is assuming that your family is following a traditional semester course of study.) Does the school you’re applying to have an application deadline or do they offer rolling admission? (Rolling admission means they are constantly accepting applications and don’t have a deadline.) This will determine the best time to submit your application. For scholarship purposes, it may need to be sent in sooner, depending upon the scholarship’s specific requirements and deadline. Generally speaking, as long as the application is in by the end of January during senior year, you shouldn’t have a problem being admitted, although you could miss out on some scholarships. The FAFSA priority deadline for financial aid and scholarships is March 1st every year, so it’s best to have been admitted to the school of choice by that date.

Does it hurt to take the 100 level courses at a community college before applying to a university?

No, it certainly doesn’t hurt to take these classes, in fact, most likely it will help a students chances for admission. The reason for this being that it shows the college or university that your student can “hack it.” Some schools may not allow the courses to transfer in, but it will still look good on a transcript.

As always, if you have other recommendations, comment away!