here are my responses to a few questions that were messaged to me. if you don’t see yours, check back in a bit! i’m in the process of answering everything. thanks for asking, and keep the questions coming!
Q: is it better to visit colleges with friends or parents? my parents want to go together and look this summer, but i don’t want to go with them.
A. that’s a really great question. if my mom were to answer, she’d say something like, “you have to go with them because they’re going to be paying for it.” it’s the typical parent answer that usually has to be respected because, well, they’re usually the ones who are paying for it. also, your parents will want to help out in the decision-making process because this is a big step for them as well. they’ll want to know that the place where you will be spending the next few years of your life is a safe, healthy environment. many parents see the college admissions process as one of the last (and definitely one of the largest) decisions about your life that they will have an influence on. understanding these facts may make it easier for you to realize why your parents want to look at schools with you.
this doesn’t mean, however, that you have to sit back and allow them to make the decisions for you. since you are the one who will actually be attending the college, it is important for your own sanity that you have a say in the process as well. perhaps before you visit any schools, you should sit down with your parents and lay out for them the parts of the college that are important to you. for example, they may value the school’s rank while you may be more swayed by the campus community. clearing the air in this way will relieve a lot of the tension that this process causes. also, you all will be on the same page and they may be less likely to push their thoughts and feelings onto you once you are on a college campus. you can most certainly bring friends with you on the visits, and they will probably make them way more fun, but realize that the final decision is ultimately up to you.
Q: what about summer college classes? i heard that they count the same as AP credit classes do, 1.0 extra points. is this true, and is it the same for community college as regular college?
A. taking college classes in the summer will help your transcript stand out, provided that you do well in them. a good bet would be to take courses that either supplement your high school offerings (like if you’re interested in history take an in-depth course in the subject), or use the time to brush up on skills that you’re fuzzy on but you know you will need in the future (like a writing or math course). this way, you can demonstrate your specialized interest in a particular subject, or show that you are taking the necessary steps to ensure future success. and to admissions officers, these are both really good things. in terms of having the course count as an AP, this depends on the district. i have worked in the philadelphia public school district, and the policy there is that the courses are separate from the regular high school course load and do not show up on the transcript. however, the classes are free and the student earns college credits that can (usually) be used towards their regular degree requirements, depending on where the student ends up going. i would suggest that you talk to your guidance counselor (or go to your school district’s website) for the specific policy that applies to your area.
