Associate's Degree Question

[iqe2010]

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Hello again. I have a question regarding a program at my high school. It's a two-year program starting your junior year in which you go to our city's community collge for four periods out of the day (it's your choice if you want morning or evening) and basically do college-level work in the same classroom as the attending students. If you complete the program you not only graduate with a high school diploma, you also have an associate's degree in biology. I wasn't able to do this because I participate in after school activities (football and track). I really regret not doing it because it could have saved my parents a lot of money, instead of paying for four years of college, they'd only have to pay for two. I have a friend who's currently doing this and she wants to go into the medical field as well (physical therapy). My question is, if I had done this how would this affect me from a medical school standpoint? Would my last two years at a major university be filled with pre-reqs? Would this have weakened my chances of getting into medical school, or would it have made them stronger? Instead of doing this program, I chose the IB program, which I regret to thus day even though I got out of the program at the end of my junior year. And looking back, I could have juggled this program and sports at the same time, when I was in IB I did just fine and if any of you know about IB you knoww that there's homework in every class every day of the week, even on weekends. But I can't change the past *sigh*

Thanks in advance.

 

[schrizto]

I don't know much about associate's degrees, but from what I know if you already have an associate's degree you can't apply to colleges as an incoming freshman, you would have to apply as a transfer. Being a transfer means that it is next to impossible to get into some selective colleges, but if you are aiming for your state school it could be a good idea.

Since you've done the IB program already, I would say it is actually a better option for applying to competitive colleges. Community colleges vary in quality, IB (like AP) is more standardized and colleges know of its rigor.

And looking back, I could have juggled this program and sports at the same time, when I was in IB I did just fine and if any of you know about IB you knoww that there's homework in every class every day of the week, even on weekends.

Um, it's to be expected to have homework "in every class every day of the week, even on weekends".

 

[iqe2010]

I don't know much about associate's degrees, but from what I know if you already have an associate's degree you can't apply to colleges as an incoming freshman, you would have to apply as a transfer. Being a transfer means that it is next to impossible to get into some selective colleges, but if you are aiming for your state school it could be a good idea.

Since you've done the IB program already, I would say it is actually a better option for applying to competitive colleges. Community colleges vary in quality, IB (like AP) is more standardized and colleges know of its rigor.



Um, it's to be expected to have homework "in every class every day of the week, even on weekends".

Thanks for the info, but I'm sorry but IB was just too much. It was impossibel to have a social life. It got even more stressful when IA season came. College students don't even have as much work as IB students do. Then there's a lot of out of school activities like the group four project and CAS hours. There are alot more better, worth-while programs than IB.

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Thanks in advance.

As you said, it is what it is. You can't change what you've already done.

For the record, I think you would've been just fine. You would've graduated with an Associate's degree from a CC, but you've done it as a senior in high school. So, it wouldn't have hurt your college app, and probably helped it. Likewise for med school. Sure it's a CC, but you're taking those classes as a high school student. I think it will reflect well on your cousin to be in the program.

For you, two "extra" years of college may not be free, but if you choose your school wisely, it hopefully won't be too expensive.

 

[Vicviper]

It will in no way hurt your chances for med school, if anything, having the AA at that young will help you - and yes, for the most part, college classes are easier than AP / IB classes, ironic, isn't it?