Dual Credit Hours

[Texark147]

Is there a maximum number of dual credit hours that a candidate shouldn't exceed? Our older child got his associate degree at the same time he graduated high school. He went on to a University with no issues. I'm wondering if there would be any issues in my younger child doing the same and applying to the USAFA. (I realize that the associate won't transfer) I just don't want to mess anything up. He already has over 20 dual credit hours.

 

[Impulsive]

Is there a maximum number of dual credit hours that a candidate shouldn't exceed? Our older child got his associate degree at the same time he graduated high school. He went on to a University with no issues. I'm wondering if there would be any issues in my younger child doing the same and applying to the USAFA. (I realize that the associate won't transfer) I just don't want to mess anything up. He already has over 20 dual credit hou

Maximum number, I do not believe so. You can come into an Academy with three years of college undergrad work completed and you start at the same place (maybe a higher level course in the same subject) as someone who has no college credits. The advantage of having those college credits is that a few or your classes will be easier because it is material already covered by the student, and that it could possibly open up "electives" or a "minor' as an upperclass. EVERYONE attending an Academy has to complete four years of academy life, the number of credits you earn prior to reporting have no bearing on graduation or GPA other than helping with some of the lower level classes.

Academies do NOT work like college, if you complete an IB/AP/DE degree in HS, it looks good on your app, but has no bearing on graduation or credits. If you opt for "placement tests" they usually only serve to place you in an appropriate class, not displacing taking the subject matter.

 

[Peter2025]

Is there a maximum number of dual credit hours that a candidate shouldn't exceed? Our older child got his associate degree at the same time he graduated high school. He went on to a University with no issues. I'm wondering if there would be any issues in my younger child doing the same and applying to the USAFA. (I realize that the associate won't transfer) I just don't want to mess anything up. He already has over 20 dual credit hours.

There are some cases in which credits will transfer. For example, a survey was sent out during transition week when I was a doolie that asked if you had a 5 or dual-credit English class. Since I had taken English at a university, I was able to validate English 1. Moral of the dual-credit story is to ASK. The worst they can say is no.

 

[GreenCuisine]

There are some cases in which credits will transfer. For example, a survey was sent out during transition week when I was a doolie that asked if you had a 5 or dual-credit English class. Since I had taken English at a university, I was able to validate English 1. Moral of the dual-credit story is to ASK. The worst they can say is no

Does this mean that some years or maybe your senior year you would have less course work because you were able to skip a class? (If you have taken and scored well in AP Chem or taken certain chem classes in college you may be able to skip Chem 100 to Chem 200)

 

[Falconiform-mom]

Dual Enrollment English is a tricky beast. That was one of the few courses my DS was not able to validate. Validation allows you to skip those courses and move on to more advanced classes or classes in another area. He arrived at USAFA with 80+ college credits. He was not able to validate English as his English SAT was a 660 and needed to be a 700 for it to validate. Keep the syllabi from all courses as they may help apply for course validation.

 

[Peter2025]

Does this mean that some years or maybe your senior year you would have less course work because you were able to skip a class? (If you have taken and scored well in AP Chem or taken certain chem classes in college you may be able to skip Chem 100 to Chem 200)

Not necessarily. All cadets are required to take the minimum course load. However, it would lessen the load of a hard major/allow for extra things like a minor or double major with less strain on your schedule. e.g. I am a double major and I have about the same load as someone who would have one of my majors.

Keep the syllabi from all courses as they may help apply for course validation.

+1

 

[Heatherg21]

At USNA our son provided his syllabus from his two dual credit classes for ENG 101 and 102. Mind you both courses are accepted as transfer credits to our AZ Wildcat university. USNA declined them and son had to retake them; he LOVED that, lol.

The real value is proving to an admissions board and a nomination panel that the candidate can do college level work with a busy schedule and excel.

I would recommend listing your dual credit/AP/IB courses as a highlight on a resume, which should be a living and breathing document you update regularly. And ask someone in a competitive HR position to review for edits.

Our schools don’t offer AP or IB.

 

[Texark147]

At USNA our son provided his syllabus from his two dual credit classes for ENG 101 and 102. Mind you both courses are accepted as transfer credits to our AZ Wildcat university. USNA declined them and son had to retake them; he LOVED that, lol.

The real value is proving to an admissions board and a nomination panel that the candidate can do college level work with a busy schedule and excel.

I would recommend listing your dual credit/AP/IB courses as a highlight on a resume, which should be a living and breathing document you update regularly. And ask someone in a competitive HR position to review for edits.

Our schools don’t offer AP or IB.

Thank you so much for the info. We were hoping they would look good on his resume and transcript. They will be more beneficial for his plan B, if he doesn't get in and attends a University. Either way they are worth doing. He takes most of his DC classes via a community college, but a few are from an online University program. I may see if they have a higher level English class that might be more likely to "transfer" to the academy.

 

[AFrpaso]

Also FYI, my understanding is that the transfer credits can only be accepted if they appear on a college transcript. "Dual" credits that appear on a high school transcript apparently cannot be transferred. Unfortunately, I don't have a source document that specifies that. . . only the word of folks that are currently teaching in some of the departments.

 

[Peter2025]

Also FYI, my understanding is that the transfer credits can only be accepted if they appear on a college transcript. "Dual" credits that appear on a high school transcript apparently cannot be transferred. Unfortunately, I don't have a source document that specifies that. . . only the word of folks that are currently teaching in some of the departments.

For the couple classes that I validated, I had to send a transcript from my college, so this checks out from my experience.

 

[Peter2025]

I was trying to find some of my emails regarding validation, and I found this from my advisor. Might help some, but please note that it says at the top that it's specifically for 2020-21, so the details might change.

 

[AFrpaso]

Yes, everyone is in school all 4 years, but not all will take the same semester course loads. Showing up with AP/IB/college courses can make your life easier.

Here are some fun facts from the Course of Instruction Handbook:
1) USAFA requires at least 125 hours of in-residence credits.
2) All cadets will take 10 credits of physical education courses.
2) Each semester has a minimum credit-hour requirement. Meeting the minimums every semester equates to 134 credits total (including 10 phys ed credits)


3) Most majors require 140-145 credits, but some as many as 150 (Chemistry Engineering track).
4) Course load waivers are available, but generally for people seeking to take over the maximum, not under the minimum.

My main point is that a cadet who has substantial AP/IB/previous college could consistently have semesters with 4-5 classes as opposed to the normal 5-6 classes. Cadet life with 1-2 fewer academic courses per semester means that you can focus on other things like clubs, sports, flying, or taking naps.

 

[Texark147]

I was trying to find some of my emails regarding validation, and I found this from my advisor. Might help some, but please note that it says at the top that it's specifically for 2020-21, so the details might change.

View attachment 13025

Thank you so much!

 

[Texark147]

Yes, everyone is in school all 4 years, but not all will take the same semester course loads. Showing up with AP/IB/college courses can make your life easier.

Here are some fun facts from the Course of Instruction Handbook:
1) USAFA requires at least 125 hours of in-residence credits.
2) All cadets will take 10 credits of physical education courses.
2) Each semester has a minimum credit-hour requirement. Meeting the minimums every semester equates to 134 credits total (including 10 phys ed credits)
View attachment 13026

3) Most majors require 140-145 credits, but some as many as 150 (Chemistry Engineering track).
4) Course load waivers are available, but generally for people seeking to take over the maximum, not under the minimum.

My main point is that a cadet who has substantial AP/IB/previous college could consistently have semesters with 4-5 classes as opposed to the normal 5-6 classes. Cadet life with 1-2 fewer academic courses per semester means that you can focus on other things like clubs, sports, flying, or taking naps.

Thanks for the info!