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How does applying to colleges work if you get an AA degree while still in high school?

I'm a high school sophomore planning to take concurrent-enrollment classes with local colleges. I'm on track to get an Associate's degree, but how would that affect college applications?

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Briana’s Answer

Hi, Brycen

Great job earning so many credits in high school. How 4-year universities treat this honesty depends, and it would be a good idea to ask both your college/guidance counselor and to shoot an email to the undergraduate admissions office for any college you're applying for. This is important, as it could potentially impact financial aid options depending on how they view these credits. The most common situations include:

-having these courses count similarly to AP high school classes where they count towards your core credit distribution
-being considered a transfer student with transfer credits
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Tom’s Answer

Having an AA degree when heading to a 4-year university is a big leg up to be certain, but every college has their own admissions routine. A lot of them are very similar to one another, but some are, as many know, far more demanding. Having an AA degree, especially in whatever field you might want to major in, isn't exactly a golden ticket, but it's like having a top-notch resume, cover letter, and recommendations all rolled into one and kept on standby, and it might impress a few universities since it shows you're a go-getter. In other words, congrats on having the AA before heading off to college, but use it wisely and don't treat the degree like it's a guarantee to get in. It's impressive to be certain, and it's bound to get you noticed by a few people. Again though, congrats on that.
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Chirayu’s Answer

Getting an Associate's degree while still in high school is a great accomplishment and can be beneficial when applying to colleges. Here are some things to keep in mind: Each college has its own admission requirements, so it's important to check with the colleges you're interested in to see if they accept transfer credits from the college where you're earning your AA degree. When applying to college, you'll need to submit transcripts from both your high school and the college where you earned your AA degree. These transcripts will show your grades and the courses you've taken, which can help demonstrate your academic readiness and preparedness for college-level coursework. Depending on the college and the courses you've taken, you may be able to transfer some or all of your AA degree credits towards your bachelor's degree. This can save you time and money in the long run. Even though you're already earning college credits, it's still important to maintain good grades in both high school and college courses. Colleges will still consider your high school GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, and other factors when evaluating your application.
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Elyse’s Answer

Hi Brycen,

Great question, and great job working towards your Associates while still in high school! In addition to the other thorough responses, I would take with your high school counselor or your college counselor to discuss "reciprocity." Reciprocity is an agreement that most community colleges have with 4-year universities that determines which courses will transfer as credits towards 4-year degree programs at the university. Some community colleges have blanket reciprocity with public in-state universities, while others are a bit more selective.

Once you start enrolling in college courses, you will want to check with both the college where you're taking those courses and the college you want to attend after earning your Associates to make sure that the courses are transferrable credits. Most colleges have a section on their website to see which courses have reciprocity, but it's not always the easiest to navigate. Again, this is where I recommend connecting with counselors to help you!

Best of luck!
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