If students are taking an ever increasing amount of college classes in highschool....?

Question

Isn't the logical conclusion going to be that to get into an IVY league University one will already have to have earned a college degree?

( this is obvious sarcasm but I do have a point so think about it for a minute before you answer)

Answer 1

What you say is quite true , in a sense. It is the reason why - despite the expense and stress - many thousands of smart kids want so desperately to get into good schools. The elite schools do not award any credit for the "AP" courses in high school, but these schools can be the difference between your future success being a long shot vs being almost a sure thing. To succeed there, you must enter with a very strong academic background as, no matter how smart you are, you will be in school with kids who are your peers in intelligence, and ahead of you in education..

I taught at a low level school, and also lectured at an Ivy. The freshmen students at the Ivy school knew more, understood new ideas faster and were in every possible way better students than the Seniors in seminars at the low level school. The Ivy kids were already well-educated when they arrived, but they were headed for important careers where they would have a major impact on their communities - many of them had already done so. The low level kids were often stunningly ignorant, and were just trying to get themselves to a level where they would be able to do a reasonably complicated job without humiliating themselves. Some of them will never make it.

Answer 2

I am astonished and disappointed in Matt's answer. The desire to get into an Ivy league university depends on the person, not the perceived "level" of the person's high school. What exactly is a "low-level" high school, Matt? What value are you contributing to these students' lives when you say that "they will never make it"? As an educator, you should approach these education gaps with more ambition and positivity than that. If I had educators like you in my life, I would never have the courage to challenge myself.

Now to answer the question completely, mastering (not just taking) AP/IB classes are a help to getting into college in general. Never underestimate the potential and possibility of getting into the university, no matter what "level" the high school. If the person believes that they have performed exceptionally well in high school, then by all means they should apply to an Ivy league university. The worst that can happen is that they say "no". Also, DO NOT overestimate the "actual" quality of Ivy leagues and make decisions built on other people's perceptions. Do your research and find out for yourself if Ivy league is where you want to be. There are highly successful people who have graduated from other schools.

Answer 3

The most you can earn is an associates degree, and that takes a special 5 year high school. To transfer, most colleges require 30 credit hours. Considering all of the required classes that you have to take, unless you take every other class as a college level class (which still won't give you that many credit hours) you won't be able to earn a college education in your high school with out night and summer classes.