For the problem of “too many credits” you can handle it a few different ways.
- You can keep only the most recent credits.
- You can lower the credit value of all classes.
- You can eliminate classes that could also be considered an “activity” instead (so ballet would be an activity and not a PE credit.)
- You can pick and choose some classes to drop off the transcript if you have more than the usual requirements. (Drop the 5th history class.)
- You can combine classes together (British Literature and Ancient Literature make one European Literature class.)
- You could also explain the situation in a cover letter – tell the school that this is what your child did, document that it is high school level, and let them see what your child is really capable of.
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Our daughter will likely be in this scenario. I never thought of it as a problem though.
I have to say, I love the picture though – it brought a smile to face on a gray rainy day. Thanks!
as I said on Facebook too I don’t think this is a REAL problem … public schoolers are often over the required amount to graduate too depending on electives they choose to take etc, or if they attend private schools which require Biblical Studies classes,etc … the State mandate is only the basics to graduate ….. all the colleges my girls applied to accepted their transcripts as is with “extra” credits … don’t make things harder than they are!
Our job is to put on the transcript what we know to be honest and true. When you do that, you can’t lose 🙂
Blessings,
Lee
I wondered about this before, too. So what would you consider to be “too many”?
What is too many credits, and in what sort of situation would this be a draw back. If I recall correctly from your book The Easy Truth about Transcripts, your son had something like 31 credits. That is 5 more than I’ve heard listed for even a “rigorous college prep” level (with “rigorous” subdefined as those looking for admittances into very competitive schools like the Ivy League and military Academies and such). So if your son didn’t have too many, than what is too many?
Dear Robin and June,
Most high schools say that 22-24 credits is “College Prep.” However, some very competitive high schools may have students with 35, 40 or even 45 high school credits when they graduate. I don’t know that there is one definition of what “too much” really means, but sometimes parents will contact me for help in cutting back. My children did have a lot of credits, it’s true. Particularly when kids are attending dual enrollment, they can earn a lot of credits FAST. In my opinion, having 22 credits is “enough” and having 40 credits isn’t “too much.” But each parent will have their own opinion.
Quick tip: our job is to put on the transcript what we know to be honest and true. Regardless of how many credits it is!
Blessings,
Lee