Definition of college freshman - what does this mean?

[LisaR]

The paragraph below was taken off of one of our local college websites. My DD is dual enrolled and will graduate high school with her AA. I have always been under the impression that she will not be considered a freshman when she enters a university. But it says, "If you have NOT graduated from high school............." That would be my DD! So, would she be able to qualify for freshman scholarships even if she has her AA based on what this says? We knew going into this that she would likely give up freshman status and that meant giving up freshman scholarships. We are okay with that if that is the case. However, that isn't what this says, is it?

Definition of a Freshman

If you have not graduated from high school, the State of Florida considers you a freshman, regardless of the amount of college credit you may have earned through dual enrollment, AP or IB coursework while in high school. Thus, even though you may have sophomore or junior standing once you enroll and your credits are transferred, USF will review your application for admission as a freshman and consider you for all freshman admission scholarships.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I would read this as you can qualify for freshman scholarships, and then transfer the credits.

Sounds like good news!

 

[redlight]

Yes, I think this means that she can qualify for freshman scholarships. Congrats to your daughter.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would read this as you can qualify for freshman scholarships, and then transfer the credits.

Sounds like good news!

This!

Any college credits earned prior to graduation do not take away your "freshman status" once you graduate high school and transfer to college.

Kinda like in Football--true freshman and redshirt freshman.

Your dd is red shirted (if I got my analogy correct). She can stay in freshman dorms and have all the "newbie" benefits of being a new college student even if she comes in as a sophomore or junior.

Since FL has an abudance of students who dual enroll, this is important for them to define it.

She should still be eligible also to take upper division credits she qualifies for....so if she is accepted to her college and wants to take 3000/4000 level course work for which she is eligible, she could do so.

ETA: I don't know if UF does it still or if other state schools do this, but another thing--over the summer just before I was enrolled at UF, they had Preview--which was a special thing for freshman to come and get acclimated to campus, take any necessary placement tests and get help registered for their first semester of classes. This was only open to first time college students--so someone transferring from another institution or who got their AA/AS post-high school would not be eligible to attend. So if USF had something like that--she would be permitted to attend.

 

[golfgal]

Yes, she will be considered a "freshman" for scholarships, etc. It does get confusing with all the dual enrollment but basically if they have not been 'IN COLLEGE" full time, the are considered freshmen.

 

[LisaR]

This!

Any college credits earned prior to graduation do not take away your "freshman status" once you graduate high school and transfer to college.

.

I guess the reason I am so surprised by this is because the community college DRILLED it into our heads the night of orientation that if you go so far as getting your AA, you lose freshman scholarships. They put up a big overhead presentation page comparing the costs of CC vs. the average dollar amount entering freshman get to show that you are still saving big bucks by going the CC route. Why the heck did they do that if it isn't true? How strange!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess the reason I am so surprised by this is because the community college DRILLED it into our heads the night of orientation that if you go so far as getting your AA, you lose freshman scholarships. They put up a big overhead presentation page comparing the costs of CC vs. the average dollar amount entering freshman get to show that you are still saving big bucks by going the CC route. Why the heck did they do that if it isn't true? How strange!

Well, CC's do have bills to pay.

You do save TONS of money by doing your dual enrollment since the state picks up the tab (and pays the CC for you!)

Maybe each institution within the state is different. I haven't looked into it. I know many homeschoolers do dual enrollment and I'm still on my old loop and I've never heard of any complaints about it. I don't know.

Who is "they"? Is that your dd's guidance counselor or the CC?

I've never heard of anyone losing freshman status as a new FT college student before and though my kids are a long way from college, I have many homeschool friends who have gone the DE route to transition their children from homeschool to college.

 

[Witch Mountain]

Yes, she is considered a freshman.

I took a foreign language class at the local CC while enrolled at USF (there was no way I was driving to Tampa five days a week for a 45 minute class, when I could get the same class twice a week for two hours locally). By the third semester of the class, I had mostly dual enrolled HS/CC students.

They're all friends on FB and all have been told they are eligible for scholarships as if they were freshmen-to UF, USF, and Florida Southern.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Another note, Lisa...

I was looking up some information at colleges up here in VA for my own reference in case I wanted to go back to school. The universities--well, GMU anyway, had on their application definitions to distinguish the applicant as a new first time student, a transfer student or a college graduate going back.

A DE student who just graduated High school was considered a "first time" student even though they had DE credits.

So it isn't just USF.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks everyone. This was definitely good news tonight!

I only looked at USF because one of DD's friends was accepted there. I didn't believe the girl that University of SOUTH Florida was in Tampa! Since when is Tampa considered the south?

I am glad they had that definition there because I would have blown past the freshman section like I generally do.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks everyone. This was definitely good news tonight!

I only looked at USF because one of DD's friends was accepted there. I didn't believe the girl that University of SOUTH Florida was in Tampa! Since when is Tampa considered the south?

I am glad they had that definition there because I would have blown past the freshman section like I generally do.

Compared to the panhandle and jax, it is south.

north, west, south, central....

I guess the state stops at I-4.

 

[NotUrsula]

IME, the usual practice at most universities re: new students who come in with earned-before-enrollment college credits is to have them be classed as freshmen until they have completed 30 hours as RESIDENT STUDENTS (that is, enrolled on that campus as a college student only), and then after that their class cohort is based on credit hours accumulated toward a degree.

What that means in practice at most schools that I've worked at is that kids who have advanced credit never have a "sophomore" year; they go straight from freshman to junior.

 

[golfgal]

I guess the reason I am so surprised by this is because the community college DRILLED it into our heads the night of orientation that if you go so far as getting your AA, you lose freshman scholarships. They put up a big overhead presentation page comparing the costs of CC vs. the average dollar amount entering freshman get to show that you are still saving big bucks by going the CC route. Why the heck did they do that if it isn't true? How strange!

Ok, now that you say that, getting her AA MIGHT have an effect on this....most kids here go to a 4 year school for their duel enrollment so they don't earn a "degree", just get the credits. I think I would call the universities/colleges she is looking into and double check with them what happens in this case. My gut feeling is since she will actually have a degree, her AA, that changes things.

Another note, Lisa...

I was looking up some information at colleges up here in VA for my own reference in case I wanted to go back to school. The universities--well, GMU anyway, had on their application definitions to distinguish the applicant as a new first time student, a transfer student or a college graduate going back.

A DE student who just graduated High school was considered a "first time" student even though they had DE credits.

So it isn't just USF.

First year student is what we hear a lot-vs freshman.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

It's been many years since I applied for college aid, but back then- there was a question on the Financial Aid Form asking if you already had a degree. (Which I believe potentially led to a lower FA package?) Perhaps that is what the presentation referenced?