There once was a young man named David who had just earned his driver’s license. His family celebrated the achievement, and his friends teased him about taking a cross-country road trip. Eager but nervous, David began researching the driving laws of each state he’d need to pass through. He learned that some states had slightly different speed limits, different rules for making U-turns, and varying requirements for passing other vehicles. The sheer number of details made David feel overwhelmed. He wondered, “How can I possibly drive across the country without studying every state’s laws in depth?”
Seeing his concern, David’s father gave him some reassuring advice. “David, you’ve already learned the most important parts of driving. Every state might have small differences in their rules, but the fundamentals are the same. Red means stop, green means go, and you drive safely by following the flow of traffic. You don’t need to relearn everything to drive across the country. What you’ve learned here will be enough to get you safely through any state.”
David thought over his father’s words and decided to trust his training. He packed his bags and hit the road. As he crossed from one state to the next, he realized his father was right. The rules that mattered most—how to drive, how to read road signs, how to stay safe—were consistent wherever he went. Though some states had minor variations, they were easy to adjust to because the core of driving was the same everywhere.
On his journey, David couldn’t help but think of his friend Sarah, who had just completed high school while earning college credits along the way. Sarah, like many homeschoolers, had taken advantage of the opportunity to earn college credit through dual enrollment and CLEP exams during high school. She was now applying to several colleges, hopeful that they would accept her hard-earned credits.
Sarah had heard stories from other students about how not all colleges accepted every credit, and this made her anxious. “What if the college I choose doesn’t take my credits?” she worried. “What if I’ve wasted time and effort?”
But just like David’s road trip, the fundamentals of how colleges handle credit are more alike than different. While each college may have its own specific rules for accepting dual enrollment, CLEP, or AP credits, most schools have systems in place to evaluate and accept credit earned in high school. Colleges may ask for a transcript, review the course descriptions, or require that the credits come from an accredited institution. But at the core, most accredited colleges follow the same basic principles when it comes to credit acceptance.
The principles Sarah followed in high school—careful planning, choosing transferable credits, and understanding the basics of college admissions—helped ensure that most of her credits would be accepted by most colleges. Just like David’s driver’s education had prepared him for the road no matter where he drove, Sarah’s resourceful high school planning meant she was prepared for college credit acceptance, no matter which school she chose.
David realized the parallel: while each state had minor variations in driving laws, the essentials remained the same. Similarly, while colleges may have slightly different ways of processing credits, the core principles of credit acceptance are consistent enough that most students will see most of their credits accepted by most schools.
Just as David didn’t need to memorize the driving laws of every state to make it across the country, Sarah didn’t need to worry about every possible college scenario. Her careful preparation in high school would serve her well wherever she applied, just like David’s driving skills took him safely across the country.
The road to college, like the road to new destinations, is more alike than different, as long as you’ve prepared well and understand the fundamentals.
I hope you enjoyed this parable. Following HS4CC principles of resourceful high school planning will help most students get most of their credit accepted at most colleges.
Advising 101: Will it Transfer?
“How can I make sure this class will transfer later?” is often asked and “Contact the college” is typically advised. Unfortunately, that’s terrible advice! If you want to get as close to certain as possible, I can teach you…
