Summer Options: Taking Community College Classes 

By Christina Waters

For students in grades 10-12, in addition to your summer activities, you could plan to take a community college course at a local college. A few college options to consider in San Diego include:

• Mesa College
• San Diego City College
• MiraCosta Community College
• Miramar College
• Palomar College
• Grossmont College

Note: If you are not a San Diego local, you can search the internet for local community college courses. Also, most community colleges offer online courses. Check their course catalog and schedule for options.

Community College courses can boost your overall GPA and show colleges that you are ready to tackle advanced coursework. Some community colleges will allow you to take classes Pass/Fail if you are worried about getting an A in a specific course.

Steps to register for classes and timelines:

1. Begin to look through your chosen community college’s course catalog (be sure to pay attention to any prerequisites that may be required to take the course). You can also ask your high school counselor if your school has a list of approved community college courses for high school credit.
2. Ensure the course is UC/CSU compatible (most community colleges will list this on their course catalog). Assist.org is also a helpful site for determining which community college classes in California are UC/CSU transferable.
3. Once you have decided on your course, contact your high school counselor to ask for the correct form to take a class over the summer.
4. Ask your counselor about adding your class to your high school transcript (be careful, as some high schools do not count college courses as weighted).
5. Fill out the brief application to apply (no essays required).
6. Once approved, submit your counselor form, and you should receive information, including your time to register for classes.

Start this process early, as many registration deadlines are in April or May.