I'm interested in taking some college-level courses online without having to pay. Are there any high-quality free options out there that cater to high school students like me?
Absolutely! There are a variety of platforms that offer well-structured, high-quality college-level courses for free, created by respected institutions like universities and colleges.
One option is EdX, where you'll find free courses from schools like MIT, Harvard, and the University of California, Berkeley. Subjects range from computer science to history to biology, so you can likely find something you're interested in.
A similar platform is Coursera, which has partnerships with universities and organizations around the world. Some courses may require a fee for a certificate of completion, but you can audit most courses for free, meaning you'll get full access to course materials.
Khan Academy is another great, fully free resource. While its offerings are more akin to high school advanced or AP courses than specific college courses, they're an excellent way to deepen your understanding of a particular topic.
Finally, keep an eye on offerings from universities themselves. Many like Stanford and MIT have launched online learning initiatives and offer standalone online courses free of charge.
Remember that while these courses can help you explore your academic interests, they're typically not for credit. Schools are unlikely to accept these online courses as replacements for high school coursework. Check with your target schools to see if they view such coursework favorably, as well. It can often just be a nice supplement to show your interest in, and commitment to, a particular field of study.
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