I'm a high school student interested in taking an online college-level chemistry course to get ahead. What are some of the best options available that are engaging and challenging?
There are several quality online chemistry courses for high school students who want to take college-level classes. Here are a few options that are informative, engaging, and challenging.
1. MIT OpenCourseWare — MIT offers numerous college-level chemistry courses online for free through the OpenCourseWare platform. Courses like "Principles of Chemical Science" and "Organic Chemistry I" are examples of what you can find. These courses typically include lectures, assignments, and exams, giving you an authentic taste of college-level chemistry.
2. edX — This platform hosts courses made by universities worldwide. For example, Harvard University offers "Principles of Biochemistry" and the University of Queensland provides an "Advanced Chemistry" course. These courses usually take several weeks to complete and offer verified certificates for a fee.
3. Coursera — The platform offers a variety of online college-level Chemistry courses. For instance, the "Introduction to Chemistry: Structures and Solutions" by Duke University is a good starting point. What's more, some of these classes offer certificates of completion.
4. Advanced Placement (AP) Classes Online — If you're seeking credit that will be accepted by most colleges, consider a class that prepares you for an AP Chemistry exam, such as those hosted by platforms like Khan Academy. Although these are not technically college courses, they can help you gain college credit if you score well on the AP exam.
When choosing an online course, consider what you aim to achieve. If you're aiming to get college credits, check whether potential courses or platforms offer such credits and whether they will be accepted by the universities you are interested in. It’s also crucial to consider the time commitment the course will require and whether it fits in with your current academic and extracurricular commitments. And finally, make sure the course is interesting and engaging for you to keep your motivation high throughout!
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