Should I apply as a freshman or transfer with college classes taken during homeschooling?

I'm a homeschooled high school junior who has taken some college classes. When applying to a four-year university, should I apply as a freshman or a transfer student? How do colleges typically view this?

You should apply as a freshman. While you've taken college-level classes, you're still a high school student, and these credits are seen as a part of your high school course load, similar to AP or IB courses.

When you're admitted, these college credits may transfer to your admitted school and possibly count towards some of your general education requirements, but this largely depends on the college's policies. Each institution has its procedures for how they handle college credits earned while in high school, so it's important to research and even reach out to the admissions offices of the schools you're interested in to see how they handle these credits.

College courses taken during high school can be viewed favorably since they show that you can handle university-level coursework. However, remember that these courses become part of your college transcript. Good grades strengthen your application, while poor grades can negatively impact it. For instance, schools consider GPA in making admissions decisions, and the grades you earned in your college courses factor into that.

In summary, you apply as a freshman, but you might start your freshman year with some credits already towards your graduation requirements depending on how your college treats those credits.