Frequently Asked Questions About Sophomore Start

The Sophomore Start option gives concurrent enrollment high school students the opportunity to earn a minimum of 30 college credits while in high school. This allows students to enter college as a sophomore.

To participate in the Sophomore Start option, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a freshman, sophomore or junior in high school (juniors must be enrolled in or have completed a minimum of 9 college-level credits).
• Have signed permission from a high school counselor and a parent.
• Have a goal to complete a minimum of 30 college credits while still in high school.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

Students can begin the Sophomore Start option during their freshman, sophomore or junior year of high school. Juniors who want to participate must be enrolled in or have completed a minimum of 9 college-level credits to ensure they can satisfy the 30 college credits needed in this option.

High school students who successfully complete the Sophomore Start option are able to enter college at Boise State University as a college sophomore, rather than as a freshman. Most students begin participating in the Sophomore Start option during their sophomore year of high school.

Students may earn more than 30 credits as they participate in this option. We recommend that at least 30 credits be completed to reach sophomore status, but students may exceed this requirement by earning as many credits as they would like. In fact, there are students who earn an associate’s degree, or half of a bachelor’s degree, while in high school! A Concurrent Enrollment advisor can help students determine how many college credits they are able to earn at a particular high school.

Sophomore Start targets the completion of 30 credits for a few reasons:

• 30 credits is the equivalent of one year of college, which Boise State believes is an attainable goal for a large number of high school students.
• It places an emphasis on selecting the correct courses (credits that meet your selected degree course requirements) instead of completing an array of credits that may not be applicable to your degree once you fully enroll at Boise State.
• It leaves students time to participate in the extracurricular activities that are important to both their high school and university experiences.

Sophomore Start is not for all concurrent enrollment students and may not be a good fit for those that only want to take a few college-level courses. Boise State University’s Concurrent Enrollment program offers a wide range of courses at partnering Treasure Valley high schools. A 2.7 or higher cumulative GPA is required for participation. Sophomore Start is specifically for students that are seeking a significant head start to college, with a defined goal of completing a minimum of 30 college-level credits while still in high school.

There are a variety of college-credit opportunities that will count toward the Sophomore Start 30-credit goal. Credits eligible for the Sophomore Start option include transferable concurrent credit/dual credit courses offered from Boise State and other colleges, transfer courses, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and CLEP tests.

Students interested in the Sophomore Start option should complete the online application. After we receive an application, a Boise State Concurrent Enrollment advisor will reach out to the student to schedule an initial advising session. Advising appointments will also be conducted throughout the school year. Parent(s) or guardian(s) are encouraged to attend the advising sessions. Students who are not eligible to participate in the Sophomore Start option will be notified.

Visit our Sophomore Start page for additional details on participating in the Sophomore Start option.

If a student is eligible for the Sophomore Start option and decides to participate, they must complete the following requirements:

• Complete an agreement of participation and degree plan.
• Be admitted and actively enrolled in dual credit or on-campus courses throughout their participation in the option.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and remain in good academic standing.
• Meet at least once each school year with a Boise State Concurrent Enrollment advisor to develop and maintain a personalized degree plan consisting of courses that best match their college goals. Only students with an advisor-approved degree plan are eligible to take Boise State summer classes at the reduced Sophomore Start rate of $75 per credit.

Most dual credit courses that colleges offer will count toward a number of college credits, but they may not fulfill requirements for a specific major or help students achieve their college goals. Students will meet with an academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan that fits their degree choice and personal goals based on the courses available at their high school. The degree plan will ensure that courses students take while in high school will apply seamlessly toward a degree at Boise State University.

Most Boise State Summer courses are offered on the main campus (a few are offered online or at other sites). Courses are condensed from the usual 15 weeks to 3, 5 or 7 weeks, requiring several hours of class work and home work each day. These are regular college courses with undergraduate students, and no modifications will be made for Sophomore Start students. Sophomore Start students will be responsible for providing their own transportation, textbooks, and supplies. However, the Concurrent Enrollment program will provide students a free Sophomore Start Summer Orientation prior to the start of summer courses to help students get familiar with campus, learn about on campus resources, and get to know other high school students taking summer classes from across the Treasure Valley.

Although Sophomore Start students will be able to take summer courses for the reduced rate of $75 per credit, additional costs and fees may apply. This could include additional online or lab fees, textbooks, class supplies, and transportation to campus. It is important to be aware of these additional costs prior to registering for summer courses.

Students can still participate in Sophomore Start, but Boise State cannot guarantee how courses they take will apply toward degree requirements at other colleges/universities. If students decide to attend a college/university other than Boise State after high school graduation, they will need to contact the college/university they are interested in attending to learn how the courses they take as Sophomore Start students will transfer.

If students plan to attend an Idaho college/university, they can visit coursetransfer.idaho.gov to learn how courses will transfer.

Yes, students can contact their Concurrent Enrollment Advisor to withdraw from the Sophomore Start option. Students are not penalized if they don’t complete the 30-credit goal; however, they won’t be eligible to begin college at Boise State with sophomore status if they haven’t completed 30-credits.

Yes, we understand that high school students may not know which degree they want to pursue when they begin participating in the Sophomore Start Option. A Concurrent Enrollment advisor will help students choose courses that satisfy general education requirements that apply to multiple majors at Boise State. They will also help students adjust their degree plan to fit to a major that is different from the major the student originally selected.