What would happen if someone who didn't graduate High School took college classes somehow?

I’m sure this varies in each higher education school district, but I’m pretty sure while you can take classes in community colleges without much scrutiny into your transcript,signing up for an Associate Degree with the ability to transfer to a four year institution is probably a more rigorous process. And to answer the question posed..you’d probably learn something. Just to be safe, if you feel able to take college level courses, why not just get a GED and be legit from the get go.

People do all kinds of wild illogical things. The interesting part is the outcome. Besides, everyone likes a story about beating “the system”.

Many universities offer continuing education courses which have no prerequsite requirements. You can take courses like dancing, photography, flower arranging, cooking, animal training, gardening. You don’t get “credit” for these courses, just knowledge.

It depends on what the candidate said about himself.

If he never lied, the school wouldn’t care. If he lied, the school probably would.

At least here high school students can take courses at the community colleges. So it is feasible to take courses without a diploma. Most of the kids who do this though do it to get a head start on their college learning or get into a better college.

Anyone who thinks that getting a two year degree without a HS Diploma is beating the system is more focused on “the system” than their own personal growth and development. They’ve also lost sight of the fact that “the system” doesn’t feed you it only sets a pattern for sheep to follow in hopes they will be able to feed themselves and possibly contribute to the other sheep along the way.

I started taking classes at the local community college during summer break when I was 14. It was never clear if they would ever be able to be used toward an eventual degree. When I entered college, none of the courses transferred (although I was able to test out of some entry level classes).

I left high school after 10th grade to enroll full time at Simon’s Rock College, a tiny, 4-year (BA), accredited, liberal arts college in western Massachussets. Simon’s Rock’s mission is to offer a very high quality education to students starting after 10th or 11th grade. Most (almost all) students enroll without a high school diploma. Many Simon’s Rock students elect to eventually transfer to larger universities, and the transfer of credits is usually not a problem. I spent two years at Simon’s Rock and then decided to pursue an engineering degree at Cornell. I transferred almost all of my course work, and I was able to start as a junior.

If you are taking credits at the right kind of college/university, the transfer of credits shouldn’t depend on whether you have a high school diploma.

@sumul: the point, though, is that you didn’t misrepresent yourself at any stage along the way: Simon’s Rock knew you had not been graduated from high school, and so did Cornell. But Simon’s Rock is set up to not expect high school diplomas and to judge applicants on the basis of their performance through 10th or 11th grade.

By contrast, if you had attended, say, Westfield State, and lied to them about having a high school diploma (which would probably have included faking a transcript), then they probably would have gotten rather upset about that once the fraud was discovered. This probably would have put your transfer to Cornell in jeopardy.

Obviously this is a purely hypothetical question, about beating the system.
sumul, and syz both confirmed that taking courses at a community college with out Diploma’s. I believe the main reason is because they don’t require them for most courses. I believe that some junior colleges offer courses that represent a GED for someone without a diploma.
As far as credits transferring some do and some don’t it depends on whether a course you took is similar to a course that is offered. And as in syz case there are some tests that allow you to skip some courses.
The point Is I think anyone who is serious about getting their degree is going to take the test GED or meet the simple requirements rather than try to beat the system.
Someone trying to beat the system is probably going to buy their degree or pay someone to take their classes for them.

Actually…I am not a high school graduate, and I am legitimately attending a junior college. There is a test I was required to take called the CPAt or the ATB (ability to benefit) test that is designed to test your education level to well…obviously…see if you have the ‘ability to benefit’ from college course work. I am not “beating the system”. Like Samul said…“If you are taking credits at the right kind of college/university, the transfer of credits shouldn’t depend on whether you have a high school diploma.” I am receiving an education, just like anyone else (high school graduate or not) benefitting from the classes, and getting my AA in a year. So when I go in and apply for a job with my AA…do you think they are really gonna care whether or not I have my HS diploma? I think not. :)