There are many questions when it comes to taking college classes while still in high school. How do I sign up? Who do I talk to? Where do I go? How do I keep up with the work?? The answers to these questions are simpler than many people think.
Sarah Wilmore, the college and career counselor at Lewiston High School, has an abundance of information for students trying to get ahead.
My experience is only one of the many examples of how dual-credit students can excel. According to collegeinhighschool.org, national and state research studies have consistently shown that these programs improve rates of college access and completion. Not only does taking college courses assist students financially, but it also provides them with collegiate time management skills and exposes them to the workload.
To take dual-credit classes at LHS, students are required to normally be a junior or senior, Wilmore said. It’s best if dual-credit students have completed a lot of their required high school classes, and if they have at least a 3.0 GPA. There are 32 dual-credit classes that will be offered next school year at LHS, according to Wilmore.
What are the benefits of taking college courses in high school? Personally, I have reaped the rewards of taking dual credit and college classes. Not only am I getting ahead, but I’m also saving money.
For example, as a junior in high school, I’m currently in five dual-credit classes and two full college classes. These additions to my schedule are going to help me acquire my associate’s degree before I graduate high school.
Although the benefits are great, taking these classes requires a large amount of time and dedication. Not only do I spend seven hours a day at school, but I also spend at least an hour outside of school doing homework and working on my classes.
It is also important to note that taking these classes is not required. Dual credit is optional, and even being enrolled in an LHS class that offers dual credit does not mean you have to sign up for the credit. I would recommend signing up for dual-credit because the class is going to be about the same either way. However if you are not confident in how the course will go for you, remember that the grade will be on your college transcript.
Students request appointments with Wilmore through their LHS counselors. Wilmore’s office is located in the college/career center in the counseling area at LHS.
Here are my top three tips for taking dual-credit classes:
- ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE!!! I bought an affordable planner from TJ-Maxx before the semester started, and it is my best friend. Not only do I carry it in my backpack every day to school, but I also write out all my assignments that are due that month. I make sure to delegate those tasks to myself at the beginning of the week. Then, I can physically check them off when I complete them.
- Check-in daily. Always make sure you are checking your college Canvas portal, not just at the beginning of the week, but also daily. This is where professors will make announcements and provide information for the specific assignments. Another great thing about Canvas is that it shows every assignment for the entire semester at once. This gives students the option to get way ahead on work and eliminate extra stress.
- Have the right equipment. Personally, my LHS Chromebook does not allow for the LockDown browser needed to take some of the dual-credit tests. The browser has to be installed on the device and it makes sure there is no cheating on any tests. It’s similar to GoGuardian, which is used at LHS. To work around this, students might invest in an Apple product, such as a MacBook Air, to be able to have a reliable device.
