6 answers
Vivian
Student
Anaheim, California
3
Questions
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Dual Enrollment
What are the benefits of dual enrollment and how will it help me when I go to college? Thank you! #dualenrollment #collegecredits #college
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6 answers
Meighan Middleton
Former College Advisor and Admissions Professional/Surface Warfare Officer
38
Answers
Newport, Rhode Island
Updated
Meighan’s Answer
Taking Dual Enrollment (DE) classes in high school shows college admissions officials you are ready for the rigors of college by showing them you can handle a college level course load. The other (traditional) way to demonstrate this to college admissions officials is by taking Honors and AP courses. Taking DE courses typically gives you the advantage of being able to transfer your credits earned to your future college, while most colleges typically require an AP test score of 3 or higher in your AP courses to give you college credit for AP classes.
Doing well in DE courses can allow you to validate college credits, giving you the flexibility in your schedule and college four year plan to graduate early or pursue additional coursework such as a minor, double major, or other special program like a semester abroad. Graduating early can have financial benefits such as decreasing the amount of student loans you may need.
Discuss DE enrollment options with your high school guidance counselor
Doing well in DE courses can allow you to validate college credits, giving you the flexibility in your schedule and college four year plan to graduate early or pursue additional coursework such as a minor, double major, or other special program like a semester abroad. Graduating early can have financial benefits such as decreasing the amount of student loans you may need.
Meighan recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for your answer! I'll keep this in mind as I come close to choosing my classes for next year!
Vivian
Yasemin G.
Aspiring physician
635
Answers
Updated
Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Vivian! Dual enrollment can definitely help with getting ahead in college; I took a college English Comp. class in high school and even though this was not the same as dual enrollment, it definitely helped me in college. I took it through a cc as a high school student and my teacher from freshmen year taught me. It allowed me to skip both semesters of the class in college as well as save time because it was more rigorous in college, from what I've heard from my friends. However dual enrollment classes can be difficult at times as well so it is important to research about them and make sure this is what you'd like to do. Below is a link that has more information about dual enrollment courses so definitely check it out. If you think it will suit you and you can do it then definitely go for it! If not you can also take AP classes and obtain AP credits as well!
Best of luck!
https://www.bestvalueschools.com/faq/what-is-dual-enrollment/
Best of luck!
Yasemin recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for this info! I'll keep this in mind when I'm choosing my classes for next year!
Vivian
You're welcome!
Yasemin G.
Hudson S. Davis
Petroleum Engineer & Electric Utility Supply Planning Analyst
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
Hudson S.’s Answer
I consider the previous answers to be certainly helpful, but I would also like to share my experience in this area.
I graduated high school with 70+ transferrable college credits. I was admitted to an undergraduate engineering program at The University of Texas, and applied many of these credits to my degree. The dual-credit I received in high school actually ended up being the most useful knowledge I have ever received in an academic realm, and seemed to help form a much more stable foundation for me while going through a very tough engineering curriculum. I was able to complete very math, chemistry, and physics credit needed for an degree in engineering while in high school, which meant that I did not have to endure the notoriously difficult math, chemistry, and physics courses at the University level in order to get my degree. It almost feels like a cheat-code, in a sense, because I was able to more easily secure good grades at the University level over the course of my four year tenure there because I didn't have to take nearly as many classes as my peers during a given semester.
However, there is a "point of diminishing returns" here. In other words, there was a point at which additional dual credits did not really assist me much going forward, and they were more work than benefit in the long run. For one, most colleges only accept a certain maximum of transferred credits to go toward your selected degree. In my case it was 75, so two of the courses I attempted to transfer were not accepted. Additionally, many courses that appear to be easily transferrable might not be accepted at the institution you're hoping will take your credits. For instance, Calculus I (or AB as it's referred to in many curriculums) at your school may be offered as dual credit, but the University you're transferring the credits too might look into the syllabus and find that the Calculus I you took does not include a few choice topics. Or maybe you took Calculus I, II, and III, at your school or community college, but the University your transferring the credits to only has a Calculus I and II or even just a Business Calculus. In this case, how is a University supposed to accept your credits as their full value?
It would aid you in the long run to make a short list of the Universities you're looking at, or the majors you might want to try out, and then map your dual-credit curriculum accordingly so that you can transfer the maximum number of dual credits possible. Local community college are a great way to do this, because they typically have a very established system in which they can evaluate the ability of a credit to be transferred to lots of schools in the area. In this way, you won't "waste" any effort (though no effort is truly wasted in the realm of academia).
Here's a summarized list of the pros and cons of Dual Enrollment to help you better understand all the benefits!
Pros:
Dual credit courses taken in high school or earlier often have smaller class sizes and possibly even better, more personable teachers
Dual credit allows you to "cross off" college courses from your selected major's course requirements
Dual credit allows you to eliminate difficult courses at a community college or high school before you get to a university, where the course might be significantly more challenging
Dual credit could allow you to expedite the time it takes you to complete a college degree. By completing courses early while in high school or at your local community college, you can potentially lessen the number of semesters you need to finish a degree at the university level, saving you money, time, and headache!
Cons:
Universities don't accept all credits
Dual credit courses can be more difficult than purely high school courses
Must check ahead of time if college you're interested in will accept your credits
Dual credit courses at community colleges are typically one semester in length, whereas in high school you can have a whole school year to complete a subject
I graduated high school with 70+ transferrable college credits. I was admitted to an undergraduate engineering program at The University of Texas, and applied many of these credits to my degree. The dual-credit I received in high school actually ended up being the most useful knowledge I have ever received in an academic realm, and seemed to help form a much more stable foundation for me while going through a very tough engineering curriculum. I was able to complete very math, chemistry, and physics credit needed for an degree in engineering while in high school, which meant that I did not have to endure the notoriously difficult math, chemistry, and physics courses at the University level in order to get my degree. It almost feels like a cheat-code, in a sense, because I was able to more easily secure good grades at the University level over the course of my four year tenure there because I didn't have to take nearly as many classes as my peers during a given semester.
However, there is a "point of diminishing returns" here. In other words, there was a point at which additional dual credits did not really assist me much going forward, and they were more work than benefit in the long run. For one, most colleges only accept a certain maximum of transferred credits to go toward your selected degree. In my case it was 75, so two of the courses I attempted to transfer were not accepted. Additionally, many courses that appear to be easily transferrable might not be accepted at the institution you're hoping will take your credits. For instance, Calculus I (or AB as it's referred to in many curriculums) at your school may be offered as dual credit, but the University you're transferring the credits too might look into the syllabus and find that the Calculus I you took does not include a few choice topics. Or maybe you took Calculus I, II, and III, at your school or community college, but the University your transferring the credits to only has a Calculus I and II or even just a Business Calculus. In this case, how is a University supposed to accept your credits as their full value?
It would aid you in the long run to make a short list of the Universities you're looking at, or the majors you might want to try out, and then map your dual-credit curriculum accordingly so that you can transfer the maximum number of dual credits possible. Local community college are a great way to do this, because they typically have a very established system in which they can evaluate the ability of a credit to be transferred to lots of schools in the area. In this way, you won't "waste" any effort (though no effort is truly wasted in the realm of academia).
Here's a summarized list of the pros and cons of Dual Enrollment to help you better understand all the benefits!
Pros:
Dual credit courses taken in high school or earlier often have smaller class sizes and possibly even better, more personable teachers
Dual credit allows you to "cross off" college courses from your selected major's course requirements
Dual credit allows you to eliminate difficult courses at a community college or high school before you get to a university, where the course might be significantly more challenging
Dual credit could allow you to expedite the time it takes you to complete a college degree. By completing courses early while in high school or at your local community college, you can potentially lessen the number of semesters you need to finish a degree at the university level, saving you money, time, and headache!
Cons:
Universities don't accept all credits
Dual credit courses can be more difficult than purely high school courses
Must check ahead of time if college you're interested in will accept your credits
Dual credit courses at community colleges are typically one semester in length, whereas in high school you can have a whole school year to complete a subject
Kiirsten Suomu
Sales Representative at Universal Orlando Resort
96
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Kiirsten’s Answer
Hi Vivian!
Great question you've asked here-- there are many benefits to dual enrollment (as previously mentioned in the above answers). If you are interested in taking DE, be sure to speak with your guidance counselor to make sure you will be able to successfully handle the workload along with your other classes-- I ended up taking one full year of DE in math (equivalent to two courses for college) and ended up applying those credits to my degree when I went off to college. For me, DE helped ease me into the coursework change from high school to college, which I am thankful for.
Great job!
Great question you've asked here-- there are many benefits to dual enrollment (as previously mentioned in the above answers). If you are interested in taking DE, be sure to speak with your guidance counselor to make sure you will be able to successfully handle the workload along with your other classes-- I ended up taking one full year of DE in math (equivalent to two courses for college) and ended up applying those credits to my degree when I went off to college. For me, DE helped ease me into the coursework change from high school to college, which I am thankful for.
Great job!
Eric Packer
Structural engineer
91
Answers
Boise, Idaho
Updated
Eric’s Answer
Vivian,
Some states have implemented a dual enrollment program - also known as dual credits or concurrent enrollment - where the high school course work allows you to also be enrolled in a college course, often through a local community college or University. In most, if not all, cases the class is taught entirely by the high school teacher but a grade is given for high school credits and a separate grade is given for college credit. As such, you are able to obtain college credits while still in high school by merely taking high school classes that offer such an option. You just need to register for dual enrollment upon taking the class. Each state will implement the program a little differently, if offered at all. In some cases monies from the state education fund are made available to enroll for the college credits but certain stipulations may apply in order for those funds to continue to be available (e.g., maintaining passing grades). As such, you could enter college with a fair amount of college credits, thus allowing you to graduate sooner (and with fewer expenses) by not having to take the classes in college that you took in high school.
Some states have implemented a dual enrollment program - also known as dual credits or concurrent enrollment - where the high school course work allows you to also be enrolled in a college course, often through a local community college or University. In most, if not all, cases the class is taught entirely by the high school teacher but a grade is given for high school credits and a separate grade is given for college credit. As such, you are able to obtain college credits while still in high school by merely taking high school classes that offer such an option. You just need to register for dual enrollment upon taking the class. Each state will implement the program a little differently, if offered at all. In some cases monies from the state education fund are made available to enroll for the college credits but certain stipulations may apply in order for those funds to continue to be available (e.g., maintaining passing grades). As such, you could enter college with a fair amount of college credits, thus allowing you to graduate sooner (and with fewer expenses) by not having to take the classes in college that you took in high school.
Blake H.
Business
478
Answers
Updated
Blake’s Answer
Hey Vivian,
Assuming that your schedule permits, dual enrollment is a great idea! The main benefit is that you can often take classes at a community college that will apply to your Bachelor's degree. Community colleges are usually less difficult and significantly cheaper.
Thanks,
Blake
Assuming that your schedule permits, dual enrollment is a great idea! The main benefit is that you can often take classes at a community college that will apply to your Bachelor's degree. Community colleges are usually less difficult and significantly cheaper.
Thanks,
Blake