Learn why you should become a concurrently enrolled student and the benefits that come with it.
Taking community college classes has numerous amounts of benefits for students in general. However, there are even more benefits for high school students taking advantage of open enrollment in community colleges. Here are a few reasons why high school students should consider taking college classes concurrently with their high school.
Your Unit Fees Are Waived
Using your K-12 form and Concurrent Enrollment forms, students can take advantage of Open Enrollment periods for classes. Since high schools and colleges have agreements allowing high school students to take courses for free, students can use this to their advantage and take as many transferable courses as they want so long as they are in high school. Once you graduate from high school, you will have to pay for your units like every other regular college student.
Some community colleges charge around $50 per unit, which is on the low end for most community colleges. Keep in mind that the average college course is 3 units; most mathematical courses and advanced lower-division courses are 4 or 5 units. College units add up fast Imagine how much money you could save if you finished your first two years, at least 60 units worth of courses in high school!
The First Two Years Of College Is Basically a Repetition of High School
College is the same for the first two years NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO! After all, your first two years consist of General Education courses and lower-division courses. Yes, you have more freedom with course selections compared to high school class options. However, colleges will make you take often dreaded courses such as History, English, Mathematics, Sciences, etc. Most students are happier with their college experience once they reach their junior year or when they unlock their upper-division courses which are more in-depth classes relating to their major of choice. Finishing your first two years in high school allows you to pursue classes specific to your major right off the bat!
You Can Double Dip Classes
The all-time biggest hack for concurrent high school and college students is that they can double dip classes. This practice is not new, but many students don’t use this to their advantage until it’s too late. As per the high school and college agreement in the K-12 form and Concurrent Enrollment forms, students are allowed to check off a section that allows them to take college classes for both college credit and high school credits. For example, In the Summer before my senior year, I took a College Economics class. Economics 1 basically erased the need for me to repeat that class again for one semester of my senior year.
Taking that class for both College and High school credits allowed me to take that class only once, never again in high school or once I graduated high school since the class was transferable. I ended up gaining another free period for my second semester in my senior year since that was one of my last classes. I spent that time taking more college classes for my major...once again for free!
You Move Faster In College
Remember, the beauty of taking college classes during high school is that the classes are transferable. The goal is to transfer all of your general education and lower division major classes to the university of your choice. This pushes you further than your high school peers in terms of grade level, however, you will graduate alongside your peers. For example, If you started taking college classes in your sophomore year of high school, you could finish your sophomore year of college by the time you are a high school senior. That means when you graduate high school you will automatically jump up two grade levels.
There is no need to drop out of high school and go to a community college like a regular high school graduate; in fact, that ruins the whole “getting college for free as a high school student” idea.
Comment what you think about the concurrent education route and don't forget the follow me at @davidjamesgraye on all social media platforms to never miss a secret!
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