myUsearch blog

Students don’t need to wait until they’ve finished high school to start earning college credit. There are many ways for students to complete college coursework during high school, and this challenge may further motivate them, give them access to a college environment, and can ultimately save thousands of dollars in college tuition. A recent article published by Inside Higher Ed advocates these programs, but I think it might be best for students to wait to take college classes until, well… college.
There are a few ways for high school students to earn college credit.

Advanced Placement Exams. Most colleges accept AP credit, earned by taking rigorous AP classes and passing exams in the spring. These are usually the most challenging classes offered by high schools and are based on the material of similar classes taught in colleges.

Enrollment in classes at a local college (Dual Enrollment). Many high schools have agreements with local community colleges and universities, allowing students to take actual college courses at no cost and to earn dual credit. This can be a great way for students to experience a true college environment. However, students should be aware that credits do not always transfer.

Early college high schools. Most of these schools are geared towards students who otherwise may never attend college or even graduate high school. The goal is to motivate students by pushing them to meet an additional challenge rather than merely remediating them. Earlycolleges.org gives an overview of this philosophy and lists early college high schools nationwide.

Completing college coursework in high school probably seems ideal, but it’s not as perfect as it sounds. This is what students and parents should consider:

The good: Students should always challenge themselves, and this can be a great way to get an education beyond what is offered in a normal high school classroom. Experience in a college environment may also encourage students to pursue higher education and will certainly help them make the transition to college. Perhaps most significant, students can save thousands of dollars in college tuition by earning college credit in high school. This can also be a great way to get general education requirements out of the way early.

The bad: Most often, enrollment in classes at a community college or even Advanced Placement classes are not equivalent to courses students may take at a major university. More importantly, college credit is not a replacement for the college experience. Students may complete up to two years of “college” in high school, but it’s no substitute for the friends they may make and extracurricular opportunities they may have in two years at college. Finally, one of the main concerns with taking college courses in high school is the potential for these programs to become a race to earn credit. Students should not forget the main goal of school—education.

If early college high schools truly are motivating students who otherwise may not pursue higher education, than these programs should continue to grow. But students must ask a few questions before jumping into pre-college college coursework. Will my credits transfer? What will I have to sacrifice in order to nearly double my workload? Is this the kind of education I really want?

What’s your opinion on dual enrollment (taking college courses while in high school) and earning college credit from AP/IB courses? I’d love to hear your point of view