Does Taking Dual Credit Count As Attending College?

Dual credit, commonly known as dual enrollment, grants high school students the opportunity to attend college classes alongside their high school studies, which allows them to earn both college and high school credits. Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for students to brush up on their knowledge and get an idea about the college before formally enrolling. It gives them an edge over students who are completely new to the college experience. Let us see does taking dual credit count as attending college in this article.

Does taking dual credit count as attending college?

Does taking dual credit count as attending college?

Nowadays, dual enrollment is getting more and more accepted and desired by students since it gives them a head start. According to a report published by the ‘U.S. Department of Education’, there was a surge of 68% in the number of students opting for dual enrollment between the academic years 2002-03 and 2010-11. Students can enroll in a dual enrollment program and attend college classes in real-time at a local college while following the normal high-school curriculum. They must pass these classes with a C or above to earn credits. Students aiming for big universities or colleges can use these credits to get their degree faster because they had already done some part of the course in advance during dual enrollment. The students need to carry out dual enrollment with rigor, as time management is needed.

Eligibility criteria for dual credit or dual enrollment:

Now, eligibility requirements for dual enrollment are something that can vary, depending upon the type of college/university, location, etc. Although the following are some intangible eligibility requirements:

  • A student should be able to manage his or her time wisely and efficiently.
  • He or she should work with rigor.
  • He or she should be able to adapt to the new environment since college life is very different from high school life.
  • He or she should be able to keep a balance in college and high school classes to maintain a good GPA.

Why should a student opt for dual enrollment?

Dual enrollment has several benefits for the students and, in some way, also for the parents, including the following:

  • These programs are usually cheaper and can help save a noteworthy amount of money. This, again, varies from state to state and college to college. This is something that can prove to be a great help to financially weak families by reducing education loans or student debts.
  • In a dual enrollment program, a student can earn credits that they can ultimately use at big, renowned universities while pursuing their college degree. This also saves them the trouble of going through the entire 4- or 5-year degree course (depending on the degreeies while pursuing their college degree. This also saves them the trouble of going through the entire 4- or 5-year degree course (depending on the degree), as they already have a head start on the initial semesters.
  • There is a possibility of graduating early and stepping into the real world. For instance, if a student is looking forward to getting an associate’s degree, they have a chance of getting it while being in a dual enrollment program, which means by the time they complete high school, they’ll have an associate’s degree in hand.
  • A dual enrollment program is challenging which also means that the students will get good exposure to everything and develop their skills and knowledge for a better success rate in the future.

What are the cons of dual enrollment?

  • Credits earned during dual enrollment might not always be accepted by the college for which the students are aiming. This will only result in a waste of time and effort. Thus, students should do the necessary research and then decide whether they should go for dual enrollment or not.
  • Many a time, the high school curriculum clashes with the dual enrollment program. This poses a problem with time management and puts a lot of burden on students.
  • The students might not have enough time left to do other high school activities. Those who are passionate about sports and athletics will not have time to participate in sports events and competitions.
  • If a student fails to perform well in a dual enrollment program, his or her GPA will be affected, and while applying to colleges, he or she will have to face rejections.

Conclusion:

Dual enrollment is a great opportunity as well as a great responsibility. It should not be treated as something on which a student should gamble or take a chance. A student should be aware of his or her potential before enrolling in a dual enrollment program. Consulting a counselor is always a wise choice to make in these cases.

FAQS:

  • What are the tuition fees and who pays for them?

The tuition fees can fluctuate depending on the state and the college. However, the fees are usually less as compared to actual college degree course tuition fees. In some states, the fees have to be paid by the family itself, while in others, the institute funds them. This might vary depending on the education laws of that particular region or state.

  • How do I take part in dual enrollment programs?

In-depth research needs to be done by students and their parents, based on their future goals. Different institutions have different eligibility criteria that require a certain standard GPA, parental permissions, and much more. Therefore, a student should make sure he or she fits these parameters before taking part in the program.