BY RYAN MERARD
One’s high school years are often seen as some of the most stressful in one’s life, as many students are constantly doing their best to set up their future. One of the main ways that a student can prepare for their education after these four years is to focus on what they have now and take advantage of the many features of high school. Fortunately, there are numerous programs that are available to high school students which can help them achieve more than just the standard 24 credit diploma.
According to the Florida Department of Education, more than 60,000 students take part in Florida’s dual enrollment program, and the number has gradually risen from past years, as it should. Dual enrollment is a popular way students gain college credits during their time in high school.
One great feature about programs like this is that they are free, meaning that high school students can take at least one college-level class to give them an early start on their Associate of Arts (AA) degree. This is considered one of the easier ways to gain college credits because they are guaranteed with the courses taken, unlike Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which require a passing score on the final exam to receive the credits.
According to the Florida Department of Education, more than 60,000 students take part in Florida’s dual enrollment program, and the number has gradually risen from past years, as it should.
According to US News, the average annual tuition for public college was $10,116 and data has shown the average to have slowly gone up as years pass. By gaining credits through AP classes and dual enrollment, students can reduce the costs of college.
This can reduce the amount of debt students may have to pay after earning their degrees, which is a problem that many Americans face in this modern era. Stated by Forbes, the average student loan debt at public colleges is $25,550. While loans may be the last resort for many students, getting credits early can reduce the amount of loans and reduce the chances of major debt. Dual enrollment also helps low-income students who may struggle to pay for the entire college tuition.
There are also ways students can be more involved with their future plans while having fun. Present at some universities are several summer programs, based on a major, accessible to high school students.
Paying attention to when important events are occurring or just asking questions about future options are all a part of the little things students can do to be ahead of their peers.
For example, the University of Miami has a three week summer program available to freshmen, sophomores and juniors called the Summers Scholars Program. This program gives underclassmen a preview of what it’s like to be a college student and lets them dive deeper into certain academic fields, all while earning college credits. Colleges all across the nation have programs like this which can help children investigate different academic areas and choose a possible major.
Gaining college credits early is not the only way to prepare for college. Paying attention to when important events are occurring or just asking questions about future options are all a part of the little things students can do to be ahead of their peers. Figuring out possible careers and schools that fit one’s likings are actions that can be taken before the senior year of high school.
There are multiple ways to get a headstart on post-secondary education for free during high school. High school is just one part of the necessary steps needed to successfully gain a higher education, and striving to achieve more can benefit students greatly. While it may take extra effort, making the push to get ahead academically during high school can make the transition into post-secondary education less expensive and overall, easier.
Photo by Sydney Katz
