High school students taking college courses has become increasingly popular in the last few years as many high schools have been offering free opportunities to attend classes.
Taking colleges classes as a high school student prepares students for actual college classes and it looks really good on resumes.
Now, you may be thinking, “Why would a high school student want to add one more class to their already full schedule? And a rigorous class at that?”
Well, there happens to be many benefits to taking college classes while also being a student in high school, despite how absurd in may sound when you’re already extremely busy.
For beginners, a lot of these classes are open for all students regardless of financial situation, ethnicity, or gender.
The classes offered are usually paid for by the school district so you don’t have to have to come up with money to pay for them.
This saves you tons of money for later on when you’re in college.
Classes that you can take now for free in high school will cost thousands of dollars later on in college.
Another reason to take college classes as a high school student is that they prepare students for actual classes and real life settings.
High school students already have super busy schedules with sports, clubs, volunteering, and assignments due.
While adding an extra commitment may seem crazy, students will essentially be learning life long lessons such as time management skills, strong work ethic, critical thinking, and maturity.
Being in a college class seems intimidating but it’s not as bad as it seems.
You are most likely in class surrounded by people who have the same interests as you.
Senior Tywanna Mosely, 17, also attends an Intro to Business course at LBCC.
“I would definitely recommend that high school students take college classes. It’s a good learning experience and you also get used to the college atmosphere. It’s also cool talking to the older students,” Mosely explained when asked about her opinion about college classes.
Miss Sylvia Womack is a specialist in the college and career center.
Womack often meets a lot of students who take college classes through the school’s dual enrollment program that allows students to take classes for free and LBCC while still being enrolled as a high school student.
“I would recommend that students who are confident that they can do well in a college course take college classes as a high school student. Otherwise, if they think that they won’t do that well, I wouldn’t recommend it. Students tend to forget that these classes are actual college courses and they can affect your chances of getting into the universities or colleges that you want,” Womack stated.
Although the classes seem intimidating at first, the benefits are numerous.
The opportunity to mature in a different environment, meet new people and teachers, and prepare yourself for your future are just some of them.
If you know that you’ll have a high chance of getting the grade you want, think about taking college classes!
Talk to your counselors to see if dual enrollment is good for you!