The Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment

Preparing for university or college might create uncertainty for learners. Most high school learners feel anxiety around standardized tests, college applications, juggling school, and work, and embarking on a completely new experience.

Dual enrollment programs might assist in easing such anxiety by offering a chance for learners to enroll in college courses and attain college credit prior to joining college. In this article, we explore the pros and cons of a dual enrollment course.

What Is Dual Enrollment Program?

Getting college credit while in high school may be rewarding since it enables learners to get a head start on their degrees and also exposing them to college courses’ rigors. Moreover, dual credit programs offer learners the chance to prove their readiness for college studies and life to college admission officers.

In dual enrollment courses, high school learners participate in college-level courses from a university or college. Students can get high school credit, college credit, or both.

Notably, dual credit courses vary by state, hence ensure that you look at the college and state dual enrollment requirements. Also, you should work closely with your high school counselor so as to make sure that you know how admissibility works.

What are the Pros of Dual Enrollment?

Exposes Students Early to College or University Life

A survey conducted by BestColleges in 2019 shows that 22% had concerns regarding the ability of their college students to balance their academics and social life and live independently without the supervision of their parents. Likewise, 20% of the parents questioned the readiness of their children to meet their academic expectations.

The fear of parents around university or college is real, and most learners share their concerns also. Dual enrollment programs offer high school learners an early snapshot of the time, social, and academic demands that they will face in university or college.

Students who take dual-enrollment programs at local colleges get real college staff, professors, and students. Also, they get the chance to change to the learning rigor of college courses and take part in co-curricular activities.

Exposure to a learning setting with older adult learners offers high school learners an academic opportunity high school just cannot offer. College learners know that the skills need for content mastery and success vary greatly from the skills needed in high school. In order to succeed at the college level, learners are supposed to take accountability for and ownership of their studies.

Dual enrollment courses can offer a highly valuable educational experience for high schoolers, particularly first-generation college learners, who might lack exposure to and knowledge of college campuses. Doing well in college courses while still in high school strengthens the aspirations of students and their confidence in their academic success.

Diverse Array of Courses

Dual enrollment courses usually cover subjects that are not offered in high schools. This assists in expanding the learning of students in foreign subjects and offers learners a chance to pursue courses with a varied group of students. Studies show that classroom diversity affects the critical thinking, motivation, and creativity of students.

Exposing students to diverse courses assists them in formulating clear college and academic goals and selecting a major. Research shows that average college learners change their major three times, and most of them join college undecided concerning what to pursue.

The high school dual enrollment program exposes students to various subjects that can assist them in choosing a career path and a major.

Cost-Effective Way of Earning Your Degree Faster

There has been an exponential rise in college tuition over the last few years, which makes attending college the most expensive investment a person can make.

High tuition costs have left most vulnerable learners – including students with disabilities, single parents, low-income students, and students of color – feeling like attainment of college studies cannot be attained without additional funding. Although dual-enrollment courses vary by state, some states assume all or part of the cost of those courses, enabling learners to take them without financial burden.

Usually, dual enrollment cost is absorbed mainly by school districts, high schools, higher education institutions, and the state, with students and parents paying only a nominal fee. By working meticulously with your high school counselor to make sure that your college credit transfers to your preferred college, you can save significant resources on your higher studies. Additionally, dual credit courses can also accelerate the completion of a degree.

What are the Cons of Dual Enrollment?

Challenges Adjusting to College Life

Even though college might be a thrilling time, with several learners looking forward to the adventure and freedom that college life affords, it might also result in unnecessary stress. Some learners might refuse to pursue college courses on a different campus since it creates separation and distance from their high school as well as experiences in high school.

They might experience sadness and loneliness in the event they have to undergo extended time away from their high school social circles and friends.

Taking part in high school activities is crucial to most learners. However, managing a college workload and travel between a college campus and a high school can make some students feel isolated from their high school staff, educators, and friends. For seniors and juniors, this is usually a moment for a lot of change, and trying to meet the demands of university or college work can intensify stress.

High school learners must know to take ownership and responsibility for their time. Students must learn to balance their homework, social activities, classes, and time with friends and family. Most learners are dealing with this challenge of taking ownership and initiative of their responsibilities for the first time.

Relationships in colleges are very different, and most learners must know how to manage their relationships and advocate for themselves. Also, parents are less involved in the college education of their children. So, college students have to find out ways of figuring out how to resolve such concerns themselves.

Conflicts Between College and High School Demands

Since learners participating in dual credit courses take college and high school courses simultaneously, some college programs might conflict or overlap with the high school schedule of the student. It can also be a challenge in the event the learner has to travel between campuses.

Usually, learners have little flexibility in their high school course schedules and might take particular classes at particular times. The participants of dual enrollment have little time for extracurricular activities, making them miss out on college and high school activities since they have to negotiate time between the two schools.

Learner involvement is crucial to the success of the student. Also, it is a critical asset to include on college applications as a way of emphasizing your leadership skills and interests. Learners facing challenges to school involvement might develop feelings of regret that are related to missing co-curricular learning and peer engagement.

Differences in Dual-Enrollment Credit Acceptance

Although some learners might be motivated to dual credit courses, it is vital to know that not all colleges allow a credit from these kinds of programs. It is crucial for high school learners to work with their counselors in order to understand the academic prerequisites and admission requirements for their preferred colleges.

For instance, some credits might be admitted by their preferred colleges but might not count towards their degree completion. Undertake your research and enroll in courses whose credits apply towards your degree

Dual enrollment courses usually attract learners planning to shift to public in-state learning institutions because these schools are more likely to allow deal enrollment credits. Out-of-state and private colleges, on the other hand, are less likely to admit these credits.

Does FIU do Dual Enrollment?

FIU dual enrollment programs may be undertaken at an FIU campus, online, or at high school.

How does Dual Enrollment Program Work in High School?

Dual credit courses enable learners in the 6th grade throughout the 12th grade, including homeschooling and private high school learners, to pursue post-high school coursework and at the same time obtain credit towards an industry certification, a career certificate, and a high school diploma.

When can you do Dual Enrollment Program in Georgia?

Georgia dual enrollment programs are mainly available for all qualified 11th or 12th grade (in some limited instances 9th-10th) high schoolers. These students might register part-time or full-time in approved credit-bearing college-level programs by the State Board of Education.

Does Miami Dade College Require a High School Diploma?

To qualify for enrollment to Miami Dade College, you must be aged 18, and you must possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED).

Conclusion

Dual enrollment courses can provide students with an added advantage in the process of admission into college by preparing them for the rigors of university or college coursework as well as awarding them credits that add towards their degrees. Nevertheless, dual enrollment might take time away from their experience in high school.

As you make a decision on whether to participate in dual credit programs, ensure that you understand the pros and cons of dual enrollment programs.

Resources and References:

• Advantages of Dual Enrollment Programs
• Cons of Dual Enrollment Programs
• Reasons to Take a Dual Enrolment Course