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What Are The Best Online High School Courses?
The Internet has revolutionized the way we live our lives and the way we learn. There are very few subjects that can’t be taught online these days — even high school courses! Here’s a look at what you need to know about taking high school courses online and the best way to get them at a small cost.
A Look at Online High School Courses: The Basics
Most students who take high school coursework online do so as well as their brick-and-mortar school experience rather than in place of it. Taking advanced classes is becoming more common among teens who may find they are a little bored with their standard curriculum or who want to get ahead by taking the classes that interest them.
The idea of high school students taking advanced courses online is not new, nor is it an entirely recent phenomenon. It has been around for a while now and has benefitted countless students wanting to advance their education beyond what’s available in their neighborhood schools.
While extracurricular activities like sports and clubs can be an essential part of the college admissions process (we’ll talk about some of these later), advanced coursework is usually viewed in much more favor during reviews by admission officers at colleges, which means many parents are encouraging teens to take more challenging courses online. With this in mind, there are some best practices you should know about when it comes to taking high school courses online.
Top College Placement Courses for High School Students
With the school year winding down and graduation season approaching, high school students are beginning to consider which colleges they want to apply to. While grades are very important, extracurricular activities such as sports also play a significant role in college admissions decisions. But what about taking elective courses outside of your core curriculum? What classes will help you get into those top-tier schools?
1.Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
If you are looking to take a college-level class, consider enrolling in an AP course. A number of high schools and private tutors around the United States offer these courses. The problem with taking traditional college classes is that they usually cost over $500 per class. But AP courses only cost $50-$100 and are typically taught more engagingly than a traditional college.
2.Dual Enrollment Courses
Another option is to enroll in dual enrollment courses offered through your local high school or community college that count for high school and college credit. Dual enrollment courses vary by state, but there are two national initiatives:
- The College Credit Plus initiative developed by the Ohio Department of Education aims at helping students who want to take higher-level classes but don’t necessarily need them for their major or minor in college. The program allows high school students interested in earning additional credits to learn more complex material and earn additional credits while still completing their standard graduation requirements.
- The Early College High School Initiative, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to allow students to earn an associate’s degree before graduating. Students in Ohio interested in joining this program should contact their school counselor or principal for more information about how to enroll. Currently, only 25% of all high schools across the country offer dual enrollment opportunities; so if you want to take a college course but are not able to attend one of these programs, then your best option is AP and CLEP courses offered through local colleges and universities.
3.CLEP Courses
Unlike AP and dual enrollment courses, college-level evaluation programs (CLEP) are given at local colleges and universities around the country. CLEP courses cost $80-$110 and are designed to test student knowledge in various subjects. If you pass the course with a minimum score, most colleges will grant college credit for your efforts. The median amount of credit awarded is 3-6 credits (equivalent to an introductory level college class)
4.Other Options
There are other options available as well if you don’t want to take college courses outside of your core curriculum or wish to wait until after high school to decide on which classes you may want to take:
- Most schools offer AP or SAT prep courses that can help increase your scores, saving you time and money when it comes time to apply for colleges;
- You can also try free classes offered through your local library;
- If you know what major you want to study in college, consider taking a course or two that will help prepare and guide you towards that field.
If your high school has not already made them available, talk with your counselor about the above options for earning college credits during high school. Students who are more prepared for college when they graduate will start their collegiate careers without worrying about whether they will fit into the program. This reduces stress levels and provides other students an advantage when it comes time to apply for scholarships.
Best Practices at Taking High School Courses Online
1.Keep your state’s education laws in mind when signing up for online classes
In the U.S., each state has its own list of requirements regarding coursework and other educational activities a student must complete before reaching graduation day and age restrictions on what types of classes a teen can take and when they can start taking them (usually around middle school).
While these rules typically don’t pertain to students who are getting their education through an accredited homeschooling program, they do apply to options found on the Internet. That means that if you live in one of the 49 states that require all students to complete a certain number of acres of physical education, you will have to make sure you’re enrolled in the appropriate course before signing up for your online class.
2.Get an official transcript!
While some schools may be willing to accept unofficial transcripts, many colleges and universities won’t even look at them during admission consideration reviews if an authorized school or teacher did not issue them. That means you should always get an official transcript from the program provider when taking high school courses online if you hope to submit it with your application materials later on down the road (and don’t skimp out on paying for expedited delivery either).
3.Set realistic expectations for yourself — especially regarding earning college credit through these classes!
One important thing that many students new to online high school classes don’t consider is whether they will obtain college credit for their course work. After all, the point of getting an advanced education is supposed to be the ability to cut down on your time at college or university, not add more years onto it! While a full degree program is unlikely while you’re still in high school, there are usually several courses out there that won’t require you already to have certain classes under your belt before being allowed to take them.
These include AP courses and dual enrollment (or concurrent) programs that will enable high school and college students to enroll in the same class. However, remember that just because these are available online doesn’t mean it’s easy to get into them. In many cases, you’ll have to meet certain grade point average requirements as well as an admissions test score, and in some cases may even need recommendations for acceptance.
Also, remember that just because your high school allows you to take AP courses doesn’t always mean these are automatically accepted at colleges for credit — you will still need to check with the individual universities for their specific policies.
4.Take care of yourself while enrolled!
While most of us who have been through tough classes during our years in secondary education can probably tell a horror story or two about not getting enough sleep or eating healthy food, it’s a different story when you’re taking classes online (or any other time outside of regular classroom hours).
That’s why it’s far more important than ever to make sure you are living by a regular routine while enrolled in online high school classes, especially when it comes to things like getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods. Not only will this help keep your mind fresh, but it can also prevent health complications that may affect the way you think or react during times of stress — whether that’s from taking a test at school, an assignment due for work, or anything else!
5.Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
No matter how involved parents may have been with their child’s education beforehand, there is no teacher who knows more about your educational needs than yourself. That means you should always feel free to reach out to someone if, for some reason, something doesn’t seem right (such as misprints on a scheduling sheet for your classes or putting you in the wrong class) or if you have questions about how to take part in specific programs at your high school.
Remember that while you may be attending classes online, taking advantage of these opportunities is just as much about helping yourself and will likely require just as much effort from you as well.
Join High School of America’s Online Classes for Credit and College Placement
We are all aware that college has increased in cost over the last decade, and unfortunately, so have student debt levels. High School of America, one of the fastest growing online high schools, offers its students free credit classes and test prep classes to help students receive valuable college credits and prepare them for placement tests needed for college acceptance, such as SAT or ACT exams.
High School of America offers a chance for students to earn credits towards their high school diploma, get that much-needed edge when applying to college, and allow them an opportunity to receive placement tests done at a fraction of the cost compared with regular colleges and universities.
By engaging High School of America’s online classes for credit and college placement test prep at a fraction of the cost of traditional colleges, students will be able to save on tuition costs as they advance towards their education goals. In addition, High School of America offers its students a flexible schedule that allows them to take courses while working full time or even while serving in the military. All that is required is a little determination along with hard work and dedication!
We look forward to working together with you to help you achieve your goals!
