Dual enrollment can be a great opportunity for high school students to get a head start on their college education and earn quality points for their transcript, but there are several factors to consider before diving in. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you decide if it’s right for you.
What Is Dual Enrollment (DE)?
In a dual enrollment program, high school students take college-level courses while still in high school, earning both high school and college credits. These courses allow students to get an early feel for college level coursework, which can help build confidence and reduce the uncertainty many students feel when preparing for college.
Students enrolled in these dual enrollment typically earn credit through a local community college or university and enroll in approved courses that align with their high school’s curriculum or match the student’s academic interests. However, some high schools only allow dual enrollment in courses that are not offered through their own curriculum.
Benefits of Dual Enrollment:
- Early College Experience: Students get a preview of college academics, which can make the transition smoother when they eventually attend a university.
- Cost-Effective College Credits: Dual enrollment is typically no-cost, allowing students to earn free college credits toward their degree.
- Flexible Course Options: There are a wide range of college-level courses, which can provide students with an opportunity to explore subjects of interest. For example, students may learn a language not taught in their high school, like Japanese or Italian.
- Boost College Applications: Having college courses on a transcript can strengthen a student’s application and demonstrate their ability to succeed in a college environment, HOWEVER – if the student doesn’t perform well, these grades are considered a student’s first college grades, and can have a significantly negative effect on admissions decisions. Students and families must be very cautious!
Now for the Strongly Cautionary part of this Dual Enrollment Story:
Sometimes students may not fully understand the importance of the commitment they are making and mistakes may occur. Let’s hear the story of Sean. Sean had the best intentions when he signed up for a dual enrollment class during the summer after his sophomore year. However, he started the course late, not fully understanding the requirements for submitting work or how to communicate with his professor. Once he fell behind, he did not communicate with his parents or the professor, but continued unsuccessfully – not realizing his grade in the course was a D, until it was too late to withdraw from the course. With a D as his final grade, Sean would be starting college with a 1.0 GPA. Neither Sean or his parents realized that this one poor dual enrollment grade made him inadmissible to most colleges!
- Adjustment: As Sean’s story illustrates, it could be challenging for some students to adjust to a more mature academic environment and requirements. Students must be ready to work completely independently with minimum supervision.
- Increased Workload: College courses can be much more demanding than typical high school classes, which may lead to stress and time management challenges. Students may also find it difficult to balance extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and other responsibilities.
- Dual Enrollment Grades are Non-Negotiable – Impacting both High School and College GPA’s: The grades you earn will be your first grades in college and will affect your college GPA. For example, if you earn a D in a dual enrollment class, you will begin college with a 1.0 GPA! Any less than successful grades in dual enrollment indicate that a student is not ready! This could essentially stop your college application in its tracks- keeping you from being admitted. This means that the student’s final grade in the class is extremely important.
Tips for Success in Dual Enrollment:
- Work Closely with a College Counselor: Counselors can help students choose appropriate courses that align with their high school graduation requirements and set the student up for success.
- Stay Organized: Balancing high school and college courses can be tough, so it’s essential to stay organized, manage time wisely, and ask for help if needed.
- DE vs AP vs AICE: Dual enrollment does offer guaranteed college credit (vs AP or AICE – both require an exam to receive credit and the credit is not guaranteed). HOWEVER, many of the more competitive colleges may prefer to see the standardized AP or AICE courses. Research your colleges’ preferences or discuss your options with your college counselor.
- Make a note of dual enrollment Withdrawal deadlines. Students will have the opportunity to withdraw from a course that is not progressing well!
- Communication is key! If a student does not understand the logistics of the course or falls behind, they must communicate with their parents, professor and counselor!
While dual enrollment programs can provide high school students with valuable experiences and academic benefits, they do require careful consideration. Students and their families should weigh the pros and cons, research eligibility, and work with College Counselors to ensure a smooth and successful experience.
Christina Assal, M.A.,
Milestone Senior College Advisor
