Should You Enroll in a Dual Credit Program?

CCEdit_Suraj · February 26

Consider whether taking a dual credit course during your high school years would benefit you. https://insights.collegeconfidential.com/should-you-take-dual-credit-courses

RichInPitt · February 26

Also consider the cost, rigor, and value of the courses being offered. Our HS has been pushing "Dual Enrollment" courses with the local community college.

For tuition of over $500, my D gets "college credit" for a Chemistry course that the HS considers a pre-requisite for AP Chem. Basically it's just a first-year Honors Chemistry course, with a big price tag. I suspect it's of very little value in a college admissions process.

Dual Enrollment Dance, Film Studies, Animation, etc....

racereer · February 27

I agree with @RichInPitt that you really need to take a look at what you are getting for Dual Enrollment. But, on the flip side at our HS they offer many DE classes that are at or above AP level for no extra cost. Some of the programs you have to be accepted into though, so not everyone can just chose to take them. In many cases these classes get you more college credit than the AP test would. You also have to keep in mind what colleges will take your transfer credits. S19 was able to get most of his credits to transfer from OOS to GT, entered in as a sophomore, and was classified a junior after his first semester.

BuckeyeMWDSG · February 27

In Ohio it's free for all public school students (7th-12th grade) who wish to attend a public Ohio university or college, including textbooks. Some private universities also participate (the private university that offers a class at our hs is free, they used to charge $30/cr). In addition to the classes offered at the high school, there is flexibility to schedule online classes or if a student has transportation to attend on a college campus.

momtogirls2 · February 27

I honestly think you need to evaluate based on your own school policies and the student.

For us - no charge for classes or textbook rentals

Rigor - we have the entire college catalog to pick from providing:
1 Class provides college level credits vs a class that you can't attempt to transfer
2 you meet the prerequisites to take
3 meets at a time that works for you
There are plenty of options at ap level or higher if you want that
At our school DE classes are taken at a college with college students

Value - for some students the value is in the credits
- for some students the value is in the independent schedule
- for some students the value is taking electives you wish to take
- for some students the value is in learning that you can succeed in a typical college class that doesn't meet 5 days a week
- for some perhaps getting an associate's in high school will give them a job they can use to work to pay their way through higher learning that will make it possible for them to obtain a Bachelor's degree or higher

RichInPitt · February 27

Yes, there are certainly DE courses worth taking - just examine each option.

Our HS offers a second year Physics course as both AP Physics C and DE with University of Pittsburgh freshman Physics for Engineers.

A C or better will transfer to most colleges, whereas many of the schools my D was looking at required a 5 to place out of Freshman Physics. Almost all were a 4 or higher. It was a lot easier to take DE to get credit (though still more $$).

MVC, Linear, DiffEq are often only available in conjunction with a college.

mom2boys1999 · February 29

Something to consider:
Depending on what you want to do after undergrad, DE classes could hinder that. I didn’t know that DE classes counted towards med school GPA and are figured in for other programs as well.

For my son they are still a good choice. Our school is not particularly rigorous and lacks many elective options/has few AP classes. Plus my kid hates the high school scene. The vibe and environment of DE has really helped him blossom and come out of his shell.

But the new school thing is still worrisome.

bopper · March 2

AP vs DE

AP
• AP tests are well known nationally and are uniform across the nation
• You can look on any college’s website and see what credit you will get for what scores on the AP tests
• AP Courses are given at your High School
• AP Credit is based on a test you take on one day
• AP courses generally are more spread out...e.g., AP Calc AB = Calc 1 is given over a year, not a semester.

DE
• There are more of a variety of DE courses available at a CC
• DE courses will count for your college GPA…make sure to do well for future Med school/grad school purposes.
• DE Courses may be only available at the CC…how will you get there? How will they overlap with your HS schedule?
• Private and Out of State Colleges may or may not give you credit. They may not give credit for courses taken to fulfill HS requirements. You do not know what credit you can get ahead of time.
• DE Credit is based on your grades over the semester (including final)

momtogirls2 · March 2

One clarification for @bopper's post - de gpa seldom counts towards undergraduate gpa; you just get the credits. However any time you apply to a different college the grades will be looked at both undergraduate and graduate school.

The best thing to do with de classes is to save all syllabi since the school may request them.

Should You Enroll in a Dual Credit Program?

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