Dual enrollment students get closer to Associates’ degrees

by Sydney E.

Airport High School dual enrollment seniors are currently getting closer to receiving their Associates’ degrees from Midlands Technical College, which they should receive by next May.

These students have gone through a three-year committed process to graduate soon with both their high school diploma and Associates’ Interdisciplinary degree.

Throughout this three-year commitment to complete the Early College Cohort Program, this included fall, spring, and summer semesters. Doing this program has led students right into their majors after high school and with familiarity. That is, these students have already completed many of their general education requirements for college, so all that is left is for them to take the classes that are applicable for their particular major.

“[Early College] introduced me to a lot of different characteristics to build my character when I’m going to become my own independent person, such as multitasking [and] time management,” says Anthony M., a dual enrolled student athlete. He adds, “You get to explore more and you get to get a head start on college. You get to have your degree in sorts, so that way you won’t have to spend as much time chasing your Bachelors’ or your Masters’, and you can have something to fall back on, in case you find out that college isn’t for you.”

Omarion F., a dual enrolled student who has a job on top of Early College, says, “I believe this program has helped, because it looks a lot better on college applications and I won’t be in college for as long since I took these classes and they’re all transferable.” He mentions his benefits of participating in this program by saying, “It gets you ahead in life. It helps you with college. It’s generally an all-around good program that more students should take advantage of.”

It’s a common assumption that this program is initially intimidating and time-consuming. After a while, it was something to get used to and a learning experience pertaining to time management. Even though the workload can be more than what the AHS teachers assign, the semester is shorter and classes are not everyday, so a lot of time is spent in a study hall-like environment.

Is Early College or AP better? This is a common controversy that has no set answer to it. According to Tenney School, the answer is based upon what college is decided by the student who got ahead on their credit, whether it was from early college or AP. Even all of the possible advantages of what you get in college are also up for debate, because with both, it goes back to what specific colleges look for, which could be different for every school.

The courses taken through dual enrollment are additionally weighted when calculated in your high school GPA. According to Lexington School District Two Innovation Center’s website, it’s explained that a lot of dual enrollment courses are counted as high school credits. So, anything counted as a credit directly affects your GPA.

Studies show that dual students go into college with a “familiar, supportive framework”, according to Sara Weissman from “The Dual Enrollment Quandary.”

As students look at potential colleges to go to, one important thing they do is make sure their dual credits will transfer and all of their work is credited for. This ensures that they have the necessary prerequisites to go straight into their majors after high school.