Dual enrollment seems misguided.

[Anonymous]

I've not seen schools around here (DMV) encouraging this but maybe I'm just unaware of it. As I've seen it play out, a HS student finishes the minimum course requirements to graduate from HS and instead of taking 4 years of English, Social Studies, History, Math, or a foreign language or whatever, the student goes to a local community college and takes a class there, which counts for credit at the HS. There's no guarantee that the class will be accepted by the 4-yr school where the student hopes to enroll. As a result of not being on campus full time, the student misses out on most of the leadership opportunities that would normally be available senior year, like being editor of the school paper, or captain of the baseball team, or running for class president. They probably can't be in band or football or the activities that require lots of hours on campus each day. That's been the case for the students I know who have done this. They basically check out from the high school campus scene and spend lots of time driving back and forth to the community college, and needing to get a part time job to pay for the car and gas that they now "need."

Of course, if a student attends a HS that really doesn't offer more classes after junior year that would challenge them, then sure, they should take a class at the CC. In that situation, you could easily explain to the competitive colleges the reasons for that choice. Same for home school students.

Is there something I'm missing that casts dual enrollment in a better light? I see parents touting their HS children's community college credits like this is a wonderful thing and I just don't get it. How does this make a student more attractive to UVA, CUNY Hunter, and UMD, or any of the private schools?

[Anonymous]

I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

I don't think you are allowed to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

Many of the DE courses do receive credit. DE courses cost less than courses at a 4-year college and less than if you were attending the CC as a student, so there is a cost savings. Another benefit is that being granted credit for successful completion of CC courses does not depend on a single AP exam. If you aren't the best test taker, your work throughout the semester is reflected better in your college grade than perhaps it would be in an AP exam.

DE classes also prepare students for the way college works, with less lecture, less hand holding, and more material covered on your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've not seen schools around here (DMV) encouraging this but maybe I'm just unaware of it. As I've seen it play out, a HS student finishes the minimum course requirements to graduate from HS and instead of taking 4 years of English, Social Studies, History, Math, or a foreign language or whatever, the student goes to a local community college and takes a class there, which counts for credit at the HS. There's no guarantee that the class will be accepted by the 4-yr school where the student hopes to enroll. As a result of not being on campus full time, the student misses out on most of the leadership opportunities that would normally be available senior year, like being editor of the school paper, or captain of the baseball team, or running for class president. They probably can't be in band or football or the activities that require lots of hours on campus each day. That's been the case for the students I know who have done this. They basically check out from the high school campus scene and spend lots of time driving back and forth to the community college, and needing to get a part time job to pay for the car and gas that they now "need."

Of course, if a student attends a HS that really doesn't offer more classes after junior year that would challenge them, then sure, they should take a class at the CC. In that situation, you could easily explain to the competitive colleges the reasons for that choice. Same for home school students.

Is there something I'm missing that casts dual enrollment in a better light? I see parents touting their HS children's community college credits like this is a wonderful thing and I just don't get it. How does this make a student more attractive to UVA, CUNY Hunter, and UMD, or any of the private schools?

In state public universities often don’t have a choice about taking the cc credit

[Anonymous]

It depends on the rules that state colleges have but it’s a huge value to the student to come in with credits. College is expensive. But no, dual enrollment isn’t really targeted at DCUM kids who are going to elite colleges with tuition paid by family.

[Anonymous]

Some of the dual programs have the CC professors come to the HS and teach the kids there. Its good for kids who are going on to state public schools where the credits are guaranteed to transfer. Not everyone can afford to pay for a 4 year college so its great.

[Anonymous]

We may have my child do it. We want them to go to college for four years but they want to do two hard majors - dual major vs. major/minor so they can get the main credits done so they can graduate in four years. What is the harm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

I don't think you are allowed to do that.

You certainly are! If you pass a GED it is equivalent to a high school degree. You may have to take community college placement exams but I don’t see any reason why you can’t - you have your certification. Now not sure if your average 10th grader could pass the GED but if you are on a mad dash out of high school this would be your option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

I don't think you are allowed to do that.

You certainly are! If you pass a GED it is equivalent to a high school degree. You may have to take community college placement exams but I don’t see any reason why you can’t - you have your certification. Now not sure if your average 10th grader could pass the GED but if you are on a mad dash out of high school this would be your option.

You have to be over 18 to take the GED test. I am presuming that rule is to prevent high school students from dropping out.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/gedmd/ged.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a gander - because you are succeeding in a college course. Most of College is really an executive function test and I would think if you show maturity in high school this would reflect well upon your college career. Also there is a financial incentive. If you go to MoCo community college, for instance, UMD HAS to accept your c.c. Credits - so you are ‘ahead’ of the game and can graduate a little earlier. UMD College Park is Harvard for most middle class kids...

What I don’t get is why most kids just don’t sit the GED in 10th grade (if they want to graduate early) and just enter Community College in the junior year of high school. That makes more sense than getting one credit free a semester while in high school.

I don't think you are allowed to do that.

You certainly are! If you pass a GED it is equivalent to a high school degree. You may have to take community college placement exams but I don’t see any reason why you can’t - you have your certification. Now not sure if your average 10th grader could pass the GED but if you are on a mad dash out of high school this would be your option.

I cannot imagine the GED is that hard as its geared to kids who dropped out of school, especially with some studying.

[Anonymous]

Fcps dual enrollment courses are absolutely nowhere near college level and are not college content. They are dumbed down for high school students that aren’t ready for AP or Ib classes. Tell me why the AP lit students are analyzing complex literature and the dual enrollment students are working on college admissions essays in what is supposed to be a college class?

This is why most top colleges do not accept dual enrollment credit, but instead only accept transfer credit if the course is a standard undergraduate course in which the majority of students are undergrads and require a syllabus review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We may have my child do it. We want them to go to college for four years but they want to do two hard majors - dual major vs. major/minor so they can get the main credits done so they can graduate in four years. What is the harm?

My daughter is doing a dual degree (two bachelors degrees - BS in Econ and BA in Public Health) without dual enrollment. She came in with 15 credits from her IB classes and will be graduating with 152 credits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fcps dual enrollment courses are absolutely nowhere near college level and are not college content. They are dumbed down for high school students that aren’t ready for AP or Ib classes. Tell me why the AP lit students are analyzing complex literature and the dual enrollment students are working on college admissions essays in what is supposed to be a college class?

This is why most top colleges do not accept dual enrollment credit, but instead only accept transfer credit if the course is a standard undergraduate course in which the majority of students are undergrads and require a syllabus review.

What is the DE course you are speaking of?

[Anonymous]

Mine son will have 4 DE classes, worth at least 12 credits and 4-5 AP classes. He did it all at his high school.