Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for high school students who are looking to work ahead on their college degree. Dual enrollment helps students save money on college because they can take classes at a reduced price, but it also helps students prepare for their college experience by introducing them to college-level coursework.
Geneva College offers two different types of dual enrollment programs for high school students. One way to earn dual enrollment credits is through the online or on-campus Early College program. Students that enroll in online or on-campus classes can take these classes for only $198 per course, and often these courses are transferrable to other colleges and universities. The other way to earn dual enrollment credits is through your high school. If your school is partnered with Geneva College, then the staff at your high school can offer Geneva courses for the reduced rate of $50 per course. The dual enrollment programs are a great way for high school students to get a head start on college without breaking the bank.
While dual enrollment is a great way for high school students to save money, that is not the only benefit it provides. Students that choose to enroll in college courses will also receive the benefit of being more prepared for their college experience. Students that take college courses in their own high school will receive education from their own teachers, but with the rigorous coursework that is typical of college course. This way these students can become acclimated to college-level coursework without being overwhelmed by a change in environment, classmates, or educators. On the other hand, students that choose to enroll in online or on-campus courses receive the benefits of learning alongside college students and becoming familiar with the style of learning that is typical in college classrooms. Both options for dual enrollment offer the chance for high school students to prepare for their college experience in a less overwhelming environment.
Another perk of the dual enrollment program is that students who are enrolled in the early college program at Geneva do not need to reapply for an undergraduate education. They will already be accepted as Geneva College students if they wish, and their dual enrollment credits will already be on record. This is another way that dual enrollment can help students prepare for college because once they are accepted into the dual enrollment program, they do not need to worry about be accepted into the undergraduate program as well.
Many students that participated in the dual enrollment program were very happy with their experience. Sam Collins was a student who participated in the dual enrollment program before enrolling in Geneva College for his undergraduate education. "This program was super helpful, because it was very flexible for my schedule and allowed me to take get a head start on my core credits at Geneva. With that head start, I am going to be able to save a lot of time and money, by graduating a semester early. I highly recommend this experience, the professors were wonderful, and very helpful. But they also didn't take it easy on you just because of your age, they made sure you got the same amount of learning from the class as a full-time student."
Sam is not the only student who appreciated the Early College program here at Geneva. Rebecca Shaefer is another student who participate in dual enrollment while in high school. She says, “I was amazed by how friendly the other students were, even though I was in high school. That sense of community I felt as an early college student was one of the key reasons I attended college at Geneva.… Getting a taste of what college is all about as a high schooler significantly eased my adjustment to college life when I attended Geneva freshman year. I knew what to expect, which professors I preferred, and how to succeed academically in higher education.” Like Sam, her experience as an Early College student was incredibly positive and gave her a head start as she came into college as a freshman.
Regardless of which type of program you choose, dual enrollment could help you jump start your college journey. The application process is simple and easy and once you are accepted, you will be sent an email with all the instructions you need to look up available courses and other details regarding the program. Then you have to notify the Crossroads Office of which courses you would like to register for. From there you will be sent a finalized schedule and instructions on how to set up a Geneva student account. Students taking online courses will be sent course login information 10 days before the course begins, and on-campus students will be invited to an Early College orientation session before their semester begins. After that, all that is left to do is attend classes! At the end of the semester, all grades will be reflected on your Geneva College transcript. You can send this transcript to other colleges that you apply to, or you can choose to continue to attend classes here at Geneva College.
Ultimately the dual enrollment opportunities here at Geneva is a great way for high school students to prepare for college and save themselves some time and money. Early College might be right for you!
Mattigan Burleigh ‘24
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Nov 2, 2023
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