Getting Ahead in High School
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."-— Mark Twain
Back in high school, I was always told that I should take Advanced Placement (AP) classes since you had a chance of getting college credit for passing a difficult class, but that only left so many students passing the massive exam. Most students are now taking college classes if they can so they can replace normal high school classes, but also when they do this, if the student passes the class, they are fulfilling their high school requirements but also gaining college credits at the same time. So, what are some of the benefits of taking college classes while you’re still in high school?
Saving Money: If you’re taking a college class while you’re in high school, most schools are paying for your classes, and the only reason you would have to pay for your class is if you don’t pass your class. It also depends on what school you’re going to because sometimes all you have to pay is a reduced rate. Doing this helps reduce how much money you’re spending overall when you do finally start college.
Shorter Track to Graduation: Taking college classes in high school helps for when you get into college, because you’re so much closer to getting your degree compared to peers who didn’t take college classes while in high school. I know a few people who graduated with their associates degree at the same time they graduated from high school.
Time Management and Study Skills: High school starts to teach students how to study efficiently and how to spend their time wisely, but students sometimes don’t put that skill into use until after they graduate high school and move on to college. So, if you’re wanting to build those time management and studying skills early, taking college classes will help put those skills to use.
For those of you wanting to take college classes while you’re in high school, but are unsure if that’s the right choice, just remember that you got to get your butt into gear when taking college classes because while the professors might be more lenient on you, they will crack down on things such as late assignments, and won’t accept things late, where as a high school teacher might be more easy going. Every teacher and/or professor is different, so that might not be the case for everyone, but if you are up to that challenge, don’t stop yourself from growing. If you have additional questions, talk to your high school counselor. Feel free to reach out HERE if you have any questions for Western Wyoming Community College.
