Dual Enrollment - the pros, cons and my thoughts

What if you could go to college while still in high school – for free?

What if you could finish that Chemistry class in half or even a fourth of the time that it would normally take, and you would not only receive full high school credit but also college credit as well? Georgia Military College, along with other schools across the state of Georgia, are opening their doors to high school students in the Move on When Ready (MOWR) program. According to Study Point, an online website of the College Board, Dual Enrollment has many benefits for an adventurous academic. “Earning college credit while still in high school sounds like a dream for many students. In addition, these programs introduce students to the rigors of college coursework early, and recent studies have shown that students who participate in dual-enrollment programs are more likely go on to get a college degree.” The author of this article gives the pros and cons of dual enrollment by addressing questions like - What classes should I take? What should I expect? Would it be better to do AP classes?

Dual enrollment varies from state to state and eligibility in the program can vary as well. According to Studypoint, students should check with their high school guidance counselors to find out if they qualify. Here in Georgia, the students must be at least 14 years old and have a GPA of at least 2.5, take the SAT, ACT or one of the other nationally recognized placement tests. Permission is needed from parents/guardians, a guidance counselor or principal and a teacher’s recommendation can be required.

One pro Studypoint failed to mention is that higher education is expensive. Here in Georgia, the beauty of the MOWR program is that the state and the college or university picks up your tuition bill. Potentially, you could cut your college expenses in half. MOWR is a good way to help with any anxiety you might have about whether college is the right investment for you.

This popular program gives high school juniors and seniors, and even some sophomores, a jumpstart towards their career. One pro Studypoint examines is that dual enrollment gives high schoolers a chance to pursue a major by taking a class in that field. The author writes, “most students change their majors at least once. Taking a college class as a high school senior can help your child find his or her area of interest before the pressure is on to declare a major.” For me, this was crucial.

This resource is a great way to resolve these questions you might be having about joining the MOWR movement. The article does bring out several cons to the accelerated program as it is not for every student. Even if a student is academically ready for college, other extracurricular activities like sports, may keep an athlete from giving the course the extra attention it demands.

However, doing dual enrollment is the smart choice; it can put you ahead, help you decide on a major, and make the transition from high school to college easier! If you want to learn more about dual enrollment or want to get involved, then visit StudyPoints article by clicking here.