I invited some of our experienced HS4CC parents to share a few tips for those who are just starting and for those who are in the thick of things. If you have advice you’ve learned along the way, please feel free to share it below.
Help Me Start
- Kristen from Texas: “Start with a class that falls in the Texas Core 42, so transferability to a state university is guaranteed.”
- Dana from Ohio: “Try not to get overwhelmed with the amount of information out there for earning college credit in high school. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Help Me Grow
- Kristen from Texas: “Keep any written documentation and document conversations. I make a file in my email to quickly reference when needed.”
- Dana from Ohio: “Once you’ve got the basics (CLEP, dual enrollment, etc.), start working on a basic plan for your teen. Be flexible and willing to utilize multiple resources if necessary. Also, your teen doesn’t have to earn a bachelor’s degree in high school! It’s great if they do, but any credits earned are a huge accomplishment.”
- Wendy in Georgia “This (dual enrollment) is also a great way for your child to learn a subject that they may be interested in to help them decide if it’s something they are truly interested in. My daughter thought that she wanted to focus on computers but after the information technology course she decided it’s not something she wants to pursue for a career.”
Help Me Finish
- Leigh (re: paying cash for college) “We were able to spread the reduced cost of her first two years of college over her last three years of high school.”
- Adeline from Ohio: “Taking [dual enrollment] classes put me on a wonderful path to graduate college in much less time than four years. I have saved approximately $40,000 by taking community college classes.”
- “We used the articulation agreement in our state to transfer 70 credits into one of our public state universities and what would have been his 12th grade year became his junior year at the university. He enrolled as an online student and continued living at home. He was able to take a lighter class load and still complete his bachelor’s degree in 2 years making our total cost at the university (including book fees) under $8,000 not counting a $500 grant he received.”
- “Mostly we’re proud that our son has had the opportunity to flourish in other ways that the traditional pursuit of higher education often interferes with.”
