Whether your student is new to Dual Enrollment or a veteran, choosing classes with them can be very important. As the fall semester comes to a close, you will likely face a myriad of options in choosing next semester’s classes. The countless decisions may seem daunting, but I believe that with a few helpful resources and metrics, it doesn’t have to be scary at all.
Jasmine L. was one of our HS4CC 2024 Summer Interns and continues to contribute to our blog long after her internship ended! We thank her for her ongoing service to our community.
Classes
When it comes to the actual classes (Intro to Spanish vs Spanish I, U.S. History I vs American History, etc), your best resource is your guidance counselor. Your student’s guidance counselor most likely has all of the specific details on your plans as well as any special situations or accommodations necessary. Meeting with them to discuss options is always a good bet. Whether your student’s end goal is a two year degree, a couple DE classes, or a hobby-based class, the counselor will know best which classes to lead your student to.
Another way to choose classes is to look at your student’s preferred university. If you already know where your student would like to go, checking out potential future classes can help guide your high school plan. For instance, if University of X requires students to take College Algebra at their school only, then taking it at a community college might not be the most efficient choice for credit transfer purposes. Furthermore, if University of X accepts U.S. History but not Texas History credits, then taking a Texas History class may only benefit your students’ high school career. Of course, taking these classes can be very important for your student or your plan. This is simply one way of looking at them through the lens of transfer credits.
Professors
Another metric to consider is the professors. By utilizing Rate My Professors, you can easily read reviews from students who have taken your prospective professor before. You can also leave reviews on any class you have taken. These reviews allow an unfiltered and brutally honest sneak peek into how a professor acts, what they assign, and even how they grade. I will never stop promoting Rate My Professors simply because it gives insight like no other website.
Some colleges also offer access to past syllabi from professors’ previous semesters. If you have this resource at your college, then I suggest taking a look at prospective professors’ past plans because more often than not, they are practically the same. This will give you a leg up in terms of what you may need to purchase and what your student will learn.
Times
The actual time/schedule of prospective classes can be quite important. Of course the literal times of the classes will be dependent on your schedules, but the semesters and days can matter a lot. For instance, professors often switch around their classes based on the semester (i.e. HIST1301 in the fall and HIST1302 in the spring). Some classes require pre- or co-requisites. That means that planning out future classes will depend on your students’ goals and past classes. The earlier you can get a jump on planning out classes, the more prepared and ahead you will be.
Also, I’ve made a few interesting observations throughout my time. In my experience, Monday/Wednesday classes often have less students than Tuesday/Thursday classes. Any class before 9:30am will have less students. Usually the last class in the day (i.e. 2 or 3pm) will have less people as well. The less students in a class, the more direct focus on each student. This can mean more tailored discussions and teaching. All of these factors can be important.
Furthermore, if your student attends any clubs or extracurriculars on campus, taking classes around the same time can make transportation easier and even save money on gas.
Online vs. In-Person
I’ve probably rambled enough, so I’ll close with a helpful list of pros and cons for online vs in-person classes to give you a break. Keep in mind that these are general trends from my experience, not necessarily true for your chosen program.
Online
Pros:
- Asynchronous options/more flexible schedule
- Work at your own pace
- Less issues with taking vacations/breaks
- Stay comfortable at home
Cons:
- Lots of busywork (like a LOT)
- Tests may require video/audio/browser monitoring software
- Limited, online communication with professors
- Usually a lot more discussion posts and a lack of meetings or lectures
- Technical difficulties/trouble accessing content
In-Person
Pros:
- Easy access to professors and students
- Less busywork outside of class
- Lectures and teaching more tailored to current needs
Cons:
- More structured schedule that may not allow for vacations/breaks as easily
- Traveling to the location and bringing necessary resources
I personally prefer in-person classes, but each student works better in different environments. Experiment and figure out what works best for your student.
Conclusion
I realize that I just threw a lot of information at you. Before I say anything else, let me highlight something important. I don’t want to add extra pressure onto this process. Mistakes are very much a part of life. I locked myself into two semesters with a Spanish teacher that I ended up strongly disliking. I’ve scheduled classes at bad times, and I’ve ended up with professors I hadn’t looked into. All of these mistakes were ultimately harmless in the long run. They were also inevitable and expected. It’s impossible to be 100% perfect the first few times you try something. That said, using all or none of my advice can lead to a successful DE experience. The main point is to accomplish your goals in the best way that you can and experiment with what works best for your family. So while you’re picking out classes, remember the methods I’ve explained, sure. But more importantly, remember not to put too much pressure on yourself. Remember that your student is already light years ahead just by considering DE options.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed gawking at me and my soap box. Good luck, you’ll do great!
