www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
Dual credit can help your student explore
the culture of a college she is considering
before any real commitment must be made.
Sitting in classes, or even taking online
classes, can help your student get a real feel
for how it would be at that college full-time.
Even if they don’t end up loving that school,
they will receive credit that can transfer to
their school of choice.
Getting some of the basics out of the way
while still in high school will help keep some
semesters a little lighter in college when the
classes are tougher and require more time.
The Drawbacks
In a dual credit course, your student will be
exposed to much older students, and possibly conflicting worldviews, and questionable literature at a young age. This may or
may not be a problem depending on your
style of parenting, your student’s personality, and the school and courses you choose.
Since some dual credit classes can be offered at home online, you may be able to
eliminate some of these issues.
Some classes may not transfer if you decide to go to another college. So, even if your
student takes college credit classes, if they
do not transfer he or she will be required to
retake these classes. Choose wisely.
Some classes may require outside meetings, group projects and other on-campus
commitments you may not be planning.
If your student is not yet driving this will
mean extra trips for you.
Things to Know if Considering Dual
Credit
For most schools, there are a limited number of courses you can take at a time and
still be considered dual credit. There may
also be a maximum number of dual credit
classes an institution will allow you to take.
Also, there may be a maximum number
you are allowed to transfer. Check all this
out at the school level before you put out
any money or effort.
Your student will be treated like any other
college student. Often the professors are not
even aware of their dual credit status. You
will not be welcome to intervene on your
student’s behalf in any of their classes. If he
or she is struggling, the appropriate option
is to have the student make an appointment
with the teacher during office hours and let
them handle it. If your student does not yet
have the maturity to do this, it may not be
the best option for your family.
Despite any drawbacks, we have allowed
all three of our older daughters to take dual
credit classes, and one daughter started
college at 14. If you would like to read her
story, you can find it at: http://bit
.ly/2h2qIGW
Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan,
thankful mother to six children, ages 4-27,
a grandmother to two, and an author, con-
ference speaker, and director of www.home
making911.com. She has home educated her
children since 2000 and has been blogging at
Homemaking 911 since 2007. She was also
a member of The Schoolhouse Review Crew
for 2016.
