Taking courses for credit at a local college or university can help students become acclimated to the college environment before they become fully immersed in an entirely different lifestyle. This could be seen as metaphorically “sticking one’s toes in” before jumping into their new college life. This is a benefit for many students who take the opportunity because by the time they are full-time college students, they’ve had a bit of time to realize what’s going on.

“Taking college courses has benefited me because I got to see how college classes work, and I won’t be as nervous to go to college now,” says senior Erin Confortini. “I also benefited by getting some courses out of the way.”

Getting credits “out of the way” is one of the most significant benefits of taking college courses early. By planning ahead, students open up many doors to opportunities that they may not have had in college. For example, by completing some necessary courses early, a student may be able to complete a double-major or dual-degree program in little-to-no extra time.

“My daughter plans to complete a dual-degree program at the University of Pittsburgh, and she has opened up the possibility to do so by completing some of her general education courses before she graduates high school,” says Rebecca Frank, mother of a JM senior.

Since they are typically much less expensive than they are when taken as a college student, “High School Early Admit” classes, as they are called at California University of Pennsylvania, can save students and their families a lot of money.

“Taking these courses has benefited me,” says senior Eva Humphreys, “by helping me understand how college classes work and by saving me a lot of money.”

It is clear that getting a jump-start on college courses benefits students both academically and financially. Because there are so many potential benefits and virtually no drawbacks to taking college classes in high school, forward-thinking students use this opportunity as a tool to help them prepare for college. Taking such courses benefits students, those that are college-bound as well as those choosing to enter a trade school, in so many ways. Students who choose to take courses like these in high school open many doors to educational opportunities, and they also save money! Because of these benefits, high school students should absolutely take (at least one or two) college courses before graduation.