Between applying for colleges, scheduling campus visits, researching degree programs, and generally planning out the next four years of your life, you may find it hard to think of the here and now. But surprisingly, one of the best things you can do to prepare for your college career is to focus on what you’ll be doing for the rest of your high school career. There are two main things you should pay attention to: academics and finances. And there are three HUGE things you can do to come out ahead in both.
1. Take Advanced Placement Courses
For example, if a student has an interest in writing they may sign up for their school’s A.P. Language and Composition class. If they take the test and pass with a 4 (exams are graded on a 1-5 scale), they can receive three English college credits at most colleges and thus not be required to take a core English class in college.
This provides a student with three main benefits.
1. They have more room in their college schedule to take classes they are interested in
2. They are one step closer to earning a college degree
3. They have saved a significant amount of money. An A.P. Exam costs around $92 to take. The average college course at a 4-year, public university (for a student taking 30 credits a year) costs approximately $939.
2. Dual Enroll
Students participating in these programs have the opportunity to see what a college course is like before becoming a college student. They are able to observe the differences between high school and college class structures and high school and college teachers. In addition, they can fulfill their high school graduation requirements while earning college credit and exploring college programs. Since most high schools cover the cost of dual enrollment, students save money earning credits early.
3. High School Summer Programs
The curriculum and price of a summer program varies from college to college, but some give students the opportunity to take courses and earn college credit.
You’ve probably thought a little bit about what you want to study in college, but have you actually decided yet? Here at Columbia College Hollywood, we offer eight film Emphases: Directing, producing, writing, acting, new media, cinematography, sound, and Editing and Visual Effects.