High schools offer a head start on college
Did you know it’s possible to take college credits in high school? In today’s society, attending college has become so common that high schools have begun to incorporate programs that allow students to do just that.
Traditionally, students got a head start on college through challenging Advanced Placement (AP) classes created by the College Board, the company that issues the SAT exams. While AP classes have been offered at high schools for decades, a new system has emerged. Referred to as “dual-placement courses,” theses classes offer students the chance to complete their high school course requirements while also gaining college credit.
Though AP classes continue to be a popular choice for students, many are drifting toward dual-placement courses. Local colleges and universities like St. John’s and Adelphi offer these classes for credit.
Another Long Island university, C.W. Post, expanded the idea further by developing the Secondary Collegiate Articulated Learning Experience Program (SCALE). It offers 20 different SCALE classes to participating high schools.
College credits through the dual-placement program are significantly more expensive than AP courses, which currently cost $86. C.W. Post, however, discounts SCALE credits 85 percent from its regular prices.
While many other colleges don’t discount them to this extent, most institutions offer the classes at discounted rates.
Then why would students opt for more expensive courses? It has been observed that while students may excel throughout the year in AP classes, some tend to get overly stressed the day of the final exam and therefore not scoring as high as their capabilities. Typically, colleges only accept AP credits if the student scores at least a 3 on a scale of 5, on the exam.
That is where dual-placement courses differ. The final grade is based on a student's cumulative effort and performance.
Sara Schwartz, currently a graduate student at Binghamton University, said the dual placement program accelerated her through college.
