What are some benefits of taking college credit classes in high school?

Jen Winchell: “The largest benefit for students to take college [credit classes] and [AP Classes] now to earn college credit in high school is cost… when students get to college, those credits can be very expensive.”

Bryan Wadlow: “Any sort of prerequisite [classes] that [aren’t] in your [planned] field of study or major are just benefits, because they’re classes you don’t have to take time and or pay for [later].”

What are some choices students in classes, work, or volunteering may take to maximize the college credits they receive in high school?

Stephanie Engel-Ockerman: “Extracurriculars and community service… Many scholarship[s] require different amount[s] of community service or extracurricular activities, and people start cramming senior year to try and get all of those different things in.”

Winchel: “Volunteering jobs are really good for adding to your resume to apply and get into college, to get scholarships to help with college. As for classes, any College Now classes, [or] AP classes.”
Wadlow: “The [choices] I would say make for college [to be] more successful are [learning to be better] at reading and writing. If you’re going to go in[to] one of the STEM or science or math fields, [start] progressing [in those fields].”

How should students balance the workload or minimize the stress of taking multiple college credit classes for the sake of their mental and physical health?

Winchell: “[Balancing] your college prep classes between junior and senior years so that you’re not overwhelmed in one particular year or semester.”

Engel-Ockerman: “Building your schedule around classes that you’re interested in can kind of take away a little bit of that stress.” 

Wadlow: “If it’s a list of tasks, I think sometimes that [can] start weighing on people, so finding that level of saying, ‘Yes, I’m pushing myself, and I’m intentionally approaching my limits,’ but not living in this state of anxiety because [you] have too much going on.”

What are some supporting factors for students pursuing college credits?

Engel-Ockerman: “Finding a little cohort within any of those classes that you’re taking, finding your core group of people that you know you can rely on to get help from and study with, and really getting to know the teacher that teaches [your college credit] classes.”

Winchell: “Practicing good study habits can be very helpful, good time management, relying on community support, friends, family, anything that can help with a student’s mental health as they take on more challenges in those college preparatory classes can be really helpful.”

What are some hindering factors for students pursuing college credits? 

Engel-Ockerman: “Not knowing what’s available, in terms of scholarships [and] classes that are offered here that offer those credits.” 

Winchell: “The pressure to take AP classes, either to fit in with a group of your friends or how you see yourself, or [worrying about not achieving [enough].”