5 Reasons Why High School Students Shouldn't Earn Dual Credit

dual credit high school By David Cohen

It's fun playing devil's advocate. Somebody has to do it. So, here are five reasons why a high school student should skip earning dual credit in high school.

5. You want to take the SAT test

If you’re either a glutton for punishment or a genius who can score a 2400 on the SAT with your brain tied behind your back, don’t bother earning dual credit.

But, if the idea of spending six months studying for the three hour and forty-five minute SAT test doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you may want to consider earning dual credit.

Colleges are increasingly waiving the SAT requirement for students who earn dual credit during high school, especially if the student used CLEP tests or DSST exams to earn dual credit.

For example, high school students who enroll in CollegePlus! to earn dual credit don’t have to take the SAT to finish their degree from top-ranked schools like Bryan College and Thomas Edison State College.

Having to take the SAT test is a great reason not to earn dual credit.

4. You want to repeat the last two years of high school in college

Here's a solid reason not to earn dual credit—you loved high school so much that you’d gladly "relive" your junior and senior years of high school during your freshman and sophomore years of college.

To me, that sounds about as fun as playing 358 consecutive rounds of Dutch Blitz with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez.

Students who combine high school and college to earn dual credit through CLEP tests and DSST exams can actually knock out the general education requirements from the college they want to attend.

Use CLEP and DSST tests to earn dual credit and you could avoid redoing high school, being stuck in a classroom with the guy who's hungover, the annoying trust-fund baby, the hippie who hasn't showered since Phish broke up, and the professor who's too busy thinking about his next book to actually teach.

But, if you'd like to pay your college thousands of dollars to redo high school, avoid earning dual credit.

3. You want a "vanilla" high school transcript

Even for homeschool students, a high school transcript can be an important component that communicates to a college how academically prepared the student is.

At the risk of sounding like an elitist, let me just say that when a high school student, especially a homeschooler, has a transcript with dual credit, the dual credit can turn a great transcript into a stellar transcript.

What's more, when a student has dual credit on their transcript, they can get more financial aid, grants, and bigger scholarships than their peers who did not earn dual credit during high school.

Bottom line, if you want a "vanilla" transcript and you want to miss out on people giving you free cash to earn your degree, skip the dual credit in high school.

2. You want to spend an extra $18,000+ on college tuition

Some people seem to feel better when they spend more money for things they could actually get for less. It's one of those weird human behavioral traits that fascinates me.

Earning dual credit is probably not a good idea if you'd rather spend $300 per-credit-hour instead of spending $26 per-credit-hour (or less) for the same exact credits.

If reducing your cost-per-credit-hour by 91% sounds as appealing as eating week old sushi, you should forgo earning dual credit during high school.

If saving money sounds like a good idea, you can do what many CollegePlus! students do by combining high school and college to earn as many as 60 accredited college credits in a span of 12 months, using CLEP tests that can cost as low as $13 per-credit-hour.

1. You do not know how to earn dual credit

This is probably the easiest reason not to earn dual credit. But it's also the worst reason.

Not knowing how to do something won't work as an excuse any more. There's an abundance of mediocrity and complacency in this world, making a student who is extraordinary and "hungry" quite a valuable commodity.

But as valuable as dual credit is from an academic and collegiate perspective, possessing the passion and energy to accomplish a difficult task is even more valuable.

So, if making an excuse is easier than making an effort, drop the idea of earning dual credit. If accomplishing something extraordinary is more your style, make this dual credit stuff happen.

Share this blog post over Facebook. If sharing this can inspire a student do something extraordinary, you'll be doing them a life-changing favor.

David David loves world travel, the book of Genesis, the Nashville Predators, and his wife Khristen. If you have a story to share about life, learning, or education, click here to send David an email, he's always on the hunt for a great story.

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12 comments so far - Leave a comment below

Well done! Well written and informative. I didn't realize the stuff about credit hour cost. Surely some food for thought here.

— Michael Troope Friday, October 29, 2010 12:54 PM CDT

Thank you David :) Very funny but very true!

— Missy Friday, October 29, 2010 1:00 PM CDT

Reading this makes me humbled and happy to be a College Plus student. I earned 9 credits in one month with College Plus.

— Matthew Friday, October 29, 2010 1:17 PM CDT

Thought provoking and spot on stuff. I did the dual credit thing and it was awesome. I really like when you said "if making an excuse is easier than making an effort, drop the idea of earning dual credit."

— Tristan Grant Friday, October 29, 2010 1:29 PM CDT

LOL! This was hilarious but sooooo true! Very enjoyable blog.

— Gerri Friday, October 29, 2010 2:12 PM CDT

After reading this info I feel pretty behind the times. But it gives me hope for when my children are at the point of entering college, they won't have to do it the hard way.

Thanks for the fun and informative post.

— Scott S. Friday, October 29, 2010 2:28 PM CDT

— Scott S. Friday, October 29, 2010 2:45 PM CDT

— Scott S. Friday, October 29, 2010 4:26 PM CDT

"To me, that sounds about as fun as playing 358 consecutive rounds of Dutch Blitz with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez."

Great line! And great info.

— Reuben Tuesday, November 2, 2010 2:38 PM CDT

I like your humor :) Great information for homeschool moms too!

— Emily Willis Wednesday, November 3, 2010 5:05 PM CDT

How would you advise someone who wasted their highschool years before they knew about gaining dual credit?

— ehnonimis Tuesday, November 9, 2010 9:47 AM CST

@ehnonimis. First, I wouldn't categorize your high school years as "wasted" because you weren't aware of dual credit. You're probably selling yourself short.

If you fall in the realm of an adult learner (age 24+), then CLEP and DSST is your equivalent of dual credit. CLEP and DSST are for adult learns what dual credits are for high school students.

You can take prior learning combined with life and work experience to earn college credit through CLEP and DSST. And those credits will transfer to about 3,000 colleges and universities across America.

If you have any specific questions or there's anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to email me.

— David Tuesday, November 9, 2010 3:39 PM CST

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