What are Dual Enrollment and Early College?
The Dual Enrollment program allows 11th and 12th grade students to take up to 2 college courses paid for by the state of Vermont. It is an excellent opportunity for students to earn college credit and gain exposure to college-level academic rigor. The Early College program allows 12th grade students only to take a full year of college courses (4 in the Fall and 4 in the Spring), paid for by the state. Again, this is a great opportunity to earn college credit and challenge yourself academically in your final year of high school.
When and how can I register?
Fall registration opens on Friday, April 11th. Beginning on Thursday, April 10th Mr. Trombulak will be holding Dual Enrollment Office Hours on Thursdays, for any students looking to register for a fall course. The final session will be Thu. May 28th and students will not be able to register after June 1st. Students can also make individual appointments with their counselor to complete this process!
What should I do in the meantime?
Here are some things you can start to consider between now and April 11th to help you prepare:
-In-person or Online? College classes come in both formats, and there are pros and cons to each. Online classes tend to be more flexible with your schedule, while in-person classes provide better exposure to the college environment.
-What class / subject area? You may want to consider your academic interests and passions, what credits you need to graduate, and the level of rigor you're looking for. Students often take English Composition as their first DE course, as it is a good first taste of college-level writing expectations. Students also often explore the social sciences, like Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Business, Environmental Science, and Art classes are also frequently accessed.
If you put some thought to these questions, it will help us hit the ground running in April. As always, feel free to schedule an appointment with your counselor to talk them over!
The links above, as well as each college's website, have really helpful resources to understand Dual Enrollment. Please let me know if you check there and still aren't able to find the answer to your question!