College level textbooks and materials add up.
The typical four to five-year model of attaining a Bachelor's Degree overwhelms many college-bound students. For some, the cost of a four year higher education (including room and board) is not feasible. For others, time is precious and four years seems like too long to spend simply attaining a Bachelor's degree. Whatever the reason, many people are seeking ways to graduate in a shorter time frame. From completing Advanced Placement courses and tests in high school to taking online classes, options are numerous for attaining a Bachelor's degree in less than the typical four to five years.
Instructions
1. Students can choose to take Advanced Placement courses.
Take Advanced Placement courses and pass the respective tests. According to collegeboard.com, "The AP Program has enabled millions of students to take college-level courses and exams, and to earn college credit or placement while still in high school." By taking AP (Advanced Placement) courses and passing the subsequent exams in high school, a student can earn college credit for core classes. This will reduce the number of credits that he or she will have to take in college. An additional benefit of taking the AP courses and exams is that it may, "Increase eligibility for scholarships and makes candidates more attractive to colleges".
2. Students can take dual credit courses.
Enroll in dual credit courses. Many states in America offer these types of classes to high school students. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explains the process: "A high school junior or senior enrolls in a college course and receives simultaneous academic credit for the course from both the college and the high school." This opportunity is similar to the AP program but differs in that dual credit courses do not rely on a one-time standardized test to determine college credit. Rather, the course will be a pass/fail grade for the college depending on the grade received in the high school for the course.
3. Student take CLEP exams to earn college credit.
Take CLEP tests. In addition to taking dual credit and AP classes and tests, another way to earn early college credit is to study for and take a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test. CLEP tests are offered regularly throughout the year and there are upwards of 30 tests available that provide opportunity to earn college credit. Many of these tests will be introductory or core classes and are better taken at the beginning of a college degree program.
4. Students still need to study for summer classes.
Enroll in college classes during the summer. Typically each college or university will have two main semesters of classes each year. If a student attends classes solely in the fall and spring semesters of school it will take them four to five years to complete their Bachelor's Degree depending on their course load each semester. However, many colleges also offer classes in the summer months which can last from five to eight weeks but provide the same credit value as a typical semester-long class. A student can take advantage of these shorter, more intense classes and finish significantly quicker than a student who only attends classes in the regular semesters.
5. Students enroll in online classes.
Take online classes. Completion of online classes is another way to accelerate the typical four to five year Bachelor's Degree program. A student can enroll in his university of choice and can add online classes to his face-to-face schedule of classes to take his course level up a notch. Another option would be to take online classes from another junior college or university while one is taking a full load of classes at her primary college or university. It would be a very intense learning experience for the student to take a full course load and add additional classes online, but it is workable and can be an enormous time-saver.
Tags: high school, college credit, online classes, Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement courses, dual credit, earn college