Hey folks,
In this post I would like to share my views on not just DCAH but on dual credit in general. I hope this gives insight to some!
In 2004, when my oldest brother Adam was 17, I was 5. That’s the year he graduated college…and high school. When my third oldest sister Dianna graduated from college (and high school) she was 17 and I was 13. My entire life I have watched teenagers graduate high school and college at the same time (and at an early age.) It has always been the norm for me.
Naturally, I expect nothing less from myself, but I’ve never really expected it from others. It’s just been something that “the Muldrows” do. When my family would watch movies and the people in the movies are worried about college and how it’s “so hard” or “too expensive” I would always wonder why on earth don’t they do it the easier (or cheaper or faster) way?!?! It NEVER made sense to me.
As I’ve gotten (slightly) older it has started to make a little more sense. “Oh, these people want to go to make new friends and have new experiences! It’s what’s always been expected of them. They honestly don’t know of another way?”
This is kind of my line of thinking. Honestly I’ve only thought about ACTUALLY going to a brick and mortar college probably once, and I decided against it pretty quick. For me, I believe that going to a college is honestly not the best idea. (I would be too busy having fun to study!)
I would say that one of the only reasons for going to a four-year college is if you have a very hard time with studying by yourself. Maybe you want to just take CLEPs and you’ve tried but it just doesn’t work for you. Or you need interaction with a teacher and other students to make the entire subject come together. Of course, this is excluding degrees in the medical field!
Unless you have a very interactive learning style and cannot study alone I would say that attending a four-year college/university is very likely not a good idea. (Yes, I know there are many redeeming qualities to physically going to college, but I’m looking at mainly the cost/time period so don’t kill me okay?)
I also realize that some people go to college to figure out what they are going to get a degree in. Is it just me or does that seem super, super, SUPER wasteful?!
Dual credit for me has been an amazing confidence booster and an extreme way for me to save time and money. I have been able to save huge amounts of time by passing the government exam in about a week instead of having to take an entire semester long course as well as other tests as well. I have been able to save money by not having to pay for other high school material (being able to substitute it with the dual credit courses) as well as not having to pay tuition at a four-year university (classes, books, rooming, etc.)
About the confidence booster thing, I don’t know what it is, but there is something about being twelve years old and having college credit that just gives you an edge over problems you might have!
