"The litmus test is," says Denise Pope about dual enrollment options, "does your child have an absolute love of the subject? Can your child handle the extra load?"
As high school students mull which classes to take next fall, many are hoping to get a leg up in the college admissions race by choosing "dual enrollment" courses — university-level academics offered at their schools that earn them actual college credit.
About 2 million students in the U.S., in 82 percent of high schools, are enrolled in such programs, according to a 2013 report.
The classes are attractive to high schoolers and their parents because they have the potential to help a student skip prerequisites or other college courses — and for some, that might mean saving money on the path toward a college degree.
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Earning a good grade in dual enrollment coursework is also seen as a boost to a college application.
But dual enrollment courses can be less structured than other college-level curricula offered in high school, such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Here are five things to consider before enrolling in dual enrollment classes ...
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