Jump Starting College

by Lacoln Strasburg

December 18, 2009

In high school, many of us think that we are burdened enough already, so we often can not understand why anyone would want to take a college class? Or maybe you are the one that thinks that you simply do NOT have enough time.

I thought that, too, but decided to try out the idea of taking college credits as a junior in high school, and I am proud to say that I officially now have six college credits under my belt only halfway through my junior year! Hastings Central Community College offers many different ways to take classes—Independent Study, Online Learning, and through Distance Learning Centers (which we just happen to have right here in Silver Lake High School!). With Roseland having a Distance Learning Center, residents of the community do not have to worry about driving all the way to Hastings for a class, with the exception of going to the campus bookstore to pick up your book – and you can do that on a day that you are already going to be in Hastings!

The first option that I mentioned was an independent study course which is, obviously, independent. Your class assignments and syllabus for the entire semester will be sent through the mail either to you or the high school. Along with this packet, you will receive a sheet stating when all the due dates are. After finishing an assignment, you simply walk down the hall to our guidance counselor, better known as Mr. Sluka, hand him your assignment, and…you are done! As long as you stay on task with the instructor’s deadlines, these are not hard to meet!

Your second option is online learning - which is similar to independent study—except it is online. Now, as students at Silver Lake, we all have these nifty laptops, which means that as long as you do not take an online learning course in the summer semester, you already have a working computer! However, if you do wish to take an online learning course during the summer, you can obviously use your home computer. When taking classes online, you take all tests online and these tests are timed. This makes cheating almost impossible, considering you would run out of time looking up all the answers. Immediately after you finish testing, you are able to see your results.

Your third and final option is distance learning classes which are taken at schools that have a distance-learning program, such as Silver Lake has. In these classes, you will interact with other students at other centers, as well as your instructor—through TVs. You will watch all of your lectures and take all of your tests in the distance learning room. A Silver Lake staff member will also supervise these classes and then submit your tests/assignments to the class instructor for you.

Now that you have a little background on all the ways to take a college class, I will tell you a few more advantages of taking college classes in high school. CCC classes are $77 per credit hour—UNL charges $187 per credit hour while UNK charges $167.25. We all know how broke college students are, so why not save yourself more than $100 PER CREDIT HOUR ?! Most classes are three credit hours – so this savings adds up fast!
Getting general college classes out of the while in high school will also give you more study time when you are in college, thus you will finish before you peers AND start making money sooner! Another reason to start stocking up early on college credits while in high school is that you have many WILLING teachers here to help you from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. Due to time restraints and larger classes sizes, unfortunately, professors may not be as willing to give you that little bit of extra help or have as personal of a connection to your success in the classroom.

Now that I have taken college classes is this: Who would NOT want to start early, save money, and get out of school sooner?!? Silver Lake has many very valuable resources right here, to help you jump on the college train a little sooner than other schools in the area. CCC classes are open to anyone 16 years and older. Before you sign up for the classes offered, make sure to take the COMPASS test offered at CCC – just to ensure that you prepared for some of the classes you are interested in. I’m sure you can ask anyone taking or who has taken college classes here, and you will receive a positive response. My advice now: Jump start your college experience – what are you waiting on?! I said NOW!!