Get college degree credits for free before you finish high school.
Your phone screen lights up with a new message. It’s your best friend texting you.
You decide to look into it. Sure enough, dual enrollment is a legit way to earn college credits as a high school student. More than that, it’s something offered here in Albuquerque at Southwest Secondary Learning Center. You figure that has to be the school your friend was talking about. You decide to look into it a little further on their website…
How Does Dual Enrollment Work?
Dual enrollment is a way to earn college credits while enrolled as a high school student. Students at SSLC are able to count these college classes toward their high school graduation requirements, so you can earn degree credits without having to double up on work. College credits are offered through the University of New Mexico (UNM) or Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), and the credits are transferrable anywhere in New Mexico and most other universities after you graduate.
When you take dual enrollment classes, you attend college classes as a regular student. You’ll go to the campus and sit with other college students. You’ll do the assignments on the syllabus and turn the work in to the college professor. And the grade you receive is what goes on your college transcript.
But dual enrollment means you don’t have to do it alone. You have the support of an SSLC sponsor teacher and subject matter experts who can offer tutoring and assistance with assignments. You can work on college homework during class time in the learning lab. We’ll build your flexible class schedule around your college classes, so you don’t get overwhelmed. And we’ll help you manage your time if necessary to be sure everything gets turned in on time.
Is Dual Enrollment Right for Me?
Having a chance to earn college credits in high school is an awesome opportunity, but it’s not right for everyone. College-level work is academically challenging, and the social environment is very different. You might want to just focus on finishing high school and worry about college later, and that’s fine too.
But if you’re up to the challenge and your teacher agrees you’re ready, dual enrollment can be a great resource. Tuition and books are paid for as long as you’re an SSLC student, so you can earn degree credits without taking out any financial aid. And lots of jobs are available with an associate’s degree or certificate program, so you can jump straight into the workforce after graduation if that’s what you want to do. Or, you can go on to complete a four-year degree, using the credits you earned as a starting point.
How Do I Sign Up for Dual Enrollment?
If dual enrollment sounds like something you’d be interested in, let your sponsor teacher know. They’ll answer any questions you have and help get you started, from taking the Accuplacer Exam (which determines what level of classes are the right fit), to picking out classes on the course catalog, to working out an academic schedule for the semester.
And if you’re not already an SSLC student? You can apply online to become one of our students. We’re a tuition-free charter school that welcomes students from across the Albuquerque area. With a combination of tech-based learning, flexible scheduling, and more opportunities for dual enrollment than other Albuquerque schools, we can help you take charge of your own education.
You pick up your phone to text your friend again.
