To balance high school credit requirements with personal interests, several Portola High students have joined the dual enrollment programs at Irvine Valley College, giving them the chance to get a head start on earning college credits. Senior Vincent Tran and junior Claire Hsin both decided to take advantage of this opportunity.
IVC offers students the opportunity to dual enroll and take classes that would be added to their college transcript. Many students use the ability to take courses that are not offered at Portola High to their advantage. Tran, who previously took classes such as Data Structures and Algorithms,and Linear Algebra, emphasizes the benefit of exploring options.
“I think dual enrollment is great for people who want to take the next step,” Tran said.” “For people who want to go to the next level, if they think they’ll be interested or if they want more options, it is a great, great way to do it.”
The positive impacts of the dual enrollment program vary for each student, according to Portola High Records and Registration Clerk counselor Melinda Choudhary.
“What is beneficial about it really depends on the student,” Choudhary said. “For example, if the student is unsure, it’s a good way to try out college classes to see if they like it. Unsure about your major? Again, there’s another good way to try out those introductory classes to see whether it’s a good fit or not. You get to know early on, so you don’t have to invest four years into something you don’t like. From that angle, I think it’s very beneficial.”
Not only does dual enrollment help students take more of the courses they are interested in, but also makes them more accustomed to the autonomous college environment. Since many courses are fully online, they are required to hold themselves accountable for their work and interactions with their peers. Hsin, who took courses such as American Sign Language and French, believes it improved some of her social and time management skills.
“I would have to pace it with my schedule,” Hsin said. “It bettered my knowledge of working with college students and getting more experience from older students at that college level.”
Students and counselors alike understand that trying different teaching styles can help students adapt to the different atmosphere and methods used in college.
“I think it’s a great idea to try out,” Choudhary said. “You can get used to a different learning process, and at the college level, instructors teach things differently. It tends to be more standardized, and some students like that, some students don’t. It gives you a feel for it, so if you don’t like it you might want to consider applying to a smaller college.”
