HARD WORK IN HARD COURSES COUNTS
What This Means To You
While college admissions officers work very diligently to ensure that the greatest number of students admitted at any college will be those whose high school academic records, extra-curricular activities, and standardized test scores indicate they have a high probability of successfully completing their preferred degree program, sometimes new college students struggle.
Many accomplished high school students struggle with the perception of freedom they have in college living in dorms with friends and often put off assignments and reports until the last minute, often paying the price in low grades and failure notices.
But some college students struggle with the basic academic learning required at that level.
Most colleges admit a certain percentage of students whose performance is just below what might be called their academic cut-off. Upon admissions, these ‘borderline’ students start their college careers by taking high school courses over again. They may have to take one or more years of high school courses in college before they can take college-level courses — that is, courses that have credits that count toward the degree. Worse, they have to pay full college tuition to enroll in courses they could have taken for free in high school. They have to spend their first year or two in college learning what they should have learned in high school for free. Only after passing those remedial courses can they proceed to college courses and earn their degree.
The two problems outlined above account for much of the reason why many students don’t graduate in four years.
You don’t want to pay for five, six, or seven years of college and the interest on the student loan that would support that ongoing learning. You want to get in and out of college in the most efficacious way possible. You want to be able to earn the income your degree deserves no later than four years after you start.
We really want you to fully understand this situation, so we will repeat:
Remedial (make-up) high school courses taken in college DO NOT COUNT toward the college degree but COST AS MUCH as regular college courses. Taking remedial high school courses can delay college graduation for one or two years. Thus, students who enter college and are under-prepared academically wind up spending more time – and more money – to earn the degree they want.
Even if your career plans do not include college, there are good reasons to take and do well in college-prep courses.
In the trades, the knowledge you acquire in these courses may not be a prerequisite for becoming a ‘entry-level’ electrician or welder, but if you want to advance up that ladder to make as much as $100,000 a year, the science and math you learn in high school will definitely help you learn more – and earn more – in your preferred field.
Take these courses – and even harder ones – do well in them, and you will be prepared for anything you may want to become:
- Algebra I, Geometry, at least a semester each of Algebra II and Statistics/Probability
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- English I, II, III, IV
- Two years of the same World Language
- Three years of Social Studies
- One semester of Economics
Your entire future will pivot on the work you do in high school. Don’t miss this opportunity to build the academic foundation you will need.
GET THE EDUCATION YOU NEED WHILE YOU ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
GIVE YOURSELF A RAINMAKER’S LIFE!
Start now to learn, practice, and apply the skills you will need to earn your future success.
Participate in the Rainmakers Internship Preparation Program in your school.