Here are some of the Benefits of Hacking Your Degree
1. You’ll save money on tuition expenses
College is an expensive academic journey which is why one of the biggest advantages of hacking your degree is saving money. The cost of dual enrollment programs is significantly less than typical undergraduate tuition, even if you attend the same college and take the same courses. In addition, spending tuition for a 4-year course will save you a lot when you can actually finish your degree in 6 months to 2 years.
2. You can work smarter, not harder
When you take advantage of these degree hacking processes, you get double the benefit from the effort you put into your coursework. For example, taking CLEP exams will give you the advantage of taking tests you already know in exchange for college credit. This way, you don’t have to sit in a classroom for a long time and can work on other valuable material instead.
3. You’ll gain valuable experience
A lot of students enter college unprepared. You don’t have to be one of them, because programs for high school students like dual enrollment prepare you for early college experiences. By enrolling in one of these programs, you’ll not only be earning credit toward your degree, but you’ll also be learning about what college life is really like. For many students, this route provides a much smoother transition into college-level academics instead of jumping in with both feet freshman year.
4. You can earn your degree sooner
Earning college credit during high school and hacking your degree can help you finish your degree sooner and will allow you to get started on your life outside school. In some cases, it’s possible to complete up to two years of required coursework toward your academic credential before you’re even officially enrolled in college. Imagine finishing all of the general education courses required for your degree before you have your high school diploma!
5. You start your career early
In some cases, career-minded students can earn enough credits during their secondary school years by hacking their degrees prior to high school graduation. Having your degree earlier will give you clearance to start your career and enter the workforce!
6. You can have an advantage with admissions
College admissions counselors don’t just consider GPA and college entrance exam scores, they are also looking at how you spent your high school years. In other words, they want to know whether you just spent your high school days like ordinary students or if you went above and beyond what was required of you. A schedule full of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or dual enrollment classes are usually looked upon with an advantage. This type of high school transcript shows that you are a student with goals who has been thinking about college for a while and that’s the type of postsecondary candidate that most competitive colleges and universities are looking to attract.
7. You’ll be able to learn juggling things on your own
Time management is a skill you’ll need throughout college and well into your career. Taking college-level classes while still enrolled in high school can help you gain this important skill. You may have additional support services from your parents or high school teachers and counselors during high school, but these may not be accessible once you’re officially enrolled in college. Taking advantage of chances to earn college credit in high school can give you an opportunity to develop your time management skills and learn how to be more independent before starting your actual freshman year. As a result, you’ll feel more confident during your first year of “real” college and much less overwhelmed by the demands of your undergraduate classes.
8. You’ll get a better idea of what field you want to study
Many students enter their freshmen years of college with little concept of what they’re actually trying to accomplish. They know they want a degree in something, but they are often at a loss when identifying exactly what academic discipline they desire to major in. Often, these students end up taking courses that aren’t necessary for the degree they end up earning, which wastes precious time and money, not to mention a lot of effort. With early college programs, high school students can begin exploring their academic interests before they even graduate from secondary school, allowing them to make an informed decision about the type of degree they eventually want to work towards.
9. You’ll have more opportunities to specialize your studies with a minor or second major
Not only will you have a better idea of the major you want to pursue after earning college credits in high school, but your schedule may be open so you can add a second major or minor to your degree plan. Doing so can help you develop your skills in a specific subfield of your chosen academic discipline that will make you more knowledgeable and employable in your industry. Double majors? It is definitely a great option!
The advantages of earning college credit prior to high school graduation are very obvious even from a surface-level perspective. Saving money on tuition and getting ahead on your degree plan are well-known benefits of enrolling in an early college program or concurrent enrollment courses. If you dig deeper, though, you’ll find even more advantages to exploring college academics during your high school years.
The bottom line? If you’re waiting to have a diploma in hand before starting your college courses, you may be missing out on some serious perks of early college programs.
By hacking your degree, you will stop wasting a lot of time and could start using it to learn something useful. Why wait for 4 years to complete your degree when you can have it in 6 months to 2 years?