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Dual Credit Get a head start your college career Dual Credit • What is dual credit? • What is the difference between high school and college credit? • Where can I take dual credit classes? • Can I transfer my credits? • How will my credits transfer? • What is this “FERPA” I keep hearing about? • Who can take dual credit? • What happens if I get a poor grade? • Does dropping a dual credit course have any impact? • When should I start the application process? • How much does it cost? • Why should I take dual credit? What is dual credit? Sometimes called concurrent credit. Student earns both high school and college credit for the same course. Students can take college courses without earning high school credit. Verify with your guidance counselor if a college course can also count for high school credit. What is the difference between high school and college credit? Credit is earned at a different rate. Typically college classes are worth between 1 and 6 credits-most are 3 credits. High school classes earn 1 or 2 credits for the same class. Where can I take dual credit classes? At a university campus Take classes with regularly admitted students Learn about campus, professors, and how college works At your high school Save travel time Taught by university approved high school instructors during the high school day On line Set your own time to study and learn Need excellent time management skills Can I transfer my credits? Request an official transcript from the university (typically the Registrar’s Office) If you take dual credit from more than one institution, you will need to request an official transcript from each institution There is a minimal processing cost. How will my credits transfer? The Core Transfer Library (CTL) is a list of courses that transfer, and how they transfer, among all Indiana public colleges and universities. www.transferIN.net Indiana Independent Colleges have a similar network. http://oldweb.icindiana.org/pal/index.asp A grade of C or better is needed for most colleges and universities in order to transfer the credit. Students should always consult with an academic advisor from their intended degree-granting campus. It is up to each university accepting the transfer credit to determine how or if the credit will count toward the academic major. What is this “FERPA” I keep hearing about? The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects all of your academic records at a college or university, regardless of the student’s age, once they are enrolled. Student must be the one to make calls when requesting information. Use FERPA as a catalyst for parents/guardians and students to communicate about things like grades and bills. Who can take dual credit? Admission requirements vary from institution to institution Students must meet college/university’s minimum high school grade point average Placement tests may be required End of course assessment results or other testing may be required Receive parent/guardian approval What happens if I get a poor grade? Grades are recorded on your permanent college transcript and will follow you wherever you go. You do NOT have the option to have course or grade not recorded on your college transcript if you are not happy with the grade. You can retake a course, and depending on the university, it will either replace the first grade or the first grade will be exclude (not count in the GPA) but will still show on the transcript. A poor grade will indicate to universities that you were not up to the rigors of college and you might be redirected to start your college career elsewhere. Final point – take dual credit courses seriously. Does dropping a dual credit course have any impact? When you drop a class after the first week of class and before the last day to withdraw, it shows up on your college transcript as W for withdraw. This saves your college grade point average but has an impact on federal financial aid. Federal financial aid starts counting college/university credits with the first class taken regardless of where or when it is taken, so it will include all dual credit courses even if you did not qualify for any financial assistance at the time. Does dropping a dual credit course have any impact? continued In order to receive future federal financial aid, students must Maintain a 67% completion rate of all classes attempted. For example, you take two classes worth 6 credit hours. You drop one so you only completed 3 credits of the 6 credit hours attempted or 50%, below the required 67%. Maintain a cumulative GPA that is above your grade level (freshman, sophomore, etc.) minimum Complete your degree within a maximum of 150% of the required hours for degree completion. For example if your degree requires 120 hours, you must complete it within 180 hours. Not meeting one of these requirements will put you in warning status for one semester and if you have not met all three requirements by the following semester, your aid will be suspended. When should I start the application process? Now Processes vary from institution to institution Application form High school transcript Verify deadlines with each institution How much does it cost? Costs will vary depending on: College or university Location (@your high school, @the college/university campus, or on line) Course – dual credit priority or non-priority Some financial assistance may be available Why should I take dual credit? Finish your college degree in four years - or even less and save money Explore a potential major Get core college requirements out of the way Challenge yourself academically Meet some of the requirements for the Academic Honors or Technical Honors diploma requirements