Greenville, SC – September 24, 2024
Morning fog has given way to mostly cloudy skies this afternoon, with a high of 88°F. There’s a chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm. Winds are blowing softly from the south at 5 to 10 mph. As night falls, scattered thunderstorms are likely but will clear up, leading to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Temps are expected to drop to 68°F with light and variable winds and a 40% chance of rain.
From Dual Enrollment to Rapid University Success
Nadia Sanders, a Greenville local, has credited the Dual Enrollment Program at Piedmont Technical College (PTC) with allowing her to graduate from the University of South Carolina in just two years. “It was definitely the dual enrollment. If I hadn’t taken all those credits beforehand, I would not have been able to do that,” Sanders reflected, adding, “I think doing this program is great. It was very helpful for me.”
Sanders managed to complete her associate’s degree at PTC while attending Laurens District 55 High School. She later transferred 60 academic credit hours to the University of South Carolina, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree in political science this past May. Currently, Sanders is working as a legal assistant at The Greene Law Firm in Greenville and applying to law schools.
Understanding Dual Enrollment at PTC
Dual Enrollment is an advanced-credit program designed for high school juniors and seniors, offering classes either online, at their high school, or on the PTC campus. PTC provides four ways to participate:
- Traditional Dual Enrollment courses are held at the student’s high school with high school instructors.
- OnDECK classes are available on the PTC campus, allowing students to earn both high school units and college credit.
- Middle College is a partnership with some school districts, providing juniors and seniors a chance to earn over 48 college credit hours.
- Early admission lets students earn credit through PTC independently from their high school.
Sanders took part in the Middle College option, being among the first from her high school to do so. “The teachers were very helpful with office hours and meeting up in person,” she mentioned, adding, “And it also helped having students that were doing the program with me, you know, having study nights and meeting up to help each other out.”
The Challenges and Benefits of Dual Enrollment
Students considering Dual Enrollment at PTC should know that college-level courses demand more effort than typical high school classes. These courses become part of a permanent college transcript, requiring a serious commitment.
Sanders mentioned facing difficulties in statistics and calculus during her Dual Enrollment journey. “I am not that good in math,” she admitted. “I wanted to stop because it was getting very stressful.” Encouragement from her classmates and an academic advisor at PTC helped her persevere. “They helped me realize that I could keep going with it and it would be OK,” she said.
One attractive feature of the program is its affordability. South Carolina residents can attend tuition-free by taking at least six credit hours per semester, generally equivalent to at least two classes.
Words of Advice for Prospective Students
Sanders offers valuable advice for high school students: “Take dual enrollment classes, even if you don’t take as many as I did. It’s a good experience to get your feet in the water—see if it’s something that you really want to do, and also gain that credit without having to pay money for it,” she suggested. “It is really helpful to just have that associate degree under your belt and have a foundation towards a career in something bigger.”
With proper support and determination, Dual Enrollment could be a crucial stepping stone for students looking to achieve academic and career success rapidly.
