Page 7 - MGATODAY-Fall2017_lr
P. 7
L-R: Danielle Powers, 16, Nadia Sloan, 15, and Caroline Holland, 15, use the computers in Middle Georgia State’s Cochran
Campus library after class. All three are Hawkinsville High students taking dual-enrollment courses. “I wanted to get my core classes
out of the way so I can focus on my major when I get to UGA,” said Powers, who plans to study wildlife biology. SHERON SMITH
school students to take college courses during four-year degree. “I’ve seriously saved thousands
summer semesters.
All of which means that dual-enrollment stu- of dollars by taking dual-enrollment classes,” she
dents can knock out the first two years of college
nearly for free if they get started early enough. said.
No wonder dual enrollment is as popular
among parents – perhaps more so – as it is for Cohen has already earned 30 college credit
motivated students.
“My mom strongly encouraged me to get hours at MGA and expects to have thirty more by
into dual enrollment,” said Caroline Holland,
15, a Hawkinsville High sophomore taking the time she graduates in spring 2018. “I want to
English 1101 and World Civilization with several
of her high school classmates on MGA’s Cochran be a veterinarian so I’ve got a lot of school ahead
Campus. “My brother and sister were in dual
enrollment, too, so we already knew how much of me, but two years of it will be practically free.”
money we could save.”
Kristen Cohen, 17, a senior at Rutland High Emalyn Gernert, 15, a dually enrolled high
in Macon, keeps a running calculator in her mind
of how much she is shaving off the total cost of a school sophomore, said her mother has always
encouraged her to work hard in school so she will
qualify for college scholarships.
“My mom is counting on my academic
performance to help me pay for college,” said
Gernert, one of the Hawkinsville High students
who rides the bus to the Cochran Campus. “Dual
enrollment is a good start toward making
sure I don’t have to carry a lot of student
loan debt.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Fall 2017 MGA TODAY 7
