How your high school student can receive college credit for free

Can you believe we are in the middle of July? In Florida, that means the days students have to sleep the day away are numbered. If you haven't started already, it will soon be time to determine what classes your high school student will take in the coming school year.

Along with Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, find out if your child's high school offers dual enrollment classes. Dual enrollment classes allow your child to take classes for college credit while still in high school. The beauty of it is simple - your child will earn college credit FOR FREE. And, they take the classes on site, at the high school.

Students here in Florida have been able to take enough classes to graduate from high school and be a sophomore when they step onto a college campus. This is also a great way for your child to gain a better understanding of how college classes work, and what they can expect when they officially begin their college career.

Be sure that your child understands however, that this isn't going to be water-downed classes - that is, just because they are taking them while in high school doesn't mean they won't be expected to do the required work just as they would if they were in high school. I don't recommend taking many dual enrollment classes until your child is at least a sophomore and more realistically, a junior. By then, they have quite a bit of knowledge to build on to assist them in understanding the concepts they will learn in the college course.

Most of the classes offered are courses nearly all students must take, including humanities, biology, college algebra.

Some schools may offer more classes than others. Your child may be a little nervous about taking college level courses in high school, but it isn't as scary as it sounds. Reassure them that they have the skills to be successful.

There are some requirements your child must meet before enrolling, including a GPA requirement and a score on file for the SAT, ACT or some other college entrance exam. Again, you should check with your child's school district to determine what requirements he or she must meet. The person best suited to answer your questions would be your child's guidance counselor. They can explain the program to you, its benefits, cons (if any) and what classes may be best for your child.

With the rising cost of college, students should take every opportunity afforded to them. This is an inexpensive way to earn college credit without paying a dime.