After hearing about OCC’s dual enrollment program in her sophomore year of high school, Catrina Love quickly put her aspirations of pursuing a college degree on a faster track.
“When my counselor brought up Oakland Community College’s dual enrollment program, I looked more into it through TikTok, YouTube and the internet in general,” she explained “I heard stories about how helpful it was to earn college credits— for free may I add—while being in high school and saving loads of money, too.”
Those perks helped Love decide to enroll in the program which offers high school students the opportunity to also earn college credits at the same time for the same coursework. Those credits count toward high school graduations and can then be dually applied to an OCC degree or certificate or transferred to a four-year university. So far, Love, who is now a high school senior, has completed 12 college credit hours and plans to take a math or social studies class for the winter 2024 semester.
Advantages of Dual Enrollment
OCC’s director of admissions, Jeremy Guc, explains the College’s dual enrollment program offers students many economic and personal advantages.
“Dual Enrollment allows high school students an opportunity to earn college credits while getting a taste of what it’s like to be a college student,” said Guc. “National studies also show that students who participate in dual enrollment have higher college completion rates than those who don’t.”
Guc added that in most cases, tuition for dual enrolled students is covered by their local school district, making dual enrollment an accessible option for students and families.
“OCC offers courses at a variety of times and locations, including fully online, so most students can find options that fit into their busy schedules. Starting the process early is key to having the most scheduling options available.”
Building confidence while fast tracking to academic goals
“I am glad I got to be a part of this incredible program,” said Love. “It gave me a taste of what college can be like and I feel like if you are looking forward to attending college, dual enrollment is a great program that offers an investment in your hopes and dreams.”
She also shared that she appreciated the OCC professors who have been accommodating and have helped further her educational career.
“Through the four years in high school, I realized my love is all math, reading and social studies. I am phenomenal in all those categories so why not use the prior knowledge I have now and expand it into a career?”
Love said her future academic goal is to continue to learn as much as possible and pursue a degree in political science or economics.
For further information visit the Oakland Community College Dual Enrollment Program.
About OCC
Oakland Community College offers nearly 100 degrees and certificates programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling with face-to-face and online options. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training with expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
###
Media Contact: Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu