For many high schoolers, college is an ever-present concern. Well before senior year, students are considering how to enhance their applications and gain schools’ interest.
And while there are some obvious methods to boost a college application — like earning top grades, taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes, playing sports and investing in extracurriculars — many high schoolers also turn to pre-college programs to increase their college acceptance odds.
But are these programs worth it if they don’t provide college credit?
Pre-college programs are short sessions (most often held in the summer) that give students a brief taste of university life, allowing them to attend college courses or lectures, explore the campus, meet other prospective students and even live in dorms. Many students do earn college credit through this experience, but not every program offers college credit. And if a program does offer credit, it may not transfer to the school a student ultimately decides to attend.
Still, pre-college programs are about so much more than college credit, meaning they’re usually worth it even if you don’t get to add the class to your tally. Here’s why you should consider doing a pre-college program, even if you may not earn college credit.
What Is College Credit?
College students need to earn a certain amount of credits to graduate, which they accomplish by taking the required number of courses based on their chosen school and degree. High schoolers can start earning college credit before they even get into a university, though, through AP classes, College Level Examination Programs (CLEP), pre-college programs and more.
By racking up college credits ahead of time, students can potentially save money on university classes and even graduate earlier. This is why pre-college programs that offer college credit, along with numerous other benefits, often appeal to high school students.
Do Pre-College Programs Offer Credit?
Yes, they often do. Many pre-college programs list college credit as one of their major benefits. However, this varies by school, and not every program offers college credits.
USC offers in-person, on-campus Summer Programs, as well as Pre-College Online exploration courses, which are held virtually throughout the school year. Students who attend USC Summer Programs — which offer areas of study like business, pre-health and science, and performing arts and music — will earn college credit. Those who take an online exploration course — where they can learn about environmental studies, directing, finance and more — will instead receive a Certificate of Completion from USC and a transcript from the USC Pre-College Programs office.
What Are Some Benefits of Non-Credit Pre-College Programs?
The short answer is, yes! While earning college credit is a huge advantage, there are so many other reasons to take a pre-college program. Here are just a few reasons to consider:
You’ll feel more confident about going off to college and picking a major.
Leaving for college is a massive milestone for students. For many teens, it’s their first time living away from family. And if this isn’t daunting enough, students also must decide what subject they’ll major in.
Pre-college programs can help take the pressure off of this big decision. They’re a great way to explore your interests and test out the waters before you commit to a major. With USC Pre-College Online Programs, for example, students can dive into specialized courses that might not be accessible at the high school level. Think of it as a test drive for university life — and a way to explore your future career options.
You’ll gain the necessary skills to thrive at a university.
It’s not just about gaining confidence, though. There are other essential skills students will develop during their time in a pre-college program that they’ll need to flex once they’re enrolled in a university full-time, like critical thinking, research and communication.
USC Pre-College professors encourage their students to dive deeper into their classes’ focus than they would in a typical high school course. This prepares them for the more self-guided, rigorous pace of college classes. High school students will feel more confident in their abilities to handle advanced coursework after experimenting with a pre-college program.
You can explore subjects you’re passionate about at a deeper level.
Students who participate in USC online exploration courses dive into a topic of their choice, ranging from creative pursuits to science. And the course options are incredibly varied, ensuring something for everyone. Budding filmmakers can take “Directing: Creating Your Short Film” or “Screenwriting: From Ideation to Writing Your First Script”, for example, while aspiring scientists can sign up for “Environmental Studies: Sustainability and Your World.” Those interested in entrepreneurship may want to try “Building Blocks of Business: Tools for Creating a Dynamic and Sustainable Business”, while the more tech-savvy might wish to take “Introduction to Cybersecurity: From Securing Systems to Ethical Hacking.”
It doesn’t matter which of the pre-college programs captures a high schooler’s attention. Either way, they’ll learn significantly more about the subject, which might help them settle on a college major or eventual profession.
You can learn from professors and experts.
University faculty spend years honing their professional and academic work to become experts in a topic or field. By taking a pre-college course, you get to tap into that expert knowledge, too!
This is especially true at USC. You may have heard that USC has one of the top-ranked film schools in the world (which you can take advantage of with online, pre-college screenwriting and directing courses). But it’s not just film — USC faculty are thought leaders in many different fields, ensuring that any pre-college course you pick will connect you with top minds in your chosen industry.
It still boosts your college application.
Even if you don’t earn college credit by attending a particular pre-college program, completing one will still make a difference on your college application. Participating in a pre-college program shows you have passion for a specific subject or school, demonstrates your drive and motivation and indicates you have a deeper understanding of both the program’s subject and what it takes to succeed in university.
No matter your target school, admissions offices notice pre-college programs — and taking one will help you stand out.
The Bottom Line
While it’s great when a university offers college credit for a pre-college program, there are many alternative benefits a non-credit pre-college program can give you. The new skills, enhanced knowledge and general boost to your college application are all worthwhile reasons to attend a pre-college program.
Explore more USC Pre-College Programs today.