If you enroll in any type of schooling after high school graduation – that is considered college. Your college application begins the day you start your first high school credit class, even if that is as early as 6^th grade. Many careers require some sort of education or certification beyond high school to work – real estate, esthetician & cosmetology, nursing, and more. There is a training program or degree pathway for everyone that can meet your talents, skills, and career goals.

The minimum requirements needed for high school graduation do not set you up for academic success in college. It’s important you let your School Counseor know that you are interested in purusing a college pathway, whether it be technical, 2-year, or 4-year, as early as 6^th grade.

Learn more about preparing for 4-year college admission here. 

Students have many options to ensure they are prepared academically for success in college. 

It’s important to note that, even if a student starts their high school courses in middle school, students should be prepared to take each of the 4 content area courses (English, history, math, science) in 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade. Starting these courses early does not mean students on a college pathway should finish their coursework or high school diploma early. 

Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge AICE (AICE), and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses are all great ways to learn at an advanced level while (potentially) earning college credit. 

There is not a one-size-fits-all best option for students interested in preparing for college academically. Colleges do not prefer one of these course types over another. The best pathway for you, whether it be earning your Associate of Arts (AA) degree through dual enrollment, earning your AP Capstone diploma through CollegeBoard, or a combination of all of these options, depends on a few factors:

1. Your intended major in college  
2. The career you’re interested in 
3. The college you hope to enroll in after high school graduation  

Students are encouraged to speak with their College & Career Counselor and School Counselor to determine the best pathway for them.