As a student at San Rafael High School, I have noticed that the dual enrollment program is seldom talked about. Many students do not know of the program’s benefits, let alone of its existence. San Rafael High School is failing to talk about the program enough, and while it is mentioned in the many presentations that counselors do for students, it is easily overlooked.
The dual enrollment program is something that San Rafael High School offers with community colleges, in which students are able to enroll in junior college classes at the same time as taking high school classes. This allows students to pursue classes that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to take in high school, and get college credits that would go towards their future.
“Dual enrollment classes are mentioned during the presentations that we provide for freshmans on the opportunities available to them, but it is presented in a slide with a number of different things on it along with dual enrollment,” says Pete Wolfgram. “So it is easily forgotten by students.”
One of the biggest benefits of the dual enrollment program to students is its diversity of classes. While students have the option of taking some advanced placement classes that provide college credits, community college classes have more variety. San Rafael High School can only offer so many AP classes, while community colleges offer a wide range of classes that students can partake in.
Alongside this, the program waives the class fees so students are able to get the credits they need for college at a much lower cost.
Some might argue that advanced placement classes can look better on college applications compared to community classes, but the benefits of taking at least one or two community college classes outweigh the benefits of focusing only on AP classes. Taking a community college class can better help to prepare students for what college is like, as it is a real college environment.
I have personally participated in this program, taking an emergency medical responder class at the College of Marin. I decided to take this class as I want to become a firefighter, and the class would help jumpstart my career. I learned about the opportunity to take this class through my counselor at SRHS, Pete Wolfgram.
During my sophomore year I had reached out to Mr. Wolfgram to formulate a plan for my future and to find the best way to a career in firefighting, and he told me about the dual enrollment program. I decided to wait until my senior year of high school as I completed many of my a-g requirements early on. This class helped me learn about the medical side of firefighting and form a basic foundation of knowledge on being a first responder. I learned about everything from wound care to delivering a baby, and it gave me an opportunity to experience college while in high school.
In my experience, the college class that I participated in was very different from the experience of a high school class. I did not know any of the other students that were in the class, and it was difficult to get help from the teacher compared to a high school course. The class was only once a week, so it felt less immersive than high school classes which are 3 or more days per week. But despite these difficulties the class was still an amazing experience that will help me in the future.
On the route to becoming a firefighter, you have the choice to either go to a junior college or four year university to get the certifications required to get a full time job. Some of these certifications include fire science, going to a fire academy, fire technology, EMT, and paramedic. It is possible to obtain an associates or bachelors degree in fire science, fire technology, or forestry. No matter the route that you decide to take, taking community college classes early on can help to speed up your career and education.
Dual enrollment classes are not limited to just firefighting and other trades based classes, students also have the option to take science classes, business classes, and any other course that Community colleges offer.
On the College of Marin website, students can find courses on everything from welding and mechanics to economics, and dual enrollment students have access to all of these classes at a much cheaper rate than students only enrolled in College of Marin.
While the school sparsely talks about the dual enrollment program, many students either do not remember or have not heard about it. Senior Roman Krumrey says that “I have heard a little bit about it(the program), but definitely not from the school, and it was mostly from other students and parents.”
There are a number of solutions that SRHS could implement so that students know more of the dual enrollment program, from holding meetings at the College and Career Center, having the information be more easily accessible, mentioning it during school announcements, and more. I am unsure how San Rafael High School will improve on this, it is certain that it will help students.
