Ginny Ryerson planned to attend college, but she did not know she could start as a high school student until a family friend told her about dual enrollment opportunities at York Technical College.
Dual Enrollment enables high school students that are at least 16 years old and have completed 10th grade to enroll in college credit classes at York Technical College. Students may earn up to two years of college credit or an associate degree as a part of their high school curriculum.
“I chose to participate in dual enrollment because I wanted to have an easier transition between being homeschooled and college,” Ryerson said.
Ryerson originally planned to take a few college classes to get ahead, but realized if she continued throughout the remainder of high school, she could earn an associate degree.
“It was more financially feasible for me to get my Associate of Arts at York Tech before going to a four-year school,” Ryerson said.
Ryerson’s parents, Jim and Darcy, supported their daughter’s decision. “Ginny has always been a dedicated student and it was a terrific opportunity for her to learn all the ins and outs of managing her degree,” Darcy Ryerson said.
York Technical College offers many resources to assist students with managing classes and degree obtainment. The College offers tutoring, library resources, career counseling and student support services and no additional cost. Ryerson recommends that dual enrollment students utilize the resources at York Tech.
“If you dual-enroll, take advantage of all the tutoring hours that you can,” Ryerson said.
Dual Enrollment advisor John McGill says the college sees many different types of dual enrollment students.
“York Tech has an open admissions policy, so enrolling at the College is a smooth process.”
Students can chose to take general education courses such as English, math, and humanities with the option to transfer and complete at a university or enroll in technical programs such as IT, accounting, paralegal, welding, or automotive. With nearly 90 programs of study, students have many opportunities that meet their goals, McGill explains.
“The courses a dual enrollment student chooses depends on the best fit for the student,” McGill said.
Students who have participated in the dual enrollment program at York Tech have gone on to complete their bachelor’s degree at Duke University, Clemson University, Winthrop University and others. Ryerson completed her first year at the University of South Carolina this spring and said dual enrollment at York Tech helped her prepare.
“I was able to experience the classroom setting and learn how to balance schoolwork, my job and friends before going on to USC,” Ryerson said.
For more information about dual enrollment contact Sarah Mickel at 803-981-7061 or [email protected].
3 Easy Steps to Enroll
Apply
Complete and submit your York Tech application online. Sign the parental and school permission form at your local high school. Complete and sign the FAFSA waiver form if you plan to enroll in 6 or more credit hours. Take the COMPASS placement test for free
at York Tech.
Accept
After you complete step one you will receive a formal acceptance letter welcoming you to the York Tech family.
Connect
You will work with a program advisor on course scheduling and planning. Once you complete registration and pay for classes, your journey begins.
