Beyond jump starting their college education earning transferrable credits while in high school and at a significant cost savings, why do students choose Lone Star College-CyFair’s Dual Credit program?
Paying $78 for a 3 credit hours Dual Credit course, that after high school graduation would cost $270 for in-district students at LSC versus $1,300 at Texas A&M University, is one eye-opening reason. However, there are many others from small classes to more one-on-one time with professors who help students transition into college level courses and be successful inside and outside the classroom.
Current home-schooled Dual Credit student Isabella Wakeham is all about efficient use of her time and skills, whether it’s earning a degree faster or conquering obstacles all the way to Las Vegas to compete in the national finals of American Ninja Warrior (ANW) Season 13.
As a high school junior, she was among the first teens included to compete and she finished the season with several impressive, history-making milestones: top woman and 15th in the top 30 of her qualifying round, youngest woman to reach a back half of a semi-finals course and third woman to qualify for Vegas in the top 15 as a rookie.
Now, as a high school senior with plans to graduate in May, Wakeman said she feels her ANW achievements would not have been possible without the flexibility of the asynchronous online classes that LSC-CyFair offers.
“I was able to train hard, travel, and compete while also working hard on my studies, learning a lot, and meeting insightful classmates,” she said.
Former Dual Credit student John Lentz said not only did professors help him adjust to the academic rigor of college courses, one assisted him in organizing his schedule - “a worthwhile skill for the rest of life.” Lentz also liked his history professor’s lecturing style and that professor introduced him to Honors College.
Lentz, who plans to graduate in May and pursue a mechanical engineering career, said “Dual Credit helped me get used to the college scene and gave me a leg up when I filled out applications.”
Through his Dual Credit experience, Lentz said he decided stay and complete his associate degree at LSC-CyFair where he also received an Honors College Chancellor’s Fellows Award scholarship and won a library Student Research Award. In addition, Lentz was a member of LSC-CyFair’s Honors Engineering Team Calypso, that designed an attachment quick release system for the lunar surface which had multiple category wins in the Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge (TSGC) including 1st-place overall Top Design Team at the Spring 2021 showcase.
Not only do Dual Credit students have success stories to share, the Dual Credit program has earned newsworthy accolades. The program began in partnership with Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) and approximately 1,700 students enrolled in Fall 2011. A decade later and for the second year in a row, this program was officially the largest “Single Campus” Dual Credit provider in the state of Texas with more than 6,600 students in Fall 2021.
It's not too early to start thinking about being part of this state recognized program, as Dual Credit summer sessions are available. See a high school counselor today or go to LoneStar.edu/cyfairdualcredit for information.