High school graduates from all across the nation are enjoying their summer breaks before attending their first year of college in the fall. Most will spend their first few semesters taking courses in an effort to earn their associate’s degree, but for Dickinson native Dawson Zubke, he’s already way ahead of the game.
As he walked across the stage this spring to receive his high school diploma, Zubke was doing so having already earned his associates degree at Dickinson State University (DSU) through the school’s Early University (Early U) program, which offers the opportunity for high school students to earn college credit through DSU while they are still in high school, including studying toward a degree program.
“I really enjoyed (the program),” Zubke said. “I learned a lot, and it was really nice to be able to earn high school credit along with college credit.”
Early U students can expect to be able to be involved in the same traditional experiences as their peers, including participating in their school’s extracurricular activities while pursuing college coursework or degree programs. Students may attend Early University through dual credit at their high school or early entry on the DSU campus, from a distance via DSUlive™ or online.
“I attended some classes on campus and some online,” he said. “There were a lot of online classes, which allowed me to complete the course on my own time – self-paced work for the most part.”
With the Early U program, courses added to a student’s schedule as Early Entry Enrollment receive college credit and will only receive high school credit upon the approval of a high school counselor, district administrator, or board of trustees. Dual credit courses are offered to students by their high school instructor and are counted as high school and college credit.
Zubke’s goal in entering the program was to get to the workforce as quickly as he could to achieve the goals he has set forth to accomplish in his eventual career in accounting.
“I enjoy learning, but I want to get to my career goals,” he said. “I hope to earn my bachelor’s degree over the next couple years, maybe three semesters.”
With having already earned his associate’s degree, Zubke believes his experience with the Early U program will help him “flow” into college much easier.
“Some of those (prerequisite courses) aren’t too focused on the degree I want to get, but now that I have those classes out of the way by taking them while I was still in high school, now I can immediately focus on the classes that cater to my career choice,” he said.
While being a part of the Early U program at DSU took a lot of hard work and persistence, especially while balancing his high school workload, track commitment and work schedule, Zubke said the long hours were worth it in the end.
“It was definitely a lot to sign up for, but if you have the ambition for it and stay persistent to keep up with the workload, it’s worth it,” he said. “The program has definitely set me up for the future and given me the opportunity to focus on what I ultimately want. I was able to make high school and college the experience I wanted it to be.”
Eligibility requirements may differ depending on the program. General admission requirements include:
- A high school grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
- Sophomore or higher status;
- A track record of consistent study skills;
- Selection of a program offered by Dickinson State University’s Early University;
- Commitment to pursuing the necessary credit hours to complete an academic pathway or program or completion of general education core requirements.
For students interested in associate to bachelor program laddering, please visit with an advisor who will tailor your program and electives accordingly to reduce time towards graduation.
For more information on DSU’s Early U program, please visit DSU's Early University webpage.