Southwest Tech has offered dual credit classes for over 20 years. This is an important opportunity to be aware of as a current high school student because it is a simple way to earn college credits. When taking a dual credit course, you must pass with a B or better to earn college credit. If you pass the class, our school district covers that cost for you, but you will have to pay for it if you fail the course. Not many students fail their Southwest Tech classes because of the resources we have here at Potosi to help students.
I talked with Marah Vogelsberg, a 2024 Potosi graduate, who took advantage of this opportunity. Marah graduated high school with 15 college credits, including some dual credit courses that our teachers at Potosi teach.
Not all of Marah's college credits transferred to UW-Whitewater, but that shouldn’t discourage you from taking them. “Things that did not directly relate to my major didn’t transfer over. Medical Terminology was not transferred but Intro to Diversity was.” Getting your general education credits out of the way is always an option because those have a higher chance of transferring.
“I think that college credits look impressive on your transcript. It shows colleges that you are capable of completing their courses. Taking advantage of this opportunity can set you ahead in the future,” Marah explained.
Mrs. Davis is the middle/high school counselor and helps coordinate dual credit courses. Right now in the high school, there are about 25 students each semester taking these classes. They range from just general education classes to classes specialized for your future career.
If you are thinking about the medical field, SWTC offers courses to set you up for that such as Medical Terminology or courses in nursing. Mrs. Davis encourages students to take advantage of this opportunity and says, “You can take these classes starting as a junior, so the planning starts the spring of your sophomore year. It can save students time and money.”
These dual credit courses can also positively impact a student's GPA, as they have a higher weighted grade that gets calculated into the overall grade point average.