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| Jillian Zinski, Chartiers Valley Class of 2012 |
Imagine stepping foot on campus for your first day of
college and you’re already ahead of the game. For many Chartiers Valley alumni,
it’s a realistic situation.
Take Jillian Zinski. Jillian graduated from Chartiers Valley
in June 2012 and began at Slippery Rock University in the fall with 20 credits
already under her belt – thanks to Advanced Placement (AP) and College in High
School (CIHS) classes.
According to Jillian, there are several benefits to taking
advanced courses in high school – college credit included. Jillian entered
college as a second semester freshman.
“I can worry less about my basic requirements and focus more
on my major classes,” said Jillian.
Jillian is pursuing a dual major in early childhood
education and special education, which often takes an extra semester to
complete.
“Since I had one semester technically complete before I even
started school, I might be able to finish the program in four years,” said
Jillian.
Jillian compared the AP classes she took at Chartiers Valley
to her college courses. Like a college course, an AP course is fast-paced and a
student’s success often depends on them keeping up with the readings and
homework. Another similarity is how much material is covered in class versus
what students must learn outside of the classroom.
“Most of the time, everything would not be covered in class,
but all of the resources would be provided, so that all of the material could
be learned by the student, with or without the teacher,” explained Jillian. “In
a lot of ways, AP courses are preparation for college.”
While college preparation can be a benefit, it can also be a
challenge.
“It is an adjustment to go from a normal high school class
where everything is taught and handed to you, to a more independent style of
learning,” said Jillian. “What used to be considered “good” could easily be
considered mediocre in AP or College In High School.”
Despite the challenges, Jillian recommends taking advanced
classes.
“Don’t be afraid of AP and College In High School (CIHS) courses,” advised Jillian.
“They may be considered advanced, but they are good prep for college. The
credits will be worth all the hard work in the end!”
“Lastly, enjoy high school! Four years goes by very fast,
but the memories stay forever,” she said.
Gregory Markiw, also a 2012 CV alum, agrees.
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| Gregory Markiw, Chartiers Valley Class of 2012 |
“Enjoy your time at CV! It is truly the best all-around
school to go to,” said Gregory. “Also, take advantage of CIHS credits,
especially if you know you’ll be going to school in the Pittsburgh area.”
Gregory certainly took his own advice. He began at the
University of Pittsburgh with 27 college credits – a combination of AP and CIHS
classes.
According to Gregory, the AP and CIHS classes were
definitely more challenging compared to other classes offered at Chartiers
Valley, but they were worth it. In addition to advance classes preparing
Gregory for his college course load, Chartiers Valley also helped prepare him
for his life after high school.
“Chartiers Valley helped me to develop
the necessary social skills to function on my own in an environment drastically
more diverse than in high school,” said Gregory. “Also, getting involved in as
many different extracurricular activities as I could in high school set a good
habit when I got to college. I’ve had no problem working with others and getting
involved in various campus organizations.”
If you'd like more information about AP or CIHS courses at Chartiers Valley, contact our Student Services Department.
Related Links:
Student Services website | More about CIHS
Related Links:
Student Services website | More about CIHS
