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(Jasmine) Taking the
(Jasmine) Taking the
joint enrollment classes, I feel like I'm more challenged.
(Misty) It's incredible.
It’s a wonderful experience. I love it.
I really enjoy the people, just the atmosphere.
[music continues]
(John) Just anything that I can do
to help myself become more prepared
for my college experience is a good thing in my book.
[music continues]
(female teacher) So what's the function
we're looking for? [music continues]
(male narrator) John Farrow is a senior
at Social Circle High School east of Atlanta.
So why is it you'll find him most days
at Georgia Perimeter College's new Newton campus?
Because John is also a college freshman,
thanks to GPC's joint enrollment program
which enables qualified high school juniors
and seniors to get a jump start on their college careers.
(John) The joint enrollment program
is great.
You're gonna get the experience you need
to understand how you're supposed to do college work.
(narrator) John learned
about the joint enrollment program from his friend,
Misty Burroughs, who started her J.E. program last year
as a high school junior. Amazingly, that means for Misty:
(Misty) This is my senior year
in high school, sophomore year in college.
It's incredible.
It’s a wonderful experience; I love it.
College, to some students, seems like this big scary thing,
and it's not.
(narrator) If Misty is doing
the all out college plunge, 18-year-old Jasmine Gilbert is
perhaps a more typical joint enrollment student, taking
two classes at GPC’s Clarkson campus.
(Jasmine) Well, I like the fact that
they have dual credit for college and high school.
Now, I feel like I'm doing something to help
my college career, not just finishing
my senior year but also starting
my freshman year.
(narrator) Like John or Misty, Jasmine
could have taken advanced placement,
or AP classes, at her high school but says joint enrollment
at GPC was by far the better option.
(Jasmine) For AP classes, you have to take
an AP test which ultimately decides
if the class counts or not, compared to a college class
where the credit already counts since you completed the class.
(narrator) Another big plus,
Georgia's HOPE funds pay for all three students
to attend GPC, full tuition, and a generous stipend
for books every semester. Jasmine's father, Gregory Gilbert:
(Gregory Gilbert) Certainly that, that helps
with the finances, and we're very pleased that
that opportunity’s available.
(Dietra Gilbert) It's gonna give you, um,
a comfort level regarding your child going to college.
It's like a bridge.
(narrator) On the day when we caught up
with him, John Farrow was in the middle
of final exams for the semester but was confident
GPC's award-winning instructors had prepared him well.
(John) All my teachers have been great,
and they're very receptive and open, and they wanna help you.
(narrator) John's mother, Susan, was
a little concerned, as any parent would be,
that her son might miss out on important high school milestones
but no longer:
(Susan Farrow) I think he was just ready
for a, another challenge, and this, uh,
joint enrollment program has been wonderful for him.
(narrator) Misty, meanwhile, says
joint enrollment has inspired her to reexamine her priorities.
(Misty) I used to procrastinate a lot,
and now I don't at all.
I know what I have to do, and I get it done,
and I set up a schedule.
(Virginia Michelich) They're ready.
They're ready to move on and do something
more independent than what they've been allowed to do
up to that point.
(narrator) GPC Academic Vice President,
Virginia Michelich, has seen many ambitious
Georgia high schoolers vault ahead via joint enrollment.
(Virginia Michelich) They really can experience
what it's like to do college level work
and what those expectations are.
So, we've had students that have actually been able to earn
an associate's degree at the same time
that they graduate from high school.
So then, they just walk into a four year school
with, as a junior.
(narrator) By now, you might be thinking,
"What do I have to do to seize this opportunity?
“What does it cost?
“Does the HOPE fund pay for all of it?
“Will my credits be 100% transferrable if I go
on to a four year college?"
Well, to qualify for Georgia Perimeter College’s
joint enrollment program, you must be…
See details on our website about that.
The college credit you earn will be 100% transferrable
to many four year colleges including all
of the Georgia colleges and universities listed here.
And don't overlook the benefit of having joint enrollment credits
on your college application.
(Jasmine) I think it's gonna show, um,
colleges that, one, I'm focused and I’m ready to sort of take it
above and beyond the norm, it tells them
about your character.
(narrator) Next year, when their friends
are facing the inevitable freshman year hurdles,
John Farrow says he'll feel right at home.
(John) It's a definitely
a good stepping-stone to just ease the transition
into full, full time college.
(narrator) Head for GPC’s
joint enrollment page and you'll find everything
from application forms to contact numbers
for GPC advisors.
You don't have to wait ‘til graduation day to get going
on your college career.
You can jump start your academic future right now
with joint enrollment at GPC. [instrumental music]