LIFE LESSONS LEARNED DURING SUMMER
Summer break – every student looks forward to this time of year. Some like summer because they can sleep in and enjoy lazy days. Others appreciate the time summer brings to hold a job or gain career experience through internships or shadowing. Still, others take college classes and work towards that long-term goal of earning a college degree. Regardless, every student can make summer count in one way or another.
One high school student has made his summers count by preparing for his transition to college. Wesley Lockhart is a senior at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, Alabama. Over the past few summers, he has spent at least one month of his break on The University of Alabama campus participating in Summer On Campus through UA Early College. “During the summers I’ve been on campus, I’ve been able to take some really neat classes that will count towards my college major when I begin full-time at Alabama in the fall,” *says Wesley. He has taken criminal justice, psychology, computer science, theatre, and communication classes. While he has enjoyed the variety of classes, he says it’s what he’s learned outside of the classroom that has been the most beneficial.
“While living on campus, I had to learn what it was like to live without the daily physical presence of my parents, how to manage my money, and how to best utilize my time to do everything I needed to do and wanted to do,” says Wesley. Not only does he feel prepared to be a full-time college student in the fall, his parents are confident he is ready and will be successful in this new stage of life. Wesley also says it was “truly life-changing” to meet other students from around the country and different backgrounds during Summer On Campus, challenging him to break out of his shell. He learned to take full advantage of the support system UA Early College offered by asking for academic assistance when he needed it and utilizing the libraries and other academic resources available to him.
ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL?
When to Apply
You may apply anytime because we accept students year-round. Your first step is to complete the application process on the website. You will choose your best time to participate in the first class meeting and complete the month long UAEC 200 College Readiness Course.
Your First Class
After you are admitted to UA Early College, you begin your college studies with the UAEC 200 College Readiness Course. You and your parents participate in the first class meeting of UAEC 200. Then, you complete the remainder of UAEC 200 online during the 4-5 weeks following your orientation (first-class) session.
College Courses
After you successfully pass the UAEC 200 College Readiness Course, you are eligible to enroll in University of Alabama academic online courses. You can find the course list at https://uaearlycollege.ua.edu/ or you may choose to take courses on campus at The University of Alabama by commuting to campus or participating in the Summer On Campus experience.
Who is Eligible?
You can apply to UA Early College anytime during your sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school if you have a 3.0 or higher GPA** High school grade point average must be at least 3.0 on a 4 point scale, or the equivalent, cumulative from the 9th grade.
To learn more about Summer On Campus with UA Early College, visit uaearlycollege.ua.edu or call 205-348-7083.
*College credit earned through UA Early College also transfers broadly to other institutions.
