High school program affects current University students

Junette Reyes/Contributing Writer

The Academy of Advanced Academics, a program that allows the high school students of Alonzo and Tracy Morgan High School to achieve their associate’s degree during their high school years by completing the University Core Curriculum while simultaneously taking Advanced Placement classes, is an excellent opportunity for  eligible high school students.

However, this does not indicate that the program is the best option for both high school students and students at this University, especially when some of those same high school students do not show any interest in returning to the University as college students.

While it is understandable that the students have plans on pursuing acceptance into Ivy League schools, particularly when meeting or even exceeding the requirements of the program such as “… a 3.0 unweighted GPA, [scoring] 50/50 on the PSAT,  an excellent attendance record, and [having] no disciplinary problems on their record,” as stated by Blanca Morales in her article for FIU Student Media published on Sept. 28, it does not excuse their detrimental presence at this University when they do not envision it as their ideal school.

Allowing high school students to enroll in college courses in our already over-populated campuses may be troublesome when it comes to enrollment for students currently attending the University.

Their presence, although temporary, can hinder the opportunity of enrollment for current University students, considering what a difficult experience it already is when enrolling into quickly populated UCC courses. It is unfair for current students to have to deal with these high school students clearly devaluing their education at the University by showing preference for other schools beyond their education here.

All hope is not lost for the high school students participating in the Academy of Advanced Academics program, though.

If seeking acceptance into an Ivy League school is what some of these students want, then there is no reason why they should not increase their chances of doing so by attending similar programs hosted at Ivy League schools like Harvard instead of attending our University.

Programs like Harvard’s High School Summer Program offer a similar curriculum, which also allows high school students to attend college courses in exchange for college credit.

Of course, cost and housing must be taken into consideration; unfortunately, detailed information about this will not be available until Dec. 1. Students can still apply for programs like Cornell’s summer program in which financial aid applications are required.

Students have enough time until this upcoming summer to make a final decision for their future, if they are serious about pursuing an Ivy League school.

It may or may not prove to be a similar experience like the program at our University, however, students should choose the program of the school they actually want to attend, as it is the best option for everyone.

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