Julie Gravenor.

Julie Gravenor of Salisbury plans to graduate with her business transfer associate degree this May, but she just graduated from Parkside High School last June. She earned 45 college credits over five terms between 2019 and 2021 while she was still in high school. Dual enrollment allows students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time.

A dean’s list student, Gravenor is only taking 18 credits as a full-time college student to earn her degree.

She said she found out about dual enrollment from a friend. Her mom suggested that dual enrollment was a better avenue to pursue than Advanced Placement courses and exams. “My mom said I wouldn’t have to stress about getting a 4 or higher on the exam at the end and that as long as I pass the class, I get high school and college credit.”

Gravenor said she chose to enroll at Wor-Wic because it was closer to her house, and she knew other dual enrollment students at Wor-Wic. “Being right around the corner, with a smaller campus and having other students from my high school here, I felt more comfortable coming to Wor-Wic as a dual enrolled student at the age of 16,” Gravenor said. She started dual enrollment in the summer before her junior year of high school and continued until she graduated. “I loved my dual enrollment experience,” she said. “My mom was very supportive of it as well. She told me to take it and run with it, so I scheduled the classes myself and she let me figure it out, which was really good for me.”

Gravenor added that Richard Webster, director of early college initiatives at Wor-Wic, and her other advisors were invaluable throughout the process.

In addition to her studies, Gravenor kept a busy schedule, dancing competitively throughout high school and spending four to five days a week practicing at the studio. “I wouldn’t have missed out on my high school experience. Dual enrollment helped me build my future.”

Gravenor explained that she continued at Wor-Wic after high school graduation because she was so close to earning her associate degree. Once she graduates this May, she plans to transfer to Salisbury University to major in accounting and/or business. She wants to become a CPA and stay local to live and work.

Dual enrollment is a great way for eligible juniors and seniors to earn college credits while still in high school. Students can choose from a variety of courses, such as English, mathematics, psychology or history, and earn college credits that can be applied toward a degree program at Wor-Wic or transferred to a four-year college or university. Public high school students pay a discounted tuition rate, and some can even attend for free.

Interested students are encouraged to meet with their high school guidance counselor to complete a dual enrollment certification form or contact Richard Webster at Wor-Wic, at rwebster@worwic.edu or 410-334-2896.