Degree Planning and College Readiness

You can earn college credits while still in high school, which can help save you time and money on your college degree. You can do this by taking dual credit courses that may be offered at your high school. Some students may be able to take college courses if they’ve already met all their high school requirements. And many schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Depending on how you score on the AP and IB exams, they may count for college credit.  

Dual credit courses count for both high school and college credit. These courses are a great way for high schoolers to get a head start on their college education. Dual credit courses can help you start school with advanced standing and shorten the time it takes to graduate.  

But not every dual credit course may help you. Some things to consider:  

• Not all dual credit courses transfer. Depending on the school and degree program you pursue, your credits may not apply.  
• Having too many course credits may make it harder to transfer.  
• Dual credit courses are challenging. Not all students may be ready to take on college-level coursework. Make sure this is something you’re prepared for. 

AP and IB courses are another way to get college credit before you finish high school. But to get credit for these courses, you have to score high enough on the exam. Different schools require different scores. If you have a college in mind, you can look up the score you’ll need to get credit at that school.  

Read more: How to decide between dual credit, AP and IB courses 

Deciding what to major in can be the hardest part of going to college. Many students don’t know what they want to do for a career. They may have many interests without a clear sense of which they want to pursue. College is a great time to explore those interests. As you start to take courses, it’s important to figure out what you want to study and what you want to do after you graduate.

First, consider what major you want to pursue. 

• Think about what interests you, and what courses you’re good at. We tend to do better in classes that engage our interests, so these two things often go hand in hand.  
• Think about what kind of career you’d like to have. Consider not just what interests you but also the salary that you need to feel comfortable. Use our Interest Quiz to see what careers align with your interests. And look at the Career Explorer to find out more about what different careers look like in the state of Texas. You can see median salaries, what jobs are in demand, and what degree and skills you’d need for specific jobs. 

Next, determine what type of degree you want to pursue. 

• Associate degrees require 60 credit hours. You can finish this degree in two years. There are two types of associate degrees: academic and technical. Academic associate degrees will prepare you for further study. You can get this degree at a community college.  
• Bachelor’s degrees require 120 credit hours. This is your standard four-year college degree. Some people are able to finish in three years. This is easier if you earn college credits while in high school. 
• Many students start out at community college before transferring to a four-year college. If you’re planning to do this, explore our advice for transfer students and learn more about the Texas Transfer Framework. 

Finally, decide on a school. 

• Visit the schools’ websites and view the course catalogs to see what classes are required for different degree plans. This research will help you understand the coursework you’d need to take if you were to pursue those degrees.
• If you’ve taken college-level courses or exams that may count for college credit, reach out to an enrollment advisor. You can ask questions to find out how many of your credits will apply toward specific degree plans. By comparing this information, you can determine which degree plan you can complete the fastest. 
• Consider other factors that may inform your decision, such as location, size, and online course offerings. Learn more about how to find the school that’s right for you.   

Adjusting to college life can be a challenge. You will have more freedom, but also greater responsibility. Here are some skills to focus on that will help you be successful in college. 

College is less structured than high school. It’s your responsibility to make sure you attend class and keep up with your work. You’ll also have to stay on top of your degree requirements and other graduation requirements (more on that below). 

Communication skills are important. Don't be afraid to reach out to advisors, professors, and peers. Introduce yourself to those who can help you with your education and career journey. Networking will help you build support and open doors. 

Think about what you want to achieve. Map out what courses you need to take and what you need to do to graduate on time. If you take too many courses that don’t count toward your major, you may lose financial aid and risk not graduating. Use your education to pursue the career you want. Research internships and take the time to network with professionals in your field. 

Make sure to take care of your well-being. Don’t take more courses than you can handle. If you know you’ll be taking a tough course one semester, consider taking one less course than you normally would. You may have to balance part-time or full-time work with your studies. If you know you’ll be spending a lot of time working, you may not want to take a full course load. That’s okay as long as you plan for it and stay on schedule to graduate. Don’t overwhelm yourself, or you’ll risk burnout.  

Once you’ve decided on a school, you should reach out to an advisor at the school to get more information.  

• The advisor can answer any questions you may have. They can tell you more about application timelines and required documents.  
• If you’re a transfer student, the advisor can give you more information about the transfer process. If you’ve taken college courses or exams for college credit, they can help with that, too. Note that they won’t be able to confirm your transfer credits until after you decide to enroll.

Graduation may feel a long way off, but it’s important to think about what you’ll need to graduate early on. 

• Degree audit: Your degree audit confirms that you’ve taken all the courses you need to graduate. This includes Texas Core Curriculum requirements and any major- or minor-specific courses that you need. It confirms that you’ve taken enough upper-division courses and earned the required number of credit hours to graduate. 
• Other requirements: Some degrees have more exams. Some require observation hours or time spent gaining hands-on experience. Students pursuing an education degree need to get certified in order to become teachers. Check with your advisor to make sure you know what other requirements you may need to meet. 
• Apply to graduate: When you finish your coursework, you have to apply to graduate. This requires filling out a form during your final semester. You'll also have to pay a diploma or graduation fee. Ask your college advisor for details and deadlines. 
• Outstanding fees: If you owe the college money, they may withhold your diploma. Library fees from overdue books are one example. Make sure to pay any money you owe ahead of time. 

• Family obligations: Students often help take care of older family members, and some students have children. It can be difficult to balance family obligations with your studies. If you’re having trouble, you should explore resources that your school may have to help you. For example, some schools have childcare centers that can help if you have children. Always be sure to talk to your advisor about any troubles you’re facing. They can connect you to resources and help you balance your course load so you don't get overwhelmed. 
• Money: College is expensive. Think about what you can comfortably afford and whether your salary afterward will justify your college debt. Use financial aid and look for scholarships to help you pay. Unexpected costs often arise, and they can make it difficult to finish college. If you can, try to keep some money set aside for emergencies. If you find yourself in financial difficulty, talk to your advisor. They may be able to help you find ways to save money or get aid.  
• Work: Many students work while attending college. Having a job is great for many reasons, but it can make it harder to study. Some students decide they’d rather work full-time than go to school. This may provide more money in the short term, but college graduates make more on average than those without degrees. Students should try to keep a long-term perspective on their career and life goals and make decisions to help achieve them. 
• Feeling overwhelmed: College isn’t easy. Students often feel overwhelmed by everything they have to do. At the same time, classes are harder than they were in high school. Many students get worse grades in college than they’re used to, especially at first. It’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean you’re a bad student. Don’t give up! Hopefully you have a support network that can give you emotional support. Just do your best. You don’t need to ace every class to get a diploma.