Sixteen-Year-Old Student To Graduate With Associate Degree Thanks To Collin College Dual Credit Classes

Dual credit offers an extraordinary opportunity for students to experience college while in high school. This is an experience that Evan Ardelean, 16, said is valuable and has provided him a wealth of knowledge and opportunity. Ardelean plans to graduate this May with his Associate of Applied Science degree in Information Systems Cybersecurity from Collin College.

When Ardelean was in the eighth grade, he and his parents decided that he should try homeschooling for high school along with Collin College dual credit classes.

I knew about Collin College because my dad had gone here, and I always liked community colleges. Theres a lot more sense of community here, and the professors are more engaged with the students, Ardelean said.

His mother, Carrie Stein, said she knew that her son would thrive in a community college setting because he could have a connection with the professors and focus exclusively on academics.

Although hes young, Ardelean said he never felt out of place at Collin.

Everyone, whether its the professors or the students, is here for a purpose to learn and I found a lot of comfort in that, he said.

Ardelean took dual credit classes at the Collin College Technical Campus in Allen, the Frisco Campus, and the Plano Campus.

Many of his favorite Collin College experiences revolve around his interactions with his professors.

They care about the subject matter and want students to learn, Ardelean said. They just teach in such an engaging way that I can remember almost everything from the classes, and it makes me excited to learn more.

Ardelean said he felt like his contributions in class were valued, and the professors took extra time to engage with him and other students. The dual credit classes allowed him to experience actual college coursework and develop good study habits before starting college.

At Collin, the lessons were dynamic; its like how water flows, he said. It carves its own path and if something obstructs its way, it must find a way around it. Its a dynamic way of teaching.

According to the Texas Education Agency, students who take dual credit courses transition more smoothly from high school to college, earn credits that are transferable to any Texas public college or university, save money on tuition, and complete a postsecondary degree faster.

Ardelean will earn his associate degree this May and intended to transfer to a four-year university. However, when he learned about the Collin College Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity, he decided to earn his bachelors degree at the college.

He has made this his academic home, Stein said. Collin has had such an impact on him that he has even talked about coming back and teaching at the college.

Ardelean has enjoyed his time at Collin College and encourages high school students to consider taking dual credit courses.

Dual credit classes allow you to work with professors with real-world knowledge who expand your horizons, and you get the college experience earlier, Ardelean said.

Photo by Nick Young, Collin College photographer.

Reprinted from Allen ISD SOAR magazine.