New Program Allows Completion of 15 College Credits Before High School Graduation
Concurrent Enrollment at Boise State University is excited to announce the launch of a new program, 15 to Start. This program expands the existing Concurrent Enrollment programs: the Associate Degree and Sophomore Start programs.
The 15-to-Start option allows high school students to complete 15 college credits, or one full-time semester, before graduation and helps motivated students map the connection between their current academic performance and future career with guided academic advising.
Serving Students Across Idaho
Boise State’s Concurrent Enrollment and Community Impact Programs are partnering to expand access to higher education and trailblazing connections in rural school districts. The program will serve high school students in the West Central Mountains (McCall and its surrounding areas), Mountain Home and the surrounding areas and the Western Treasure Valley (Payette and its surrounding areas).
Students in rural communities wanting to kickstart their college education while still in high school have limited concurrent enrollment opportunities due to the lack of qualified high school instructors. The creation of 15 to Start for Community Impact Programs regions expands opportunities for high school students in rural communities to access higher education and reach their academic and career goals.
“We are focused on giving access to higher education to students in rural districts while at the same time building their confidence that college is achievable,” said Karina Smith, assistant director of Concurrent Enrollment at Boise State.
“We are focused on giving access to higher education to students in rural districts while at the same time building their confidence that college is achievable.”
Karina Smith
assistant director of Concurrent Enrollment at Boise State
Students in the Concurrent Enrollment program receive one-on-one advising and degree planning to align courses with their goals. Advisors help Concurrent Enrollment students navigate the details of university requirements to ensure students can easily access resources and support.
“I like to be able to help students reach their goals – helping them understand that they can do it,” says Smith. “Some students don’t see themselves as being able to access college, so showing them that ‘yes, they can’ is powerful.”
How To Participate
To participate in the 15 to Start option, students must meet the following criteria:
- Be a sophomore in high school and apply by February 15th, 2022
- Attend a high school in a Community Impact Programs region (Mountain Home, Payette, Emmett, Parma, Cascade and McCall)
- Plan to attend Boise State University upon high school graduation
- Have a goal to complete a minimum of 15 college credits while still in high school
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Complete an agreement with signed permission from a parent or guardian
To learn more about Boise State University’s Concurrent Enrollment and 15 to Start, please visit boisestate.edu/concurrentenrollment/15-to-start or contact Karina Smith at CEAdvising@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1723.