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Plan Ahead to Avoid Remedial Math Classes in Community College

By U.S. News & World Report

Taking remedial courses can feel like a waste of money and time for any student who is interested in the cheapest and fastest path to a degree. But students who don’t do well on placement exams may be required to take remedial classes before they can take a for-credit class in English or math.

Community college students are more likely to take remedial courses than their four-year counterparts. One estimate suggests that more than two-thirds of community college students take at least one remedial course, compared with 40 percent of four-year college students.

Remedial classes are courses that are designed to help students learn developmental skills in math, writing and reading so they’re prepared for college-level course work. Students have to pay tuition for the classes, which don’t count for credit and can delay graduation, particularly if the student has to take more than one.

Realistically, students who don’t have basic skills in math, writing or reading might not be able to avoid taking remedial classes entirely. But prospective community college students can take the following steps to reduce the likelihood of needing a remedial math class.

1. Pay attention in high school: Building a strong math foundation is the best way to ensure that students will do well in college math courses. Doing well requires more than just passing tests.

Derek Swierczek, a math teacher at Wheeling High School in Illinois, encourages students to try to gain an understanding of how math works and why instead of just memorizing enough formulas to pass classes.

“They’ll see a retention factor more when they embrace the learning process and have high school not be just about grades,” he says. “That understanding is what’s going allow the brain to access that information in the future.”

[Practice college study skills during high school.]

Confidence can play a role in a student’s math performance. Swierczek encourages students to ask a lot of questions to try to connect the dots, reach out for help when they get frustrated instead of quitting and to remember that their brains are still developing and they’re capable of improving and building skills.

2. Take four years of math in high school, even if it’s not required: “If they’re not taking a math class as a senior, they’re not going to do well on the placement test when they come to Ivy Tech or any college in the fall of their freshman year,” says John Newby, assistant vice president of K-12 initiatives at Indiana’s Ivy Tech Community College.

[Use all four years of high school to prep for college.]

Students who have a gap in their math courses are going to have a harder time recalling information for placement tests and adjusting to college-level math, experts say.

Taking a math class in high school that isn’t required and doesn’t seem relevant to a student’s career aspirations can be frustrating. Newby encourages students to see if dual-credit classes that allow students to earn college credit while in high school are an option. Dual-credit classes can help students get familiar with college-level courses and bypass remedial courses.

[Learn how earning college credit in high school can slash undergrad costs.]

3. Study for the placement exam: Some schools may factor in SAT, ACT or Advanced Placement exam scores to determine whether a student needs to take a remedial course, but placement exams are widely used to determine the level of math appropriate for incoming students.

Community college experts encourage students to take time to study for the exam. Nontraditional students — who may be more than a few years removed from a high school math class — can also benefit from brushing up. In some cases, a quick refresher can be all a student needs to avoid a semester or two of developmental math. Free online resources like the Khan Academy, MyMathLab and MyMathTest allow students to practice math problems in a variety of math subjects and areas. Students can also see what kind of study tools are available on the school’s website.

Amanda Starkey, who recently retired as dean of math and sciences at Southwestern Illinois College, encourages students to take practice tests that are formatted similarly to the type of placement assessment at their local community college.

4. Retake the placement exam if necessary: Don’t wait until the end of the summer before freshman year to take the exam. Starkey encourages students to take the exam as close as possible to their last high school math exam so they can recall information easier. That can be in the junior year if the student doesn’t take a senior math course, though senior math is strongly recommended, or soon after graduation. Students should check with their local institution to find out how long score results are valid.

Exam results may not highlight the exact spots of student weaknesses, but students can reach out to their local community college advisers to find insights on where they weaknesses are.

Students can check out a school’s individual policy on test retakes to see how many opportunities they have to retake the exams if they get less than desirable results the first time.

If you do need to take a remedial math class, see if your community college has a co-requisite program that allows students to take a remedial class and a for-credit math class at the same time. That can help students save time and get better results, Ivy Tech’s Newby says.

Trying to fund your education at a two-year institution? Get tips, news and more in the U.S. News Paying for Community College center.

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Plan Ahead to Avoid Remedial Math Classes in Community College originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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