College Admissions Consulting Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment, Plus Listener Questions Written by Emily Toffelmireon February 28th, 2019 I came to College Coach after working for many years in college admissions and high school counseling. As a school counselor, I assisted students in the college application process and wrote hundreds of letters of recommendation, while also helping them and their families cope with any emotional, social, and academic concerns throughout the year. I transitioned from the high school setting to the admissions office when I joined the University of Southern California as an assistant director, reading freshmen and transfer applications and collaborating on admission decisions for over 150 majors, including the liberal arts, engineering, business, cinema, and the fine and performing arts. I subsequently took on the role of senior assistant director in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where I coordinated the division's Mork, Stamps, Trustee, Presidential and Dean's merit scholarship selection process, as well as recruitment publications and outreach, and traveled everywhere from Honolulu to Miami presenting to and interviewing hundreds of applicants each year. Learn More About Emily css profile, dual enrollment, financial aid, On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Beth Heaton discusses the increasingly popular dual enrollment option offered by many community colleges and takes on an array of listener questions. Dual Enrollment Beth first welcomes admissions educator Zaragoza Guerra, formerly of MIT, Caltech, and the Boston Conservatory, to help listeners better understand just what dual enrollment is and how taking community college courses during high school can later impact a student’s university admission and enrollment process. Though dual enrollment has become more common and presents a big bargain to many families, it may not be the best pathway for every student. Beth and Zaragoza debate the pros and cons of dual enrollment, plus how community college courses stack up against Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses. Listener Questions Next up, Beth tackles listener questions with Shannon Vasconcelos, former financial aid officer at Boston University and Tufts University. The topics for this episode include: The CSS Profile The effects drawing Social Security and retirement funds may have on financial aid How to disclose small business assets on the FAFSA and Profile The role of financial need in admission decisions How students can explain low grades in college applications The potential benefits of a gap year in the admission process Tune in to our next episode when guest host Sally Ganga talks high school course selection, spring break campus visits, and important financial aid questions seniors should be asking during their prospective colleges’ admitted student events. Related Resources Read | Posted on April 22nd, 2025 Demystifying Liberal Arts: What They Are and Aren't Read | Posted on March 11th, 2025 Does a Teen Need to File a Tax Return? Read | Posted on March 5th, 2025 Mastering the Final Round: How to Ace Your College Scholarship Interview and Stand Out
