2024 Warren County High School graduate Molly Sims figures earning her associate degree prior to transferring to William & Mary has saved her a whopping $84,000.
Sims, who is majoring in government and minoring in history, earned 62 credits by taking online classes at Laurel Ridge and dual-enrolled courses at her high school. She earned her degree shortly before picking up her high school diploma. Nearly all of those credits – 55 – transferred into William & Mary which requires all students to take a specific course their first two years there, according to Sims.
“I could be able to go even further in my education from the money I saved through dual enrollment,” she said.
After earning her bachelor’s degree next spring, Sims, who was class president for all four of her years at Warren County High School, plans to attend grad school. Then, she would like to start working in a government position and eventually hold public office, maybe even as governor. However, Sims has also developed an interest in research and is considering becoming a historian and later a professor.
When she realized how simple it would be for her to earn dual credits in her high school class, it made sense to do it. In addition to the dual-enrolled classes she took at her high school, Sims took some online Laurel Ridge classes.
“I think it’s a lot easier when you know you don’t have to go for the full amount of time,” said Sims. “To know that I got the writing skills from Laurel Ridge to be able to write at a college-level before I got here is a good feeling.”
By earning her associate degree before going to William & Mary, Sims is saving about two years’ worth of classes – and tuition, around $84,000.
One of Sims’s favorite dual-enrollment teachers at Warren County was Jennifer Burnworth.
“She taught me every math that was dual enrolled,” said Sims. “The math at William & Mary is so difficult, and everyone complains about it. I’m so happy I had the best teacher ever.”
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.