Why take classes at a community college? Here are some good reasons:

Venture students can be concurrently enrolled both at Venture and at their local community college. Students as young as 12-years have successfully completed courses at the community college level.

REQUIREMENTS

When applying to Diablo Valley College, high school juniors and seniors fill out the Special Admissions Recommendation Form which is available at Venture, DVC or the San Ramon Valley Center. Venture School must have parents' permission and an administrator or counselor must sign the form before a student can turn the form into the admissions office at Diablo Valley College or San Ramon Valley Center. Students at the sophomore level and below must fill out the Special Admissions Recommendation Form available at Venture, DVC or SRVC. Venture School must have parents' permission and an administrator or counselor must sign the form. Students must attend the very first class of the semester, get the instructors' signature then turn in the form to the admissions office.

MORE COURSES, GRADUATE SOONER

Venture School has a limited selection of foreign language courses and does not offer lab science courses. Students who are applying directly to four year colleges must have these courses. Taking courses at the community college also allows students to explore different career options. Certificate programs require courses specifically to gain knowledge for particular careers, so courses such as social studies, English, math or lab sciences are not required unless needed for that particular career. Students may use this course of action to make up lost credits in their earlier high school years. In some instances, completed courses at the community college level can be used for both high school graduation and college graduation. Those courses that are transferable to four year colleges are given weighted grades on the high school transcript, greatly helping grade point averages. Typically, students are enrolled at a community college for 3-1/2 years before transferring to the 4-year college as a junior. Starting classes at the community college while enrolled as a high school student will allow the student to transfer to a 4-year college sooner than normal.

See Announcements for important dates and deadlines. Also, www.cvc.edu offers 3,690 college courses on-line through many of California college campuses. Venture students may concurrently enroll using this system to earn high school and college credit. Please see Marsha Mak, school counselor, to discuss course selection.

Any Venture School student or parent may contact Marsha Mak, school counselor, at (925) 479-1215 or at mmak@srvusd.k12.ca.us for further explanation or support.