Start your college career with NDSU’s early entry program
High school students can easily start their college education through NDSU’s early entry program.
“Early entry is an incredible opportunity for students who are ready for college classes but want to continue to be alongside peers in their high schools.,” said Stacy Duffield, director of NDSU’s Office of Teaching and Learning. “They don’t need to graduate early or give up high school experiences. They can have the best of both worlds.”
For Caleb Nissen, a student at Fargo South High School, starting his college-level courses early means he can achieve his goals sooner while already feeling like he’s a part of the Herd.
“Being part of the community early opened my eyes to all the benefits of the college lifestyle,” Nissen said. “I got to learn the campus better, make friends on campus and overall, get a better picture of what college is like, making me feel more ready.”
The early entry program is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, who want to study what they’re passionate about at a higher level. Classes are available in-person and online in a variety of disciplines.
Nissen wants to enter the nursing field, a career path he was first drawn to after working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Fargo’s Sanford Health, where he had the opportunity to shadow some certified registered nurse anesthetists. Currently, Nissen works in the Neuro ICU at Sanford.
NDSU’s School of Nursing stood out to Nissen as the best option to pursue his career.
“After finding my passion for nursing, the early entry program gave me the opportunity to pursue my goal of becoming a CRNA faster versus having to wait until graduating high school,” Nissen said.
Over the span of this year, Nissen has taken three courses at NDSU, including fundamentals of public speaking, academic success and career exploration in nursing and an organic chemistry class. Nissen credits the early entry program for providing him with several essential skills to prepare for the academic rigor of college courses.
“The early entry program promoted my organizational skills with advisory meetings that allowed me to be proactive about setting up a schedule for my future. Then the actual coursework gave me the opportunity to learn better studying and time management habits before taking on a full-time schedule,” he said.
Nissen has already met with several people across campus, including Kolby Schaeffer, an assistant professor of practice in nursing, and Kelly Monroe, an academic advisor in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Both have helped Nissen solidify his degree plan and have provided valuable advice.
Because of the NDSU resources available to help him succeed, Nissen has been able to excel both academically and personally through involvement in extracurriculars, including on the Fargo South Soccer team. Nissen helped his team win the state championship title this year.
Nissen is set to graduate high school a semester early this fall and is set to start his full-time degree at NDSU.
“I am most excited to apply to the nursing program this spring and begin the nursing program curriculum as soon as possible,” Nissen said. “My future career goals are to work in the ICU after graduating and eventually go back to school to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.”
Nissen encourages students thinking about early entry to go for it. “It saves money, time and gives you great experience,” Nissen said. “Meet with an advisor at NDSU to figure out what is the best plan for you.”
Broaden your horizon today by applying to the early entry program or learning more by reaching out to ndsu.otl@ndsu.edu.