by: Kennedi Canova – Editor
From cosmetology to welding, history to math, Fremont provides hundreds of in-school and off-campus opportunities for students, allowing them to explore career options at lower costs. With these opportunities, students can hasten their high school experience by cutting down on the amount of classes they have to take in their senior year and even explore the possibility of graduating early.
Concurrent enrollment classes are the first option, a fantastic way to build up college credit and explore possible areas of interest without the regular cost of tuition. CE classes at Fremont cost $15, whereas the same 3 credit college classes cost around $1,100 at a university.
These classes also enable students to graduate with their associates. With 3+ credits needed in each category (English Composition, American Institutions, Quantitative Literacy, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Social Sciences, Humanities, Creative Arts, Life Science, and Physical Science), Fremont offers a variety of classes that help students fulfill these requirements.
Christy Dabb, CTE aide at Fremont, explains yet another highly favorable benefit of taking these classes. “Concurrent enrollment classes majorly cut down on the amount of classes you have to take at college and the amount of time you’ll have to be there. So if you do 15 college credits here you’ve wiped out one semester, if you do 30 credits, you’ve wiped out a whole entire year.”
Technical education is another affordable and fun option for students looking to explore a trade rather than a college degree. They can do this through OTECH (Ogden-Weber Technical College). With tuition fully paid for by Fremont during your high school career, the only expense you will have is your supplies and transportation!
Kate Jenkins, a senior in the OTECH cosmetology program, says, “I’ve really enjoyed being at OTECH. My favorite thing about it so far is that everything is self-paced, and it’s the same environment that I expect to be in when I start my career. I feel like I’ve learned a lot, and it makes me excited to keep going.”
While you can’t necessarily earn a degree at OTECH, you can receive trade certifications and take classes that go towards college degrees at their affiliated schools: Davis Technical College, Weber State University, Utah State University, and Snow College.
Internships are also an option for students at Fremont. Local businesses will oftentimes offer internships for seniors in high school. These typically take 2 periods out of a students day, whether A or B days. At the end of each semester students will receive 0.5 elective credits for their internship completion.
One example is Indianna Lundell, a senior that has an internship with Utah Physical Therapy. She says, “I want to explore a career in physical therapy, so this has been a good experience to help me figure out whether or not I really enjoy the field. I’ve also gained a lot of experience which will help me get a related job in the future.”
The easiest ways to find out about these opportunities is to visit the CTE office in the counseling center. Open from 7:15 to 3:15 every day, students and parents are more than welcome to come into the counseling center and ask questions. Furthermore, OTECHs website has plenty of information on their programs, tuition, and more for students to check out.
