Boosting College Readiness Online

College readiness is no longer defined only by GPA or test scores. Students need to advocate for themselves, adjust when a strategy stops working, and gain exposure to college level content so that AP or dual credit opportunities feel realistic rather than intimidating. Supplemental online courses help by giving students a flexible way to practice college expectations with structure and feedback still in place.

Here are the most relevant research supported benefits for counselors and academic planners.

Early exposure to college level rigor

Advanced coursework is strongly tied to positive college outcomes. According to the College Board, students who score a 3 or higher on an AP exam enroll in college at higher rates than academically similar peers who do not.

Dual enrollment offers similar advantages. The Community College Research Center reports that about 81% of dual enrollment students enroll in college within a year of high school graduation, compared with roughly 70% of non-participants.

Online supplemental courses through AVLI help our member schools widen their access to both AP and dual credit by filling scheduling gaps, offering prerequisites, or expanding advanced subjects that a school may not be able to run in person.

College readiness is also about skills, not just credits

College success relies heavily on the skills beneath academics. Students need:

• Executive functioning, which covers planning, organization, and time; 

• Metacognition, which means thinking about one’s own thinking and knowing when to adjust; 

• Self management, including persistence; and 

• Help seeking, or the ability to reach out when needed.

Online courses naturally support these skills because students must manage pacing, monitor their understanding, and work more independently than in traditional classrooms. AVLI creates a supportive environment with teacher support which helps students to develop these skills as they work through their courses. 

Confidence matters & educators influence it

Research shows that higher self efficacy is linked to stronger performance in dual enrollment courses, even after accounting for previous achievement. Teacher and counselor support also shapes readiness.

Another study found that first generation and low income students who previously completed dual enrollment reported higher confidence and stronger academic aspirations. When counselors help students preview expectations, recommend the right online courses, and check in regularly, students begin to believe they can handle advanced work.

Preparing students for modern college expectations

College increasingly involves hybrid and online components. Students who complete online coursework ahead of time gain familiarity with:

• Learning management systems

• Communicating with instructors online

• Navigating flexible deadlines

• Submitting digital work

• Managing more independent learning routines

These are exactly the competencies colleges expect students to bring with them on day one.

Supplemental courses work best with human support

The courses build skills, but educator support amplifies the gains. Counselors can use supplemental online learning to create personalized readiness pathways, recommend preparation before AP or dual credit, and maintain check-ins that mimic the type of mentoring students receive in college advising structures.

Conclusion

College readiness grows from content knowledge, confidence, skill development, and exposure to advanced expectations. Online coursework through AVLI provides all four of these essential elements. They give counselors a flexible, equitable way to strengthen readiness, widen access to AP and dual credit, and help students build the habits that matter most once they reach college. Explore courses here.