CRESTVIEW — Eighth-graders Abbey Young and Marissa Flaherty, both 13, say they're ready to take the courses necessary to get into college.
That means aiming high, according to The College Board's Bryan Barnes, guest speaker of Tuesday's higher education preparedness seminar at Crestview High School. College-bound students should take advanced placement courses, he said.
"Put yourself in a challenging position," Barnes said. "You should put yourself in the highest level (course) without being overwhelmed."
High school students are 61 percent more likely to be accepted into college by enrolling in at least two AP high school courses, he said.
CHS assistant principal Dexter Day believes it, based on his daughter's college interview.
"One of the first things they asked her is what college-level courses have you taken during high school," he said.
Abbey, Marissa and their parents were among 162 attendees of the Okaloosa County School District's seminar. Several of CHS's AP instructors and students were available to answer questions following the presentation.
The information left an impression, the girls said.
"Knowing that people are there for you and want you to be successful in life — it makes me feel a lot better," Abbey said. "It makes me feel like I should go to college and be successful."
Marissa said she is up to the task of taking several AP courses. She even got a preview of what to expect.
"I actually got to meet my AP biology teacher for next year," she said.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: High school students should take AP courses for college acceptance