Tom Copsetta has had a busy two years.
The Washington Township High School graduate finished with two diplomas in 2018: one for his high school graduation and another his associate’s degree in radio/TV/film from Rowan College of Gloucester County. In 2020, he added a third diploma to the list when he earned his bachelor’s degree from Rowan University at the age of 19.
“My parents came to me one day, and they said, ‘Don’t call me crazy … but we found a cool opportunity,’” Copsetta recalled. “I realized it was something I should seriously consider.”
The High School Option Program (HSOP) was created as a collaboration between all state high schools and Rowan College. The program allows sophomores or students 15 years old to begin college courses on top of their high school classes. Students can participate in this program and receive 65 percent off their college tuition.
“RCSJ’s high-school credit programs provide high school students affordable, practical ways to earn college credit while still in high school at a fraction of the cost, while preparing students for the rigors of a collegiate environment,” said Brittany Henry, director of dual enrollment at Rowan College of South Jersey.
In May of 2018, nearly 400 students from across New Jersey participated in the program and achieved 12 or more credits by the end of the spring semester while maintaining a 2.0 GPA. Copsetta was one of 11 students who met the criteria while also earning their high school diploma and college degree concurrently.
“[Copsetta] possessed the focus and foresight to begin pursuing a college education while still enrolled in high school,” Henry said. “This set him apart from his peers.”
Copsetta has been interested in radio/TV/film work since he was 9 years old. The HSOP allowed him to pursue his passion while working through high school.
“When I got into high school, I took my first class that was really about creating video and TV, called communications technology, and it was taught by Marty Bouchard,” Copsetta said.
“He was a huge mentor in my life and someone who solidified my spot in the field. When I took that class, I realized this was probably something I would want to do forever.”
Despite his success with the program, Copsetta’s road was not always easy during his two years in the program. Workload issues included an interrupted sleep schedule.
“I would stay up really late to do work,” he noted. “I would get three, four hours of sleep, and then I would get home from school and sleep another three, four hours. I had a split sleep schedule. It wasn’t unbearable, but it definitely felt a little torturous at times.”
Copsetta has not yet decided exactly what he wants to do with his new degree. Some of his goals include working on YouTube, filming tours and music videos for famous artists and eventually working in the film industry.
“I would say the best thing about it is that it got my name around. It has gotten me freelance work and a bunch of scholarships,” Copsetta said. “I got two years of college paid off through scholarships just through HSOP recognition.”
A piece of advice Copsetta offers to students interested in the program is to stay on top of assignments and always ask teachers and professors what’s next in order to prepare.
The HSOP offers 70 academic programs in nursing and health professions, business, education/behavioral sciences and humanities, law and justice, mathematics, sciences and technologies.
Registration is open through the month of August and courses will begin on Sept. 1. All classes will be online due to COVID-19. Courses are $75 per credit. For more information, visit www.rcsj.edu/hsop.
