Jump Start Program with Montgomery College

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any experience with how the MC classes compare to AP classes? Also, is the jump start program colleges generally look at favorably or unfavorably?

[Anonymous]

There have been a few threads on this. There are lots of people who will say it’s preferable to take APs. However, my DD did DE 4 years ago and had a great experience. The courses were not subjects offered at her HS and she felt the emphasis on research, group projects and presentations prepared her really well for the college classroom. She was accepted to all the schools she applied to but admittedly didn’t apply to HYSP and similar. She is at UMD. She got credit for her classes but not the one that is in the area of her major only counted as an elective. Based on her experience, DS is gong to do the same. Keep in mind that it’s not an either or. You can do a combo.

[Anonymous]

Jumpstart is one of several flavors of dual enrollment partnership between MC/MCPS. (They've added more programs with more time at MC over the years.)
https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/high-school-students/dual-enrollment/degree-and-pathway-programs/index.html

- General dual enrollment allows students to take classes at MC. Typically high school seniors will take a partial day at the high school and then a couple MC classes each semester.
- Jumpstart is a little more focused. Students are partial day at MC in 11th, then full time in 12th. Some high schools offer some MC courses at the high school. https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/_documents/high-school/sample-jumpstart-pathway.pdf
- Middle College is offered at Clarksburg, Northwest, Northwood, and Virtually. Students are in a specific program of study and earn a 2-year associates degree.
- Early College are specific programs of study to earn a 2-year associates degree while being full time on MC campus during 11th and 12th.

The variety is intended to serve different students with different interests and goals. Dual enrollment courses are individually equivalent to AP/IB courses (consider that they results in the same transfer of credit to a 4-yr institution). Some folks will insist that AP/IB courses are better, but the reality is that always depends on teacher/professor and the student interest in the course.

For admissions purposes, MC courses are treated as rigorous courses, just like AP/IB. The completion of an actual associates degree is favorable compared to just a collection of courses.