Virtual middle college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We actually signed up for this program prior to 9th grade and decided not to pursue based on complete lack of transparency and help from so-called coordinators for VMC.
Just to be clear VMC is completely separate from Dual enrollment at your local High School and neither DE coordinator or your child's counselor know any information about it.
So our experience, we signed up and were told that during 9th grade there will be only monthly seminars and the first class to take will be second semester of 10th grade. By November of the 9th there were no seminars scheduled and we needed to pick our classes for the 10th grade. After repeat back and forward with several contacts at MCPS we finally were directed to a person in charge of the program. She stated that there is nothing to do for 9th graders and thats why we were not receiving seminar invites. Meanwhile, 9th grades did need to pick 10th grade classes and actually did need to sign up for MC
and take placement tests. Anyway, after some more back and forwards we decided to not pursue this all together. Main factor was that the program was originally explained to us as "hybrid" with MC virtual classes and local High School classes and participation. Turned out to be incorrect with all classes in 11th and 12th grades being virtual at MC. We will do DE instead.

I had a similar problem with the program. My son is a senior and currently in the first cohort. It was very shaky at first as they did not have a dedicated program coordinator. The head of dual enrollment at MC was running the program, he was very disorganized and would give conflicting information constantly. One time I sent him email about a deadline he had created for registration however he had never sent out the details. I few hours later I get the registration email, then he emails me back and said it was already sent out. The new program coordinator is a lot better and better organized.

Another thing that was not mentioned in this thread, is student in the VMC can actually take in person classes at their own discretion. The whole goal of the program is to provide students with the same opportunities if they live far away from montgomery college.