Experiences with Early College at MC?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Depends what your kid is seeking. If it is acceleration/peer group for a highly abled kid, I've been told that taking the most rigorous classes in H.S. is the better way to achieve this. If it is college credit, finishing college sooner, or being more independent than a typical H.S.er, then classes at MC is the better approach.

This sounds like a reasonable summation.

But specifically for Early College students, they are with a cohort of high achieving students, not just taking a handful of random classes with the general MC population.

AP Language is equivalent to English 101
AP Calculus is equivalent to Calculus 101 (or whatever the actual course code is)

I wouldn’t say the most rigorous AP courses are actually better than the equivalent college credit class. There’s a reason some schools will take college credit classes when they won’t give credit just because you took an AP class.

MC is definitely not providing the experience that highly able kids would get at a real college. What is your familiarity with AP courses?

I teach one. 🙄 Also have had kids in various HS magnets and can compare AP and IB level courses. Also work with MC professors on some projects. Your bias is showing if you don’t think MC is a “real” college.

Okay. I'll bite. I took a Biology course at MC as a career changer. My adjunct professor revealed that her day job was teaching the AP version of the same class at a well-respected MCPS high school. I asked her how the two courses compared and her response was that she could cover more material in her AP course.

That being said, one of my other classes had a Dual Enrollment (Early College?) student in it from Northwood. She was a standout and very mature. I think she would have done fine in a magnet or W school as well.

NP
Like I said previously early college and dual enrollment are not the same.
Early college students cover a subject in a semester like regular college instead of year long for AP.

AP Bio receives credit for two college courses.

If and only if your college accepts it. Many don't now, and many others only accept it as a prereq rather than for credit.

MC has a transfer partnership list with many colleges, including the UMD system. Why is it so hard for people to understand and accept that MC students completing an AA or AS degree can then transfer in as juniors into UMD-CP Business school or Engineering school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're listening to the zoom right now and it sounds like a para-professional program, not something for highly-abled students who are interested (and can afford) in attending competitive colleges. True?

False. There are different programs with different levels of difficulty depending on major (just like regular college). Successful students will have an AA or AS degree in their program, which is transferable to another college or university and the student continues on junior year to earn a BA or BS degree. I know a couple kids who dropped out of their magnet program to participate last year and this. My own kid is a junior this year and taking pretty rigorous courses and loving it. Are they highly able? Yes. Can we afford competitive colleges? Yes. Are they likely to get into competitive colleges? Yes.

How/which coursework will transfer depends on different college agreements, but first year core courses are first year core courses. Students won't repeat them. They may still have to take a certain number of credits at their final college, but they are more likely positioned to easily dual major or complete a BS/MS in 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what your kid is seeking. If it is acceleration/peer group for a highly abled kid, I've been told that taking the most rigorous classes in H.S. is the better way to achieve this. If it is college credit, finishing college sooner, or being more independent than a typical H.S.er, then classes at MC is the better approach.

This sounds like a reasonable summation.

But specifically for Early College students, they are with a cohort of high achieving students, not just taking a handful of random classes with the general MC population.

AP Language is equivalent to English 101
AP Calculus is equivalent to Calculus 101 (or whatever the actual course code is)

I wouldn’t say the most rigorous AP courses are actually better than the equivalent college credit class. There’s a reason some schools will take college credit classes when they won’t give credit just because you took an AP class.

MC is definitely not providing the experience that highly able kids would get at a real college. What is your familiarity with AP courses?

I teach one. 🙄 Also have had kids in various HS magnets and can compare AP and IB level courses. Also work with MC professors on some projects. Your bias is showing if you don’t think MC is a “real” college.

Okay. I'll bite. I took a Biology course at MC as a career changer. My adjunct professor revealed that her day job was teaching the AP version of the same class at a well-respected MCPS high school. I asked her how the two courses compared and her response was that she could cover more material in her AP course.

That being said, one of my other classes had a Dual Enrollment (Early College?) student in it from Northwood. She was a standout and very mature. I think she would have done fine in a magnet or W school as well.

NP
Like I said previously early college and dual enrollment are not the same.
Early college students cover a subject in a semester like regular college instead of year long for AP.

AP Bio receives credit for two college courses.

If and only if your college accepts it. Many don't now, and many others only accept it as a prereq rather than for credit.

MC has a transfer partnership list with many colleges, including the UMD system. Why is it so hard for people to understand and accept that MC students completing an AA or AS degree can then transfer in as juniors into UMD-CP Business school or Engineering school?

Or you can just do it for the rigor and experience and still do 4 years of college going in a different direction. A non UMD school may or may not recognize all the credits but the experience may still be worth it. My coworkers child did a program in PG county where she graduated with an AA in x..but then spent almost 4 years getting a BA in Y. Y was like engineering of sosmething with very specific requirements that did not really overlap with X.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're listening to the zoom right now and it sounds like a para-professional program, not something for highly-abled students who are interested (and can afford) in attending competitive colleges. True?

False. There are different programs with different levels of difficulty depending on major (just like regular college). Successful students will have an AA or AS degree in their program, which is transferable to another college or university and the student continues on junior year to earn a BA or BS degree. I know a couple kids who dropped out of their magnet program to participate last year and this. My own kid is a junior this year and taking pretty rigorous courses and loving it. Are they highly able? Yes. Can we afford competitive colleges? Yes. Are they likely to get into competitive colleges? Yes.

How/which coursework will transfer depends on different college agreements, but first year core courses are first year core courses. Students won't repeat them. They may still have to take a certain number of credits at their final college, but they are more likely positioned to easily dual major or complete a BS/MS in 4 years.

I don't know enough but the one child we did know who did this is very bright and was in a magnet program.

[Anonymous]

"We're listening to the zoom right now and it sounds like a para-professional program, not something for highly-abled students who are interested (and can afford) in attending competitive colleges. True?


My DD has had straight As since seventh grade and is now a 10th grader three years above grade level in math. She’s taking two APs and an MC class this semester. Is that highly-abled enough for you?"

So she's taking an MC class because her school doesn't offer high enough level math classes? That doesn't mean that the classes at MC are rigorous, just that she has no options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're listening to the zoom right now and it sounds like a para-professional program, not something for highly-abled students who are interested (and can afford) in attending competitive colleges. True?

Strange that is what you’d take away from the zoom update. But ok.

[Anonymous]

Any new thoughts for this program after two years since the previousdiscussions?

My kid who is now a W school 10th grader, is very interested in this program. I heard something good about this program from another kid who is now in an ivyleague school. But that student is a highly motivated kid who would be successfully in any school.

I was also told that the MC early college is only half day (like 9am - 1pm). What do kids do in the afternoon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what your kid is seeking. If it is acceleration/peer group for a highly abled kid, I've been told that taking the most rigorous classes in H.S. is the better way to achieve this. If it is college credit, finishing college sooner, or being more independent than a typical H.S.er, then classes at MC is the better approach.

This sounds like a reasonable summation.

But specifically for Early College students, they are with a cohort of high achieving students, not just taking a handful of random classes with the general MC population.

AP Language is equivalent to English 101
AP Calculus is equivalent to Calculus 101 (or whatever the actual course code is)

I wouldn’t say the most rigorous AP courses are actually better than the equivalent college credit class. There’s a reason some schools will take college credit classes when they won’t give credit just because you took an AP class.

MC is definitely not providing the experience that highly able kids would get at a real college. What is your familiarity with AP courses?

I teach one. 🙄 Also have had kids in various HS magnets and can compare AP and IB level courses. Also work with MC professors on some projects. Your bias is showing if you don’t think MC is a “real” college.

Okay. I'll bite. I took a Biology course at MC as a career changer. My adjunct professor revealed that her day job was teaching the AP version of the same class at a well-respected MCPS high school. I asked her how the two courses compared and her response was that she could cover more material in her AP course.

That being said, one of my other classes had a Dual Enrollment (Early College?) student in it from Northwood. She was a standout and very mature. I think she would have done fine in a magnet or W school as well.

NP
Like I said previously early college and dual enrollment are not the same.
Early college students cover a subject in a semester like regular college instead of year long for AP.

AP Bio receives credit for two college courses.

If and only if your college accepts it. Many don't now, and many others only accept it as a prereq rather than for credit.

MC has a transfer partnership list with many colleges, including the UMD system. Why is it so hard for people to understand and accept that MC students completing an AA or AS degree can then transfer in as juniors into UMD-CP Business school or Engineering school?

Kids are not guaranteed transfer into UMD. I know a few kids who did not get into UMD LEP from MC. They did get into other MD state schools, but not necessarily UMD.

[Anonymous]

It’s good if your kid is not enjoying high school. Otherwise it really takes away from the high school experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what your kid is seeking. If it is acceleration/peer group for a highly abled kid, I've been told that taking the most rigorous classes in H.S. is the better way to achieve this. If it is college credit, finishing college sooner, or being more independent than a typical H.S.er, then classes at MC is the better approach.

This sounds like a reasonable summation.

But specifically for Early College students, they are with a cohort of high achieving students, not just taking a handful of random classes with the general MC population.

AP Language is equivalent to English 101
AP Calculus is equivalent to Calculus 101 (or whatever the actual course code is)

I wouldn’t say the most rigorous AP courses are actually better than the equivalent college credit class. There’s a reason some schools will take college credit classes when they won’t give credit just because you took an AP class.

MC is definitely not providing the experience that highly able kids would get at a real college. What is your familiarity with AP courses?

I teach one. 🙄 Also have had kids in various HS magnets and can compare AP and IB level courses. Also work with MC professors on some projects. Your bias is showing if you don’t think MC is a “real” college.

Okay. I'll bite. I took a Biology course at MC as a career changer. My adjunct professor revealed that her day job was teaching the AP version of the same class at a well-respected MCPS high school. I asked her how the two courses compared and her response was that she could cover more material in her AP course.

That being said, one of my other classes had a Dual Enrollment (Early College?) student in it from Northwood. She was a standout and very mature. I think she would have done fine in a magnet or W school as well.

NP
Like I said previously early college and dual enrollment are not the same.
Early college students cover a subject in a semester like regular college instead of year long for AP.

AP Bio receives credit for two college courses.

If and only if your college accepts it. Many don't now, and many others only accept it as a prereq rather than for credit.

MC has a transfer partnership list with many colleges, including the UMD system. Why is it so hard for people to understand and accept that MC students completing an AA or AS degree can then transfer in as juniors into UMD-CP Business school or Engineering school?

Kids are not guaranteed transfer into UMD. I know a few kids who did not get into UMD LEP from MC. They did get into other MD state schools, but not necessarily UMD.

MC students are guaranteed transfer to UMCP if they maintain a 3.0. Does this not apply to EC grads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what your kid is seeking. If it is acceleration/peer group for a highly abled kid, I've been told that taking the most rigorous classes in H.S. is the better way to achieve this. If it is college credit, finishing college sooner, or being more independent than a typical H.S.er, then classes at MC is the better approach.

This sounds like a reasonable summation.

But specifically for Early College students, they are with a cohort of high achieving students, not just taking a handful of random classes with the general MC population.

AP Language is equivalent to English 101
AP Calculus is equivalent to Calculus 101 (or whatever the actual course code is)

I wouldn’t say the most rigorous AP courses are actually better than the equivalent college credit class. There’s a reason some schools will take college credit classes when they won’t give credit just because you took an AP class.

When EC students apply to UMD, they are not considered transfer students. They are considered freshman applicants because they have not earned their high school diploma. Therefore, rules for transfer student admission do not apply to them.



MC is definitely not providing the experience that highly able kids would get at a real college. What is your familiarity with AP courses?

I teach one. 🙄 Also have had kids in various HS magnets and can compare AP and IB level courses. Also work with MC professors on some projects. Your bias is showing if you don’t think MC is a “real” college.

Okay. I'll bite. I took a Biology course at MC as a career changer. My adjunct professor revealed that her day job was teaching the AP version of the same class at a well-respected MCPS high school. I asked her how the two courses compared and her response was that she could cover more material in her AP course.

That being said, one of my other classes had a Dual Enrollment (Early College?) student in it from Northwood. She was a standout and very mature. I think she would have done fine in a magnet or W school as well.

NP
Like I said previously early college and dual enrollment are not the same.
Early college students cover a subject in a semester like regular college instead of year long for AP.

AP Bio receives credit for two college courses.

If and only if your college accepts it. Many don't now, and many others only accept it as a prereq rather than for credit.

MC has a transfer partnership list with many colleges, including the UMD system. Why is it so hard for people to understand and accept that MC students completing an AA or AS degree can then transfer in as juniors into UMD-CP Business school or Engineering school?

Kids are not guaranteed transfer into UMD. I know a few kids who did not get into UMD LEP from MC. They did get into other MD state schools, but not necessarily UMD.

MC students are guaranteed transfer to UMCP if they maintain a 3.0. Does this not apply to EC grads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what your kid is seeking. If it is acceleration/peer group for a highly abled kid, I've been told that taking the most rigorous classes in H.S. is the better way to achieve this. If it is college credit, finishing college sooner, or being more independent than a typical H.S.er, then classes at MC is the better approach.

This sounds like a reasonable summation.

But specifically for Early College students, they are with a cohort of high achieving students, not just taking a handful of random classes with the general MC population.

AP Language is equivalent to English 101
AP Calculus is equivalent to Calculus 101 (or whatever the actual course code is)

I wouldn’t say the most rigorous AP courses are actually better than the equivalent college credit class. There’s a reason some schools will take college credit classes when they won’t give credit just because you took an AP class.

MC is definitely not providing the experience that highly able kids would get at a real college. What is your familiarity with AP courses?

I teach one. 🙄 Also have had kids in various HS magnets and can compare AP and IB level courses. Also work with MC professors on some projects. Your bias is showing if you don’t think MC is a “real” college.

Okay. I'll bite. I took a Biology course at MC as a career changer. My adjunct professor revealed that her day job was teaching the AP version of the same class at a well-respected MCPS high school. I asked her how the two courses compared and her response was that she could cover more material in her AP course.

That being said, one of my other classes had a Dual Enrollment (Early College?) student in it from Northwood. She was a standout and very mature. I think she would have done fine in a magnet or W school as well.

NP
Like I said previously early college and dual enrollment are not the same.
Early college students cover a subject in a semester like regular college instead of year long for AP.

AP Bio receives credit for two college courses.

If and only if your college accepts it. Many don't now, and many others only accept it as a prereq rather than for credit.

MC has a transfer partnership list with many colleges, including the UMD system. Why is it so hard for people to understand and accept that MC students completing an AA or AS degree can then transfer in as juniors into UMD-CP Business school or Engineering school?

Kids are not guaranteed transfer into UMD. I know a few kids who did not get into UMD LEP from MC. They did get into other MD state schools, but not necessarily UMD.

MC students are guaranteed transfer to UMCP if they maintain a 3.0. Does this not apply to EC grads?

NP here. I think that because EC is relatively new, especially for a couple new majors, that MC and UMD haven't sorted out the relationship yet. UMD admissions in particular seems to be inconsistent about recognizing that EC is more than just dual enrollment. Last year my kid (on MC's Dean's list) got deferred from to RD to "see fall transcript". Then got admitted to L&S but not the LEP they applied to, even though they met both the guaranteed transfer requirements and the internal UMD admission to an LEP requirements. Two emails to various admissions/LEP folks about what courses kid would take as a junior with AA but not in LEP went ignored. But when we finally emailed the person in charge of internal transfers into the LEP, 4 hours later we got a new admissions letter with "Congratulations for admission to LEP!" (Kid chose another school, all credits transferred no problem.)

[Anonymous]

If you do early college are you still technically a student at your local school? As in, can you play on the HS athletic teams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any new thoughts for this program after two years since the previous discussions?

My kid who is now a W school 10th grader, is very interested in this program. I heard something good about this program from another kid who is now in an ivy league school. But that student is a highly motivated kid who would be successfully in any school.

I was also told that the MC early college is only half day (like 9am - 1pm). What do kids do in the afternoon?

My kid graduated 2023 and it was a great choice for them. It was closer than the magnet program they were being bussed to. They much preferred sleeping later and getting home earlier. Definitely liked having 4 classes going at a faster pace in one semester, rather than 8 classes spread out over a year. They weren't heavily involved at the HS due to the pandemic (10th grade was the virtual year) and had closer friends from ES and MS than HS, so switching to MC made sense.

From talking to other parents, kids that were on sports teams at their high schools and had neighborhood friends still maintained that connection to their home HS. After classes at MC, they did homework in the afternoon, then sports, and had evenings more free for hobbies. Kids didn't participate much in clubs, because those are often at lunch at the HS. Different families had different reasons for choosing EC, but everyone seemed really happy with the choice.

You can see college lists on the website, but they also have the full dual enrollment ceremony for students earning associates degrees posted. It includes where each graduate is attending college next - lots of kids at UMD-CP, as well as at other high ranking schools.
https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/high-school-students/dual-enrollment/degree-and-pathway-programs/early-college-program/index.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you do early college are you still technically a student at your local school? As in, can you play on the HS athletic teams?

Yes. You are still enrolled at your local HS and can play sports, go to events (home coming, prom) and still participate in your HS graduation ceremony. You still also go back to your HS for testing (PSAT, SAT), yearbook photos, and other stray things like that. It requires some communication with your counselor and grade level administration - I just paid close attention to the weekly principal's message and reached out if it seemed like something needed attention.