Transitioning from Virtual High School to College: Connections Academy Graduate to Share her Experience in Live Twitter Chat

How does virtual high school prepare teens for college? Can online school help kids get ready for careers? Is the transition to college difficult for a virtual school student? Parents and students can find out the answers to these questions and more by joining a live Twitter chat with Jamie Rose, 2012 virtual high school graduate and current college freshman, on Thursday, May 9, from 8 to 9 p.m. EST.

Jamie, who switched to Arizona Connections Academy during her sophomore year of high school and is wrapping up her freshman year at Simmons College in Boston, will be on hand during Thursday’s Twitter chat to answer questions and share how virtual school was beneficial in preparing for college.

“It helps to already know what learning and studying methods work best for me,” Jamie said. “As a virtual school student, I learned that I have my own style of taking in information that works well, and in a bricks-and-mortar school I didn’t have much freedom to discover that.”

What: Live Twitter Chat—From Virtual High School to College

How: To see the discussion, follow @ConnectionsAcad on Twitter, then search for the hashtag #AskConnections. To Tweet questions during the chat, use hashtag: #AskConnections.

When: Thursday, May 9, from 8 to 9 p.m. EST        

Who: The general public is invited to join the Twitter conversation as college freshman and 2012 Connections Academy graduate Jamie Rose answers questions.

Connections Academy schools offer a challenging, standards-based alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar school with a full-time virtual school program that combines certified teachers and acomprehensive curriculum with technology tools and community experiences to create an individualized approach to education.

During her virtual education experience at Connections Academy, Jamie was able to engage inchallenging curriculum and AP classes, as well as enjoy more flexibility to participate in extracurricular activities including swimming, taking care of her horses, and being the vice-president of her local 4-H. Jaime said the time management skills she learned as a virtual school student help her manage her busy schedule, which includes studies as a biology major, a campus job and playing rugby.

Connections Academy’s high school program provides students access to full-time, licensed guidance counselors and a host of other college and career readiness initiatives including: “Career Chat” webinars, field trips to colleges and college fairs, ACT/SAT prep, among others. Connections Academy graduates have been accepted to more than 300 different colleges and universities including Williams College, Vassar College, Notre Dame University, Duke University, The College of William and Mary, Boston University, New York University, and more. Additional information can be found at www.ConnectionsAcademy.com/Teens —a website designed specifically for teens (ages 13-18) to learn what to look for and expect in an online high school.