MCC’s Dual Enrollment Helps Student “Get Ahead in Life”

Middlesex Community College helped Eryn Rasmus “get ahead in life.” From Littleton, she started taking college-level classes through Dual Enrollment at Middlesex to get a jumpstart on her future plans and give herself a competitive edge when applying to four-year colleges.

“I wanted to have more control over my education,” Rasmus said. “I wanted to learn more than what the high school curriculum was providing. I also chose to come to MCC so that I could challenge myself during my junior and senior years of high school.”

While in the comfort of her high school environment, Rasmus was able to earn college credit and prove to herself that she could be successful. Calling her experience in her classes “positive,” she appreciated the amount of freedom and responsibility she was given as a student.

A peer tutor in English as well as a Blackboard Ambassador to support students in classes, Rasmus is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, MCC’s honor society. Participating in these programs showed her the resources and services that were available to her, as well as helped her navigate the college experience beyond classes.

About the value of getting college experience in high school Rasmus said, “students will be better prepared because they will already be accustomed to college life.”

At Middlesex, Rasmus was also able to build a foundation for art education by majoring in Studio Art. In her classes, she learned valuable new techniques to improve her craft and create pieces to add to her college application portfolio. Two MCC Professors whose classes influenced her art and learning were Angela Ales and Roneld Lores.

“Both of them helped me grow significantly and they gave me advice when I was putting together my portfolio for college applications,” she said. “Without them, I would not have been accepted to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y.”

Part of Rasmus’s time at the college was during the COVID-19 pandemic. While she had an overall positive experience with online learning, she realized she preferred to take classes on campus. For the Fall 2021 semester, Middlesex is offering a mix of on campus and online learning for students to choose options that work best for them and their schedules.

By offering flexible and affordable options and providing opportunities to explore majors and fields of interest, Rasmus believes MCC is a great place for students to start their academic journey.

“It does not matter if you already know what degree you want to pursue,” she said. “You will still get something out of it.”

To register for MCC’s Fall Mini-mester session II, starting on Monday, November 1, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register.

With 25 established partnerships with high schools across the region, Middlesex is ready to welcome new partners to its Dual Enrollment program. By providing general education courses required by most colleges and universities, Dual Enrollment allows high school and homeschool students an opportunity to earn college credit, seek enrichment beyond courses offered at the high school, and save money on tuition. For more information on Dual Enrollment at MCC, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/dualenroll/ or contact dualenrollment@middlesex.mass.edu.

The Art, Humanities and Communication pathway at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_artshum.aspx to discover your path at Middlesex.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!