MCC’s Dual Enrollment Prepares High School Students for College

In Middlesex Community College’s Dual Enrollment program, high school students receive valuable opportunities to enhance their academic experience. Taking concurrent courses for high school and college credit allows students to better prepare for college and to give themselves a competitive edge in applying for – and succeeding in – higher education.

Middlesex provides Dual Enrollment students with full access to campus resources. In the pandemic, this includes remote services through the libraries, Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE), peer tutoring, and advising – who can help students transfer to four-year schools. Ellen Grondine, MCC’s Dean of K-16 Partnerships, Academic & Student Affairs, calls Dual Enrollment a “team effort.”

“Beyond the opportunity to earn college credit or the economic benefits of saving families thousands of dollars, we aim to teach students early on how to leverage the many resources and support available to our students at MCC,” Grondine said. “We know this will contribute to their long-term academic and personal success.”

Anne Ford, an English Teacher at Innovation Academy Charter School in Tyngsboro, has been teaching MCC Dual Enrollment courses since she began at the school in 2018. Her classes include English Composition I, Classics of Children’s Literature, Modern Drama and Crime & Punishment in Literature. Ford believes MCC’s Dual Enrollment provides “an incredible opportunity” for students.

“Students taking Dual Enrollment courses are investing in their own future,” she said. “They are challenging themselves to become better students now, but also setting themselves up for future success as an undergraduate. They are developing skills that will benefit them in college.”

Ford believes there are many benefits of concurrent Dual Enrollment, including not having to take extra courses in addition to a normal workload, potentially boosting their weighted GPA, and taking introductory college courses while still in the comfort of familiar surroundings at their current high school.

“It has been my experience that students rise to the challenges of Dual Enrollment courses, and are eager to enroll in more Dual Enrollment courses as soon as their first ends,” Ford said. “Through the Middlesex Dual Enrollment program, students establish their college transcript, expand their skills, and save money on college courses all while still in high school. Honestly, what's not to love?”

Jesena Kalabokis is a junior at Innovation Academy Charter School who has already taken several of MCC’s Dual Enrollment course offerings. She was interested in challenging herself as she prepares to enter college and adjust to new expectations.

“I think Dual Enrollment will help me when I get to college because I will have a good idea of what will be expected of me,” she said. “It also might help to alleviate some of the financial burden that comes with college since I am already earning college credit in high school.”

Kalabokis – who is interested in studying journalism in college – has taken Dual Enrollment courses that sparked her interest, including several English classes and an Introduction to Psychology course. She appreciates having access to these courses and has so far risen to meet the expectations required of the more rigorous coursework.

“It's easy to sign up for since we take the classes through our school,” she said. “You might be able to take less classes in college since you are earning college credit. It is a great option if you are a student who enjoys being challenged.”

According to Grondine, Ford and Kalabokis’ experiences are what MCC’s Dual Enrollment strives to provide to students. With 25 established partnerships with high schools across the region, Middlesex is at the ready to welcome new partners.

Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/dualenroll/default.aspx for more information on Dual Enrollment at MCC, or contact dualenrollment@middlesex.mass.edu.

MCC’s Spring semester starts on January 26. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration or call 1-800-818-3434 to register for courses.

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!