MCC’s Honors Program Prepared Alumna for Transfer to Brandeis

Middlesex Community College alumna Sophie Brill Weitz believes in taking advantage of all that education offers. As a home school student, she started at Middlesex in the eighth grade. By age 17, Brill Weitz had earned her high school diploma and an associate degree, and was ready to transfer to Brandeis University.

“I really enjoyed my experience at MCC,” she said. “I learned so much and it prepared me to go on to a four-year university. I loved the small class sizes and the community that faculty and students fostered.”

From Bedford, Brill Weitz participated in MCC’s Dual Enrollment program, which gave her full access to campus resources and student support services. As a Liberal Arts and Sciences major, she experienced college-level courses from a young age – encouraging her love of learning across a number of disciplines.

“I was able to select courses that I was interested in and have more flexibility than attending a traditional high school,” she said. “At the same time, I completed all of the courses traditionally completed in high school that colleges expect applicants to have taken.”

Despite starting at a young age, Brill Weitz felt comfortable attending Middlesex, calling the college a “diverse and welcoming community.” In her first class, she had professor Stephanie Pesce for English 101 Honors, and loved it so much she followed it up with English 102.

“She was an incredible professor and I absolutely loved the course,” she said. “She was very supportive and went above and beyond to help her students.”

As part of the Commonwealth Honors Program – including in her Honors English classes – Brill Weitz had the opportunity to present a project at MCC’s annual Honors Poster Conference. She was also invited to attend the UMass Amherst Undergraduate Conference where she presented her research on “The Historical and Cultural Development of Adolescence in the United States.”

“I couldn’t believe that I got to present my poster alongside such accomplished UMass students and classmates,” she said. “I actually wrote about the experience in my college application essay. I learned how to research a topic and how to present it visually and verbally.”

Brill Weitz believes the opportunities she was provided from the honors program – in addition to the high-quality courses she took at Middlesex in a variety of subjects – helped her in her transition to Brandeis. Now a senior, she majors in Education Studies while triple minoring in Journalism; Social Justice and Social Policy; and Creativity, the Arts & Social Transformation. The key to balancing her schedule is to stay organized.

“I’m interested in many different fields and I really like to explore and discover new topics and ideas,” she said. “I’m a big believer in trying out classes in different departments to find what you’re most interested in.”

Another way for Brill Weitz to explore her fields of interest is to participate in Service-Learning experiences. While at Middlesex, she was able to volunteer at a preschool classroom in Chelmsford. Working alongside a supportive teacher, she learned firsthand what it felt like to work in a classroom by talking to students at lunch, reading them stories and building connections with them.

Through this experience – as well as in the other Service-Learning opportunities she participated in – she had the chance to “apply theory from classes in practical situations and to learn by doing.” The value of receiving these hands-on learning opportunities –as well as the sense of community and support from professors – is what makes Middlesex special for Brill Weitz.

“The professors care about their students and provide a supportive and educational experience,” she said. “For anyone planning to attend a four-year college, going to MCC first is a great way to save money and gain course credit and experience in a college setting.”

MCC’s Social Science program helps students go into the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_socsci.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a Social Science degree at Middlesex.

MCC is celebrating 50 years! If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join in on the 50th anniversary celebrations – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni/ for more information and to join the Alumni Association.

MCC’s accelerated eight-week Spring Mini-mester starts on Monday, March 29. Complete general requirements and earn credits with the same high-quality content, academic standards and number of instructional hours as courses scheduled in the traditional 15-week semester. To register, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

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!