Middlesex Community College: MCC Dual Enrollment Student Is A Greater Lawrence Tech Standout

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

4/1/2021

A high school senior at Greater Lawrence Technical School (GLTS), Bridget Severino is taking college-level courses at Middlesex Community College. In MCC’s Concurrent Dual Enrollment program, Severino is getting a head start on her college experience.

Severino – who was nominated by GLTS for Technical Student of the Year Award – believes that being exposed early to the expectations, coursework and resources of college in the comfort of her high school environment gives her an advantage as she continues her education.

“You are getting affordable college-level classes done on a schedule that you are used to,” she said. “It will make it easier to manage.”

The prerequisite courses she is taking through Middlesex also apply to her high school diploma. Having taken MCC’s World Civilization After 1500 and English Composition I and II classes, she believes she will be better prepared for when she attends a four-year college or university.

“These classes have helped me become more academically inclined at a faster rate,” she said. “I understand different world topics more through my MCC history course. It is truly eye-opening knowing how countries have established themselves throughout these many centuries.”

GLTS is in its second year of partnering with MCC to offer Dual Enrollment courses, according to Gregory Haas, Assistant Principal of GLTS. The school is interested in continuing its partnership with Middlesex, as well as expanding the opportunities available to students.

“Providing students access to programming that supports their post-graduate plans is integral to our mission of ensuring that students are college and/or career-ready,” he said. “Through Dual Enrollment, we have had students graduate from GLTS having completed almost half of what would be their freshmen year at college. Not only does this give students a jumpstart in terms of course completion, but they are also able to earn credits at a deeply discounted rate, reducing the eventual burden of student loans and further preparing them for post-graduate success.”

Students who participate in the Dual Enrollment program at Middlesex receive full access to campus resources, including remote services through the Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE), peer tutoring and academic and transfer advising.

Severino has taken advantage of the services provided by the MCC Libraries. There is access to more advanced databases for her to find sources beyond what she would find online herself. Overall, she “would recommend Dual Enrollment and Middlesex to other students.”

After she graduates from GLTS, Severino wants to continue her education to study Biology while working part-time as a Medical Assistant to pay for her own education. She feels prepared to be able to balance her work with her school responsibilities thanks to her experience at GLTS, and is ready to explore more topics related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in both her studies and work.

“I am a part of a system that has one goal – providing the best care to the patient,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do this for a while until I am able to become an Anesthesiologist. Being a Biology major is important to me – it was one of my favorite subjects in school. Wanting to become a doctor meant that being in STEM would help that tremendously.”

Her interest in STEM comes from wanting to learn about the environment, and better understand how to help the planet and other people.

“Being in STEM means that I get to be a part of a community of forward thinkers,” she said. “People who want to create and change the world for the better – new innovations and inventions that can change anybody’s life.”

As for how she will balance her work, Severino tries to “just go with the flow” and recommends embracing the opportunity to learn.

“There are always people who feel like they are not smart enough for certain things because they are afraid of being confused about a topic they have never been exposed to before,” she said. “While it may be scary, it can change your life forever.”

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.

MCC’s STEM programs help 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. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_stem.aspx for more information and to discover your path to a degree in STEM at Middlesex.

With three-week, five-week and eight-week sessions, MCC’s Summer semester helps students fit education into their busy lives. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register.

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!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.