The World of The Macomb Early College Program

Angel Bacol, Flash Reporter

College has always been a topic that stresses many juniors and seniors out. Will I get into a good college? Are my grades good enough for college? It is why the last two years of college is always aggravating. There are not many students who are willing to start college early, but there are students who are still in high school and are already taking college classes.

Starting in their junior year, the Early College of Macomb is said to provide students “with a jumpstart to their future,” according to their website. There are students roaming around our halls that can already be considered as college students. When asking one why they would want to take college early, I was replied with:

“Because I can earn an associate’s degree or 64 credits for free while I’m still in high school, which allows me to reach my goals quicker,” said Katlyn LaRue, junior.

College is a big deal for high school students, but to take it while still in high school? How do they deal with it? High school and college both contain classes that have different levels of difficulty. Although, there are Advance Placement classes that high school students can take; by taking the class and passing the AP test, they could gain college credit for the class. Would that equal to the level of difficulty in a regular college class?

“It depends on the class. AP English makes me want to cry but POIS was fairly easy. Although my Spanish 1270(2) was horrible,”  LaRue said.

With LaRue’s Spanish class being equivalent to Spanish 2, 3, and 4, no one would disagree to her statement. Although, it shows that no matter what class a student is taking, it will not be taught the same way. Whether it is held in a high school classroom or a college classroom. Many students already know what they want to become once they get out of college, so if they plan on taking the Macomb Early College Program, there has to be a class that would benefit them, right?

“Business, feminism, basic core classes, speciality classes, culture language, any type of art… You name it, they’ve got it,” said Tiarra Brewer, junior.

From the different classes that Macomb Early Community College provides, it allows students to not only get through college quicker but allows them to take courses that they might not be able to take as an Advanced Placement course in high school. With various types of college classes to take, it would be hard for students to limit which ones to take.

“Most students take 3 for junior year. Senior year, I’ll take more and my “13th” year, I’ll be a full time Macomb student,” Brewer said.

Early college students must have a busy schedule on their hands. They have to deal with high school classes and driving to Macomb Community College to deal with their college classes as well. Although, what does their everyday schedule look like? They only have three college classes, and they need to focus in high school as well.

“Personally, I have class from 7:30 – 10:45 at Fraser everyday. I scheduled my college class for Monday and Wednesday only so Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I can do whatever I like from 10:45 and on. I take 3 classes at Fraser including Seminar and take 3 classes at Macomb. My schedule is packed with extra curriculars and my some-what customizable schedule works for me,” LaRue said.

Well instead of a busy life, their schedules are flexible for the early college students. There seem to be multiple benefits in attending Macomb Early Community College. It makes some people wonder why some of the more motivated junior students did not try to take the opportunity.

“I didn’t find out about it until my friends told me about it. I really wished I found out about it sooner because I would’ve wanted to join,” said Makayla Bondy, junior.

While they are students who would want to be in the Macomb Early College Program, there are steps they must take to get accepted.

“I had to submit an online application, a form from my counselor, transcripts, test scores, and a basic college entry test. I had to also attend 2 summer seminars,” LaRue said.

It seems that if students want to be in the Early College Program, then they must work hard for it. There are standards and requirements that they must meet in order to get accepted.

“I think I could have gotten in. If you had to go through a lot of stuff to just get accepted, and you tried your best, then it’s something worth gaining, right?” Bondy said.