Emily Morris is a typical teenager. She attends West Montgomery High School, runs cross country track, enjoys clogging at Studio J in Troy, works part-time as a waitress at Henry’s Tonight in Mount Gilead, and takes college courses online. More and more high school students are taking advantage of the opportunity to take college courses at Montgomery Community College (MCC) while still in high school. According to an informal poll taken among high school students attending MCC, it’s a smart thing to do. Students said it was a good way to get to know what college is all about. They also said, “It prepares you,” and “It’s a good opportunity.”

According to these savvy students, one of the primary reasons they are taking college courses now is, “it saves money.” Morris learned about taking college classes from her high school counselor and from other students who had taken classes at MCC. She is currently taking an online class through the Learn and Earn Online program, which is funded by the NC General Assembly as part of Governor Easley’s public school reform initiative. The Learn and Earn program covers tuition, books and fees. MCC offers other programs in which tuition is waived for high school students, including Huskins and Dual Enrollment. Students may take courses online or in the classroom on MCC’s campus, depending upon the program. According to Kathy Harris, Vice President of Student Services at MCC, each program is funded differently, and some programs do not cover the cost of fees or textbooks. “Students and parents should explore all the available options before choosing a program,” she says. Students like Morris can take their college transfer courses at MCC, graduate with an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree, and be eligible to transfer with junior status to any four-year institution in the North Carolina University System. Students may also choose from a growing list of private colleges and universities with which MCC has transfer agreements. High school students enrolled in classes at MCC have access to MCC’s Academic Advising Center, where students and their parents can talk to an advisor who can help them select the right courses for their chosen major and transfer institution. “All our college transfer courses will transfer,” says Harris. “However, not all college transfer courses are required for every major. If students take advantage of the Advising Center, they will not waste time taking courses that will not count toward their major.” Morris says she has not decided on a major yet, but is taking a general psychology course which is accepted in most programs of study. She says she enjoys the variety of having the online class in her regular schedule. “The best thing about online is the fact that you have a set schedule and know what’s due ahead of time,” Morris says. As a result, she has plenty of time to keep up with her classes and still has time for all her extracurricular activities. For a typical teenager, that’s what it’s all about. Typical teenagers know. It’s smart to take college classes at MCC while they’re in high school.