University College at Rockland Enrolls 40 High School Aspirations Students This Spring

Fri, 02/23/2018 - 3:15pm

During this current spring term University College at Rockland is serving 40 local high school students who are simultaneously enrolled in both high school and college. Students from Oceanside High School, Medomak Valley High School and Camden Hills are participating.

High School Aspirations (HSA) is an early college program funded through the Department of Education and the University of Maine System. It allows any junior or senior in Maine to take up to 2 university classes each semester tuition free.  The only cost to students is the purchase of textbooks.

High school students are currently enrolled in College Writing, Introduction to Literature, Public Speaking, Debate, General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Statistics and Introduction to Psychology, all classes which meet live at URock.  Students earn college grades which then transfer back to become a part of their high school transcript.

Proving that a high schooler can already do college level work is important in the college admissions process.  Colleges look favorably on applicants who have already earned college credit while still in high school.  Students who may be fatigued with high school are often re-energized with the college experience which includes new student and faculty relationships, and a fresh learning environment.

Taking college courses while in high school can also be a tremendous cost savings. Students may start at a higher level and speed up time to degree completion. Some high school students at UC Rockland have moved on to colleges within Maine and beyond with as much as 24 credit hours, or two full semesters of college level work completed.

Registration for the summer and fall terms begins in late March.  Interested students should speak to both their high school guidance counselors and academic advisors at University College at Rockland (596-6906) to plan for HSA enrollment.  More information is available at: https://learn.maine.edu/get-started/aspirationsearly-study-high-school-students/