It’s common to hear students talk about how their classes bore them, so what if there was a way for students to take the class they find interesting while also earning college credits? Early College is a program designed for high school students who want to get a head start on their academic journey by earning their associate degree through dual-enrollment courses taken at Frederick Community College (FCC). The program offers a firsthand look at campus life, provides valuable early exposure to college expectations, and helps students build confidence as they prepare for their future education.
Why Should a Student Join?
A Head Start on a Student’s Journey
During the students two years at Frederick Community College (FCC), the average amount of credits they can take is 13–18 per semester. Every degree will be different, but most require around 60 credits, roughly two years. If students are only planning to complete an associate degree, they can finish it during high school. If students want to pursue a bachelor’s degree afterward, that’s only another two years left.
When considering this program, students should know what they would like to major in and whether there credits are transferable to there desired college or university. Because students can choose from a wide range of subjects, Early College allows them to explore different fields. This early exploration helps students discover what they enjoy and what they may want to pursue after high school.
Money
Early College is significantly less costly than attending college after high school. A standard associate degree at a public institution for undergraduate students typically costs about $20,000–$33,000 for two years, including books (UMD undergraduate admissions). With Early College, that cost can be reduced to just $3,000 for two years, while still earning a degree and receiving a quality education.
Application Process
When applying, first fill out the application form that everyone who attends FCC needs to do then there is a section in the form where students apply for early college where they have to enter emails for at least two teachers and one counselor. In April students will get an email to see if they were selected for an in-person interview which should only last about 15 minutes. There will be a note sheet of the website where students can prepare for there interview. All students should have all information filled out on the form correctly.
College courses are not made easier necessarily for the high school student. Depending on the classes they take, it can require hours of constant studying. If the student struggles with remembering assignments, due dates, or often need extensions, then this program may not be the best fit for them. If the student is planning to do Career Technology Center (CTC), they cannot do early college.
After interviewing two current students in the program, both mentioned the subtle shock they experienced after their first exams.
Yvonne Nguyen, class of 2026 shared how difficult classes can be for some students.
“Prepare to be humbled… many people I know ended up getting Bs and Cs and even Ds after being straight-A students in high school,” Nguyen said.
Andre Philips class of 2028 said,”you’re outside of the class for a significant amount of time. You need to stay communicated with your teachers.”
All classes are on campus, which means transportation would be necessary to and from classes, unless the student is taking online courses. Some classes will also have mandatory attendance. Furthermore, keeping track of absences will be entirely the students responsibility.
Vanni Thakar, a current junior majoring in computer science, shared that she chose early college because she felt that she wasn’t getting the level of education she was ready for. Additionally, Thakar expressed how her first semester was going well. However, Thakar’s biggest challenge with going to early college was leaving behind her friends in high school, but she explained that the growing ambition of the people around her made it easy to adjust.
More Information/Resources:
Applications are open from February first to March 15 for the 2026-2027 school year
For more detailed information go to the student handbook for a better description of classes, etc.
