By: Jess Pike, Staff Writer
Students at the University of Southern Maine may have noticed the presence of high school students in their classrooms this semester. High school students have begun taking college level classes and earning credits before graduation in order to jumpstart their college careers, which offers them unique exposure to university culture before becoming full-fledged college students.
The program for enrolling in college-level classes at USM is called the Early Study Aspirations Program (ESAP), and eligible students include any public school or home-schooled residents of Maine that have not yet reached the age of 20 before the start of the school year, as well as students not taking high school courses but who are enrolled in a GED or comparable adult education program. This does not include any students who have already received a diploma and graduated from a postsecondary course.
The program offers students the ability to earn college credits, the possibility of reduced tuition when applying to college, and early integration into the campus lifestyle.
Helen Gorgas-Goulding, a student advisor at USM, says that the ESAP is a “great option for high school students and a good recruitment tool,” as well as having been proven to help increase students’ grades. Taking college classes can also let students participate in on-campus events and activities that could otherwise be inaccessible.
The program does cost money, but fee waivers can be provided to students when deemed necessary. The program fees differ based on the amount of credits taken, but it is usually around $250 per credit, which is approximately $750 for a three-credit class. There are also some mandatory fees for applying which cannot be covered by fee waivers. Depending on the number of credits a student takes, these include the Unified Fee, the Student Activities Fee, the Transportation and Parking Fee and the Student Health Fee.
According to the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI), about 60 percent of high school graduates go to college. Some high school students are already enrolled in USM, taking courses that vary, from English to women and gender studies to astronomy. There are certain requirements that have to be met in order to apply for these courses, such as high SAT scores, the recommendation of a high school guidance counselor and a B average or higher in their high school courses. Exceptions can be made, but only in certain cases.
In order to apply, a student needs to complete the ESAP application, request a copy of their transcript from their high school and have a copy of either SAT, PSAT, ACT or Accuplacer scores sent to USM. The SAT scores needed in order to apply for math or science courses have to be an SAT MATH score of 570 or above, a PSAT MATH score of 55 or above or an ACT MATH score of of 22 or above.
There is also a Dual Enrollment Program (DEP) taught by approved high school teachers in college subjects. Students can stay in their high school environment while still adjusting to college courses, while earning college credits concurrently.
USM offers a “Bridge Year” dual enrollment, which can include internships, summer academies, campus visits, job shadowing and up to 30 college credits during the junior and senior year of high school. This program can also give access to the university’s library and support services, such as the writing center and tutors.
There are plenty of options for high school students to take the initiative and enroll in classes at USM. The DEP is a way for students to do that without leaving their comfort zone, and the ESAP is for students looking to try something new. Either way, both are useful tools to help high schoolers prepare academically and emotionally for their college adventure.