Jacqueline Tammaro first learned about Montgomery County Community College’s Dual Enrollment Program when she was a sophomore at Pottsgrove High School.

“A representative from MCCC came into our classroom to talk about the program,” Tammaro recalls. “I decided to enroll in my first dual enrollment class because I thought it would be a great opportunity to get started on my college credits.”

Through MCCC’s Dual Enrollment Program, high school students can get a head start on their college education by taking courses that count toward both their high school and undergraduate degrees. Students can take classes at their high school, online or at MCCC in the evenings, on weekends and during the summer.

To get started, Tammaro tried an Introduction to Psychology course taught at her high school. Feeling confident after taking the course and earning a good grade, she decided to take two English courses through the Dual Enrollment Program before graduating. Following her graduation from Pottsgrove, Tammaro went to Syracuse University and was able to transfer all of her MCCC credits. When she later switched schools to Temple University, she was able to transfer the credits from both Syracuse and MCCC and not lose any time earning her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications.

Students may transfer MCCC credits to many colleges and universities across the country in accordance with their policies. To help streamline the transfer process, MCCC has agreements with 35 Pennsylvania four-year colleges and universities. Additionally through MCCC’s University Center partner institutions, students have the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on MCCC’s campuses or online without having to travel anywhere else.

In addition to earning college credits, MCCC’s Dual Enrollment Program prepared Tammaro academically for the work she would be doing in college.

“When you take dual enrollment courses, you prepare yourself for the demand of college courses,” Tammaro said about her experience. “What I learned from MCCC and attending two four-year institutions is that a lot of freshman are not prepared for the pace and demand of college courses and can fall behind. Having the knowledge of what college professors expect from their students will benefit you in the long run.”

While going to Temple University, Tammaro reconnected with MCCC, this time through a part-time summer job in the Student Success Center at West Campus in Pottstown.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn about working in higher education,” she said. “When the summer was over, I returned to Temple for my senior year, but continued to work at West during my winter break.”

When Tammaro was looking for a Marketing & Communications internship in her spring 2019 semester, her mentor and supervisor at MCCC, Assistant Dean of Student Services Amy Auwaerter, connected her with MCCC’s Marketing & Communications Department, where she gained invaluable hands-on experience in her field.

“At this internship, I learned an immense amount in the marketing and communications field, from writing copy for press releases and the external website to communicating with designers on certain creative pieces for the college,” she said.

The internship at MCCC helped to launch Tammaro’s career. Following her graduation from Temple, Tammaro landed a paid social media internship with Evoke KYNE in Philadelphia, a global health communications and public relations agency, where she is working on social media projects for clients.

“While I was employed at MCCC, I saw a lot of individuals who accomplished so much while being dual enrollment students. I always believed in working the hardest you can in school, because in the end, your hard work will be noticed,” she said.

In addition to Dual Enrollment, MCCC offers other academic programs to help students succeed after high school. MCCC’s highly regarded Academic Test Preparation Program prepares students for the SAT and ACT exams. MCCC’s Micro-Credential program provides mini-qualifications that demonstrate skills or knowledge in specific areas, such as cybersecurity, massage therapy and culinary arts. Students can learn about different career fields while earning micro-credentials along the way.