For many high school seniors the transition from high school to college can be quite intimidating. To help calm their nerves some students have opted to enroll in college-level courses, visit college campuses, attend college fairs and speak to guidance counselors about their career goals. Wilmington University understands the importance of helping high school students make a comfortable transition from high school to college. The University has a strong partnership with Tech Prep and has more than 90 Tech Prep articulation courses in high schools throughout the state. Additionally, the University offers college level courses at two Delaware high schools, holds college fairs for high school students and is in the process of expanding its partnership efforts.
For the past four years Wilmington University has been offering college level courses to high school juniors and seniors at Middletown High School. Students can choose from a variety of subjects that will help prepare them for a college curriculum.
“Last year we decided to offer the college level courses at Middletown High in a hybrid format, meaning students spend 50 percent of their class time doing online activities and 50 percent of their time doing in-class activities,” said Dr. Pete Bailey, assistant vice president of administrative affairs at Wilmington University. “Students meet in class once a week in the evening and then do the rest of their class work online. We found this format was especially beneficial to high school students who already have a full workload including after school activities.”
The high school students are offered dual credit for completing the course, meaning they will receive credit towards high school graduation and will also receive college credit.
Layton Preparatory School in New Castle, Delaware recently partnered with Wilmington University to offer their high school seniors the chance to earn college credit for enrolling in Psychology 101. Wilmington University works with Middletown High School and Layton Preparatory School to provide reduced tuition for three credit college-level courses. All of these courses are taught by Wilmington University faculty.
In addition to offering college-level courses, Wilmington University invites high school students from across the region to attend Delaware College Night, a college fair located at the New Castle campus. Last year’s College Night featured more than 100 colleges and universities from across the nation and was co-sponsored by the University and Higher Education Referral of Delaware. The event was free and was open to the public and offered prospective students the chance to meet admissions officers and ask questions about college entry procedures, programs of study, financial aid and scholarship opportunities. This year Wilmington University will hold College Night from 7 to 9 p.m., March 4 at the New Castle campus.
For more information call Steve Miller at the Higher Education Referral of Delaware at 302-697-2107.
