CCBC Student, General Studies and Early College Access Program
Why wait? Maddison earned her high school diploma and associate degree together, thanks to CCBC’s Early College Access Programs.
Maddison has always loved school. As a driven high school student at Perry Hall High School in Baltimore County, she initially considered taking AP classes to earn college credit. But a guest speaker in her Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college prep class opened her eyes to a smarter, more direct route: the Early College Access Program (ECAP) offered in partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools and CCBC.
“The speaker told us that she earned her associate degree by her sophomore year of high school through the ECAP dual credit program,” shares Maddison. “That’s when I realized AP classes can be stressful and don’t always result in college credit. Choosing ECAP to earn early college credit just made more sense to me.”
By enrolling in ECAP, Maddison was able to take dual enrollment classes at CCBC, earning both high school and college credits with each class she took. While she initially had concerns about being the youngest person in her college classes, she soon connected with other ECAP students and adults in her STEM classes. She also found support from CCBC faculty, including English professor Andrew Rusnak, whom she names “my biggest supporter,” and biology professor Jennifer Laing, whom she refers to as, “my idol.”
ECAP gave her the independence and freedom to round out her time with a job in health care, a decision that would further solidify her choice to pursue a career in health care.
“When I started working at MedStar, it clicked that I could work in a hospital for the rest of my life. Seeing doctors save people’s lives is a feeling I’ll never forget,” says Maddison.
Still, having an adult schedule meant adjusting. She had to learn how to manage her time and fast.
“Once I got into the flow of balancing everything, it all became pretty easy to manage,” she shares, admitting, “It was a lot, but I loved it.”
Beyond providing her with new experiences and support, ECAP also helped out financially. With two older siblings in college and plans to pay her own way through her bachelor’s degree, the relief was welcome.
“ECAP saved me so much time and money,” she says.
Not only did I get a discounted rate through ECAP, getting two years of college out of the way in high school makes getting my bachelor’s degree that much easier.
In Spring 2025, Maddison earned both a high school diploma and an associate degree in general studies. She’ll transfer to Salisbury University in the fall—with junior status—where she’ll continue her path to becoming a neonatologist.
Her advice to others considering ECAP? “I feel like a lot of students don’t realize they can earn an associate degree in high school. If they knew, more would do it,” she says. “It’s hard work, but it’s possible, and totally worth it.”