"You are a lot more independent in College Now," College Now student and senior Tal Dror said. Dror focused her curriculum on the sciences by taking advanced science classes.
Without a peer support system other than weekly meetings with guidance counselors, College Now students spend their senior year as full-time De Anza students. They cannot participate in MVHS sports or clubs whereas Middle College students can still play for MVHS sport teams and participate in some extra-curricular activities.
"You have options!" Wenus said. "You are not in for the whole semester."
Unlike high school classes, a typical college class is compressed to a 12-week quarter instead of semester classes.
"It is also good to get a head start to fulfill [undergraduate] general education requirements or if you know what you want to do later in life," Dror said. "Or if you don't know what to do, you can explore."
Middle College accepts 35 juniors and seniors each year and College Now, a much more competitive program, accepts 35 seniors district-wide. College Now also requires applicants to have at least a 3.5 GPA. Twelfth grade Middle College instructor Heather Porter explained the stricter requirements are because College Now is a much more self-disciplined and self-driven program.
"It's a different learning style," Dror said. "At De Anza, it's less about memorization and test-taking. You learn by actually doing it."
Wenus chose Middle College because she did not know that juniors can continue to study at De Anza in College Now next year after Middle College. Essentially, all participating students reapply to Middle College, or College Now if they chose to, after they complete junior year.
Both Dror and Wenus agreed that spending a year at De Anza gave them a unique experience that allow them to focus on learning for learning's sake on a higher level. College can come sooner than the summer after senior year.
