On Thursday, February 9th, 2023, Owego Free Academy will be hosting a presentation on the Early Degree Program through Tompkins Cortland Community College. In the most recent years, this partnership with TC3 and its Early Degree Program has become an integral part of our academic pathways that are available to students wishing to pursue earning their Associate's Degree while in High School. Please see below for general information the Early Degree Program.
EARLY DEGREE
Early Degree is an option for ambitious high school students to complete the requirements for an Associate’s Degree while in high school. Early Degree students combine Concurrent Enrollment courses with CollegeNow Online courses, and occasionally on-campus and Advanced Placement courses, to fulfill an Associate’s Degree’s 60+ credits. Most courses are concurrent enrollment courses taken at the high school, allowing students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit for the same course. Requirements unavailable at the high school are taken online or on campus.
THE EARLY DEGREE STUDENT
Early Degree is an academically rigorous option that appeals to mature, highly-motivated students. The average Early Degree student graduates with honors from Tompkins Cortland with an average GPA of 3.54. Those who pursue the Early Degree should be certain of their college major and career goals, skilled at time management, ready to enter college at junior-level coursework, and willing to dedicate the required time, energy, and money to earning the required credits.
Most Early Degree graduates are pursuing careers that require double majors or graduate degrees. Past Early Degree students have reported enjoying advanced standing and priority registration in their baccalaureate programs, maintaining NCAA eligibility into their graduate programs, and adding international learning and internship experiences while staying on track for their degree.
AVAILABLE DEGREES
The majority of Early Degree students earn the Liberal Arts – General Studies A.S. Degree. Some students earn the Liberal Arts – Math Science A.S. Degree. These degrees allow students to use the wide variety of SUNY General Education courses available at their high schools to fulfill degree requirements.
ELIGIBILITY
Early Degree is within reach for students on track to earn at least 40-45 college credits (including any AP credits) at their high school. Though each student’s path to degree may be different, all must be on track to take the following courses at their high school:
- College English (ENGL101 and ENGL102) during their senior year. Typically, a high school uses a student’s overall English performance, English 11 course grade, and English 11 Regents score to determine eligibility for college English.
- At least one or two SUNY Gen. Ed. approved college-credit Math courses. (BUAD104 and MATH100 do not count).
- At least one or two SUNY Gen. Ed. Lab Science courses. (BIOL114 and ASTR101 do not count.)
- **Math/Science students also need Calculus I (MATH201) and two SUNY Gen. Ed. Lab Science sequences (BIOL101/102, CHEM101/102, BIOL104/105, CHEM107/108, PHSC104/105, or their AP equivalent) OR one Lab Science sequence plus MATH200 and MATH2022
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum required GPA on Tompkins Cortland transcript at end of junior year: 3.0.
- Minimum required High School average at end of junior year: 85.
- Meet with high school guidance counselor and College Now advisor by May 1st of junior year to solidify Early Degree plans.
For additional information, please refer to the link to learn more about the Early Degree Program through TC3.
Link: https://www.tompkinscortland.edu/academics/early-degree
Students that are interested in attending the presentation on February 9th, should sign up in the Guidance Office. The presentation will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be offered in the Collaboration Space in OFA.
We hope to see you there!
Kind Regards,
The Owego Guidance Department
Jen Farrell
Grades 10-12
Last Names A-I
Virtual Academy
Jen Fish
Grades 10-12
Last Names J-Z