Mount St. Mary’s University and St. John’s Catholic Prep expand opportunities for high achieving seniors through a dual-enrollment program that immerses students in real college courses and campus life.
When St. John’s Catholic Prep seniors step onto Mount St. Mary’s University’s campus each year, they’re stepping into more than college coursework. They’re stepping into their futures. Through a close partnership with the Mount’s Center for Catholic School Excellence (CCSE), top-performing students from St. John’s Catholic Prep immerse themselves in real university classes, campus life and the academic expectations of higher education long before receiving their high school diplomas.
Angela Mucci-Guido, director of the Center for Catholic School Excellence at the Mount, says the dual-enrollment program offers a powerful bridge between high school and college. “Our students come in motivated, curious and excited to learn,” she said. “What’s remarkable is the growth we see between their June orientation and when they meet with me for advising in the fall. By then, they’re walking differently, sitting differently and owning their educations with a new level of confidence.”
The dual-enrollment structure offers students the flexibility to enroll full time on campus as seniors or opt for a part-time schedule of two courses per semester. Regardless of the path, students gain individualized college credit that transfers directly into their future degree plan. Mucci-Guido says the program is especially beneficial for students who love to learn. “They’re self-determined, they’re excited and they tend to be very successful in their classes. They come in with passion, and we help them learn how to work through challenges. Putting those pieces together helps them paint a fuller picture of themselves as learners.”
That transformation is something Christy Gregorian, C’28, a St. John’s alumna and now a Mount undergraduate, knows firsthand. Christy’s brother had completed the program and encouraged her to try it. “He enjoyed it, and when I started taking classes here, I realized I liked the courses at the Mount even more than the ones at my high school,” she said.
Christy’s transition to the Mount came easily, something she attributes to strong preparation at St. John’s and the supportive environment created through the CCSE partnership. “I had a smooth transition, with very few hiccups,” she said. “The courses at St. John’s helped prepare me and being on campus taught me responsibility and independence early on.” She quickly took advantage of campus resources like the Makers House and peer tutoring, integrating herself into university life while still balancing involvement at her high school. “You can still stay connected to St. John’s,” she said. “Time management is key, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from doing the program.”
For Christy, exposure to college courses didn’t just build confidence, it clarified her academic direction. “Being here helped me figure out what I wanted to do and what I didn’t want to do earlier than a lot of people my age,” she said. Originally planning to attend a different calling, she found herself rethinking everything during her second semester in the program. “I fell in love with my classes, and that made me stay,” she said. Now she is majoring in entrepreneurship, minoring in communication and exploring a double major.
The partnership between the Mount and St. John’s Prep is strengthened by close collaboration and frequent communication, ensuring that students receive a level of support rarely found in similar programs. “They have a point person here,” Mucci-Guido said. “That individualized guidance and the strong relationship with St. John’s mean our goals are aligned and that students are truly cared for.”
Though students do sacrifice some aspects of a traditional senior year, both Mucci-Guido and Christy emphasize that the trade-off is meaningful. “It’s a steppingstone that’s challenging, exciting and incredibly rewarding,” Mucci-Guido said. “They learn to advocate for themselves, and they find their voice.”
Christy agrees. “Being here gave me a step forward from classmates who didn’t take advantage of the opportunity,” she said. “You learn to take the steps yourself and develop the tools to become responsible for your success. Getting that experience early made me so much more comfortable coming into college.”
For St. John’s Prep students, the CCSE dual-enrollment program doesn’t just offer college credit, it offers a head start in better understanding who they want to become. It’s an experience that, as Mucci-Guido puts it, “carries with them forever.”