Sinclair Community College’s average student age is 27 years old. With college programs opening more doors for high school students, that number might change.
Programs like Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) allows students with a minimum 2.5 GPA to enter Sinclair during their freshmen year of high school, according to Deborah Mosher, administrative assistant of the PSEO program.
“This program is a great way for students to get college credit and the full college experience,” Mosher said.
Mosher, who assists more than 400 students in the PSEO program, understands that some students can be a little apprehensive about attending Sinclair.
“A lot of (high school) students don’t expect to be in class with other Sinclair students,” Mosher said. “This can be overwhelming to some. That’s why I recommend the (Mason) Courseview (Center), because it’s smaller than the downtown campus. It may be a better place for some students to start.”
Amanda Phillips, a junior at Brookville High School who is in the PSEO program, said she understands first-hand the apprehension Mosher speaks of.
“At first I was intimidated by the sheer size of Sinclair versus my high school,” Phillips said. “Coming to campus was kind of scary.”
Phillips, who hopes to have her associate’s degree when she finishes high school, said she understands what it takes to be successful in college after a couple of quarters at Sinclair.
“You must have a strong work ethic to attend college. The work load is a lot heavier than high school,” Phillips said.
Mosher said the PSEO program is just one way that students can enter college while in high school.
“If you’re in high school you must register through a program to attend Sinclair. The pre-college Web site, on Sinclair’s homepage, lists many different programs students can apply for,” Mosher said.
Eugene Turner, a junior at the Ponitz Career Technology Center, enrolled at Sinclair through the Senior-to-Sophomore program.
“My counselor at Ponitz thought the Senior-to-Sophomore program would be a great opportunity for me since I maintained a 3.5 GPA in my high school,” Turner said.
Turner, who wants to major in the medical field at The Ohio State University, said he sees this as an opportunity to help Dayton Public Schools.
“I get the opportunity to go back to Ponitz and tell other juniors about my experience attending Sinclair,” Turner said. “That way they will be able to see past what the public schools offer: A chance to experience college life.”