Academies and Start College Now offer the opportunity for students to take college-level courses while still in High School.
Start College Now
Start College Now allows eligible 11th and 12th grade students to enroll in courses taught by an NTC instructor.
The school district pays for tuition, course fees, and books for approved Start College Now courses that are not comparable courses at the high school. Please note that additional fees, including testing exams, health requirements, and other materials may not be covered. Check with your individual school district as to their policy.
High schools can require students to reimburse the cost of a dropped or failed SCN class. This decision is up to the high school district. Check your high school’s policy.
NTC courses taken through Start College Now appear on your college transcript.
Eligibility Requirements
The following 11th and 12th grade Wisconsin public high school students are eligible to apply for Start College Now:
- Must have completed 10th grade. 10th grade students in the spring semester can apply for the upcoming fall when they will be in 11th grade.
- Must be in good academic standing and have no disciplinary/enrollment issues.
- Must have approval from the high school and parent/guardian.
- Needs to display maturity and self-motivation appropriate for completing college-level coursework.
Please note:
- Students who attend a private high school or are homeschooled are ineligible for the Start College Now program.
- Most NTC courses use the online learning platform Canvas. Canvas may not always be compatible with Chromebooks or some courses.
- Start College Now students are considered college students in the eye of the technical college.
Student Stories
Allison Klesmith: One Student, Two Graduations, Endless Possibilities
Resources
Start College Now Application
- Meet with your high school counselor to determine if Start College Now is right for you.
- Students submit a completed and parent/guardian signed Start College Now Application to their high school by March 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester.
- High schools approve and send SCN applications to wittwhybrow@ntc.edu. Check with your high school as to their individual procedure.
- Submitting an application does not automatically enroll a student. Applications are reviewed by NTC to ensure students meet course requirements. Next steps in order to register for classes will be communicated by email to the student (to the personal email address on the SCN application) and high school.
- Once registration requirements are met and a student is enrolled, a welcome email will be sent to the student’s personal email with a copy of their schedule, important information, and directions to access NTC platforms. Courses are available on a first-come first serve basis, and seats cannot be held. If a course is full, a student may be waitlisted.
Start College Now Course Options
Start College Now Course options can be viewed in our Start College Now Coursebook or through our course search to view course availability. Please pay attention to course prerequisites.
Start College Now FAQs
View our Start College Now Frequently Asked Questions for answers to common questions.
It is recommended that students speak with their school counselor if they are interested in taking courses through Start College Now.
Accommodations
If a student has an IEP or 504 Plan and would like to have similar supports for their NTC class, they can fill out the Application for Accommodations.
Once we receive their application, a member of our Disability Services team will be in touch to schedule an intake. High school accommodations do not automatically transfer to NTC. Students must apply for accommodations through NTC in order to start this process.
Academies
Academies provide an opportunity for students to take a group of college-level courses related to their future career plans. Through partnerships between NTC and high schools throughout our district, students are able to either earn a degree from NTC or earn a significant number of credits toward a degree, all at no cost to the students. In addition, to ensure their success, participants receive dedicated support from NTC’s Pre-College Specialist. Courses are offered through the Start College Now program and require school district approval.
Academies can be customized based on program interest.
Student Stories
- Fire Academy Introduces High School Students to Life-Saving Profession
- NTC Academies Give High School Students College Opportunities
Resources
- Academy Offerings by School
- Agriculture Academy Flyer
- CNA — What You Need To Know
- Diesel-Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Flyer
- Early Childhood Academy Flyer
- Essentials of Industry Academy Flyer
- Manufacturing Academy Flyer
- Teaching Academy Flyer
- University Transfer Info Sheet
- Welding Academy Flyer
Have Questions?
Please contact Crystal Witt-Whybrow with any questions relating to Academies or Start College Now.
