Madison Area Technical College announced on Apr. 17 that its Start College Now program is providing high school students with the opportunity to earn college credits before graduation, at no cost to them.
The program is open to all high school students and aims to help participants access classes not offered at their schools, explore new interests, and get a head start on higher education. Students can attend nearby Madison College campuses in Fort Atkinson, Portage, Reedsburg, and Watertown.
Michaela Lewellin, a pre-health pathway student from Waterloo High School who participates in the program at the Watertown Campus, shared her experience: “I started classes at Madison College in the first semester of my senior year, and I have been enrolled full-time for both semesters.” She added that she will graduate having completed 26 college credits: “I took 13 credits in the first semester and 13 in the second semester.”
Lewellin described her favorite classes as anatomy and physiology because they interest her and make learning enjoyable: “My professor and classmates make the class really fun!” Reflecting on balancing academics with extracurricular activities such as wrestling, she said her days involve attending class, doing homework or spending time with family or friends after practice. She also addressed initial concerns about transitioning to college-level work: “Yes! I was so nervous to start taking college classes because everybody tells you that college is so much harder than high school. It is, but it’s not as scary as it seems if you put in effort. I have been able to keep the same grades as I had in my high school classes.”
Lewellin noted that taking a CNA class during her junior year helped confirm her interest in nursing: “As this year goes on, I’m finding through my anatomy and psychology classes that I really want to do nursing with children.” For other students considering Start College Now she said: “I would say absolutely go for it! It’s a better experience than I could have imagined… You need to be ready to put in a bit more effort but don’t be scared that it’s going to consume your whole life.” She expressed pride in making honor roll while managing both high school and college coursework.
Madison Area Technical College extends its educational reach across south-central Wisconsin according to the official website. The institution features state-of-the-art facilities designed for practical training according to the official website and offers more than 190 associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, apprenticeships programs along with online options according to the official website. The college provides open access higher education aimed at fostering lifelong learning across diverse communities according to the official website.
Dr. Jennifer Berne served as president of Madison Area Technical College alongside collaboration from its District Board of Trustees according to the official website. Applications are now being accepted for Start College Now opportunities for the 2025-26 academic year.
