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Program Timeline

:: Junior Year
:: Senior Year
:: During College

JUNIOR YEAR

Winter: ECforME application due by the school deadline
Students identified by their school fill out a one-page Early College for ME application and return it by the due date. On the application form, students indicate whether they are interested in taking a college course during their senior year.

Spring/Summer: College placement testing and college course registration
All participating students meet with program staff to schedule the college placement test. Schools decide which applicants may take an early college course during their senior year. Students who have school approval to take a fall semester college course (in the senior year) receive help with course registration from program staff.

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SENIOR YEAR

End of August: Early college courses
Students registered for fall semester early college courses attend college orientation and begin classes.

Fall: College application
Students complete college applications with help from staff. Schools designate Early College for ME scholarship applicants as nominees or alternates. Nominees receive a scholarship upon college acceptance and full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 credit hours) in a Maine community college program of study. Alternates for the scholarship also complete college applications. Plans and circumstances often change for students during the year and several scholarship alternates, if they are accepted into college, are likely to receive a scholarship. Students taking spring semester college courses register for them with the help of ECforME staff.

Winter: Early college courses, FAFSA
Spring-semester courses begin. All scholarship nominees and alternates complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and ensure that the colleges they are applying to have the necessary information. Filing the FAFSA is required to maintain ECforME eligibility.

Spring/Summer: Maintain contact with their Early College for ME representative
Scholarship nominees and alternates follow the progress of their FAFSA and college applications and stay in touch with program staff. Nominees and alternates accepted to college register for fall classes—a minimum of 12 credits. Nominees sign the Student Agreement for the scholarship and the Notice and Consent Form.

End of August: College orientation and semester start
Students accepted into college attend college orientation and begin their fall schedule. An alternate may still receive a scholarship if a nominee drops out. Scholarship recipients stay in touch with and have support from Early College for ME staff for each semester they receive the scholarship.

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DURING COLLEGE

Students who receive an Early College for ME scholarship and enroll in a program of study at a Maine community college for at least 12 hours of credit in the fall following high school graduation, will continue to receive the scholarship as long as they meet program requirements—up to two years. Early College for ME staff will help you along the way if you encounter challenges or have questions.