Courses will be conducted using a combination of asynchronous support materials and synchronous video conferencing seminars (e.g. Zoom) following established models that have proven successful for almost 20 years in delivering  high quality education to students around the world.

Courses are equivalent to courses taught on the campuses of MCA colleges to first-year students, with appropriate modifications made to adjust for the fact that courses are being taught online.  Success in these courses means that students would have been successful in the on-campus version of the course.

The goal of these courses is to provide students with rigorous online versions of what they would have received in person so that success in these courses provides a meaningful indicator of their true capability to do college work and to be successful in MCA colleges.

Students will receive credit for each course they take from the MCA university or college that provides the course.  Students will receive transcripts from those universities and colleges showing the courses completed, the credits earned, and the grades received

Class times are dependent on where students live. Classes typically occur during both the early morning and the mid-to-late evenings. Most classes will meet as real-time video conference seminars two days a week, with additional office hours available on other days. Typical class sessions are 90 minutes to 2 hours.

• Students may enter at any point in high school or in the year after they graduate.
• Students will be able to take up to 30 credits of coursework during their term of enrollment.
• Students completing at least 24 credits of course will be guaranteed admission to at least one of the MCA member colleges or universities.
• Participation in the program ends upon completion of 30 credits, matriculation at any college or university, or after one year has passed since the completion of high school

All classes, including lectures and seminars, are recorded and the recordings are available to enrolled students during the term.

Students are expected to have standard modern computers capable of using standard office productivity suites and video conferencing.  Students are required to have high-speed internet.

The courses offered are common across the different MCA universities and colleges and that either meet general education requirements or introductory requirements in popular major fields of study.  A full list is provided elsewhere.

For classes that require a laboratory component, students will use a combination of online simulations and physical labs offered on MCA university and college campuses during the summer session

You will be able to visit campuses both during the official summer programs and also as part of organized trips that will occur during the year.  Students wishing to visit campuses individually may do so.  Program staff members are available to help arrange the details of such visits

Exam mechanics are under the discretion of the instructor.  Students may be required to use in-person or online proctoring services or to take exams live during class time.

Access MCA students will receive comprehensive academic counseling and student support through academic advisors and success coaches.

To ensure that students in Access MCA are successful, each student will be assigned to a “Success Coach.”  These individuals are drawn from the ranks of MCA university and college undergraduates, who are familiar with the academic programs within the MCA and who have received six-months of training in the neuroscience of resilience.  The Success Coaches help students navigate courses and culture while helping to prepare them for the transition to on campus life within the MCA.  Success Coaches will meet individually with students several times a month and collectively with small groups of students each week.  Success Coaches will be responsible for ensuring that students receive all the support they need to be successful in the program.

Language coaches provide additional English-language support to students whose mother tongue is not English or who have not previously attended schools in which English is the primary language of instruction.  Language Coaches help to ensure that language is not a barrier to learning and success

Subject Coaches provide subject specific support to students who need additional support in specific subjects. They are either current upper division students or recent graduates and as such are well familiar with what is required to be success in MCA universities and colleges

Navigating any bureaucracy can be challenging.  Logistics Support personnel provide a single point of contact designed to help you get the answers you need without getting lost in the maze.

To apply students complete a short application which includes a personal statement and some short answer questions.  Students also need a letter of recommendation and their academic record from their current school.

Depending on your application, you may or may not be asked to take a standardized test. While not required, Access MCA takes a “documentary evidence” approach to admissions. We will review all material submitted and will factor it into the admissions decision. We do not require standardized tests for admission, but may request them if the admissions decision needs further evidence.

Students in the Accelerated Program generally complete the program in one calendar year, completing 24-30 credits during that time. Students in the Scholars Program may take up to 4 years to complete their studies typically taking 1 or 2 courses in most semesters. Students in both programs are able to ultimately complete a year of university coursework and earn guaranteed admission.

Tuition for Access MCA is $30,000. The tuition is the same for the Accelerated Program and the Scholars Program, since the main difference between the programs is how quickly students intend to progress from start to finish. Depending on the circumstances students associated with specific schools, companies, or programs may be eligible for scholarships and grants that will reduce the tuition. Information about such affiliations will come directly from the school, company, or group.

The tuition for Access MCA is all inclusive of all fees related to academic programs, academic advising, and success coaching.  Tuition does not include costs for textbooks, any required course-specific software, and any costs associated with travel and residential expenses.  Tuition does not include costs associated with students electing to receive optional additional support or services that may be offered, such as language coaches and academic coaches. 

Online summer course expenses are included in the base tuition.  Residential summer course instruction is included in the base tuition.  Expenses associated with travel, room, and board, as well as extra-curricular activities, are not included

After students are admitted to Access MCA they will complete an enrollment contract, an receive any scholarships or grants they have been awarded through their affiliations. The balance is payable upon commencement of the program. Students will receive a invoice from Access MCA with payment details

All students admitted to AccessMCA, whether to the Accelerated Program or the Scholars Program are guaranteed admission to an MCA university or college. Students who successfully complete the program, earning a minimum of 24 credits, will be matched with an MCA institution and will be able to matriculate as a Sophomore.

Because the courses students take are real courses, offered by real faculty, for real credit, on real transcripts, success in these courses is equivalent to success on an MCA university or college campus.  Students who complete their year of course work with grades of C or better in all of their courses, will have successfully completed the program, and will be allowed to continue into their sophomore year.  This is the same criteria used at the MCA colleges for students completing their freshman year on campus. 

In the matching process, students rank order their preferences for colleges and colleges rank order their preferences for students, and matches are made using a proprietary process that guarantees all students are matched with the college for which they are the best fit. All MCA universities and colleges will accept for full credit all courses completed in the program

Students are not required to matriculate to the MCA university or college to which they are matched.  Students are free to apply to schools outside the MCA system, although acceptance to those schools cannot be guaranteed.  Students are also free to transfer all courses completed in the program to whatever university or college they ultimately attend. The receiving institution will be the one to determine the applicability of the credit.

Students can transfer credit from Access MCA to any college.  Because the courses are taught by real faculty for real credit from leading Liberal Arts Colleges, they meet the gold standard of credit transferability. 

Colleges are increasingly disregarding Advanced Placement courses as insufficiently rigorous.  While they may be good enough for placement, such courses often do not earn credit towards graduation or major courses of study.  Transfer credits from leading Liberal Arts Colleges do not have this problem.

Yes, students can enter the program in Grade 9 or in Grade 12 or even Grade 13

Yes, students can complete their first year of college online while remaining in their home country.

Yes, the MCA program provides students with access to high-quality education and a broad range of academic options.

Yes, by completing their first year of college online, students can enter a member college as sophomores, saving both time and money.

Yes, the program fosters a sense of community among students, as they work together to achieve their academic and career goals.

Yes, students can enter the program in Grade 9 or in Grade 12 or even Grade 13

Yes, students can complete their first year of college online while remaining in their home country.

Yes, upon completion of their first year of college, students can bypass college admissions and enter a member college as sophomores, bringing all their courses with them.

Yes, the MCA program provides students with access to high-quality education and a broad range of academic options.

Yes, by completing their first year of college online, students can enter a member college as sophomores, saving both time and money.

Yes, the program fosters a sense of community among students, as they work together to achieve their academic and career goals.