Register now. Montgomery College offers associate's degrees and certificates. An associate's degree requires completion of a 60- to 70-credit combination of courses (generally, about 20 courses). A certificate is a shorter program (minimum of 12 credits) focusing on the development of specific skills.
If you have ever applied to Montgomery College in the past, you do not need to apply again. However, if you have not taken a class in the last four years, you will need to reactivate your student account . I am a high school student interested in taking college courses at Montgomery College.
According to the National Association for Law Placement, 53% of law school graduates who are 36 years old or older go into private practice or join firms with fewer than 10 attorneys. Only 17% join firms that employ more than 250 attorneys. Examine your goals.
A complete and updated list of the official regulations can be viewed in the College’s Policies and Procedures, posted online at www.montgomerycollege.edu/pnp. Definition of Full-Time Student A full-time student at the College is defined as one who is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours (billing hours) per semester.
The cumulative GPA, which factors in courses taken throughout a student’s career at Montgomery College, is calculated by dividing the total number of quality grade points earned in all semesters by the total number of credit hours.
To qualify as a candidate for the associate’s degree, a student must have earned a minimum of 60 hours of academic credit, which must include (a) the General Education requirements (see the Curricula section of this catalog) and (b) all courses required in the curriculum elected by the student.
Academic Standing. Students are expected to maintain a level of competent achievement in their courses. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for a student to achieve and remain in good academic standing. Students not in such standing will be placed on academic alert, academic restriction, or suspension as appropriate.
A student’s GPA is calculated by multiplying the number of credit hours in a certain course by the appropriate number of quality points (4 for an A, 3 for a B, etc.) and then dividing that number by the course’s credit hours.
A three-credit lecture course may meet three days a week for 50 minutes each session, two days a week for 75 minutes each session, or once a week for 150 minutes. Condensed courses (same total hours of instruction but taught over fewer weeks) are also available.
A credit hour or semester hour is equivalent to approximately 15 hours of lecture, 30 hours of laboratory or studio, or 45 hours of an alternative instructional situation, such as an internship. Fall and spring courses are usually taught for 14-15 weeks, including final examinations. A three-credit lecture course may meet three days a week for 50 minutes each session, two days a week for 75 minutes each session, or once a week for 150 minutes. Condensed courses (same total hours of instruction but taught over fewer weeks) are also available. Two summer sessions offer courses varying in length from four to eight weeks. A winter session offers a limited number of intensive courses over a three-week period.
Student Cumulative Records. Any past or present student cumulative record as maintained by the College is considered confidential, and access to the record is limited to the current student/College alum, or those persons who have legitimate requests for the information contained in the record.
Submit the admissions application if you have not previously done so. There is a one-time application fee of $25. Have your official transcript sent to the Office of Records and Registration.
Montgomery College uses the Accuplacer, Accuplacer-ESL, and ALEKS tests to assess students on their reading, English, and math skills. These placement scores help counselors and academic advisors recommend courses that are appropriate for you. You must take the assessment test unless you are exempt.
Dual Enrollment is available to advanced high school students admitted to Montgomery College. Select students are enrolled in college courses while still attending high school. Students may enroll in a variety of courses at the college, provided they meet the Dual Enrollment standards.
Degree-seeking students at Montgomery College can earn credit and advanced standing for prior learning. You may be able to use college-level course work that you have already completed to satisfy degree requirements and reach your educational goals in a shorter time period.
MC's Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association. MC’s associate's degree will provide you with a general knowledge of the American legal system and concentrated knowledge on various aspects of law. You will gain basic skills in legal research, legal writing, interviewing, law office administration, and knowledge of legal ethics. Through coursework, you will learn to prepare and interpret legal documents and analyze procedures and processes. The curriculum offers options to focus on various areas of the law such as contract law, tort law, criminal law, immigration law, and family law. This curriculum will expose you to the new and growing fields within the legal system to include cyber law, health law, eDiscovery, and alternative dispute resolution. MC students also have the opportunity to participate in an internship to gain additional experience in a law related setting.
A paralegal is a trained specialist who can manage a law office operation under the supervision of an attorney, relieving a practicing attorney of those routine components of managing legal cases that require knowledge of the legal process and assisting the attorney with handling of complicated legal issues.
All students should review the advising guide and consult an advisor. Find out about related programs and course in the Fields of Study section. Most courses have either assessment levels that must be met or prerequisites (courses that must be taken first).
Learn more about program outcomes, required courses, transfer opportunities, and career information.
Students who major in general studies explore personal, professional, and academic areas of interest within a flexible framework supporting transfer.
MC offers a wide variety of noncredit classes. These courses are designed to help you upgrade your skills, pursue career training, or learn something new.
Can I get into Montgomery College? Montgomery College is an open admission policy institution. Open admission colleges typically have few admission thresholds and will admit all applicants so long as certain minimum requirements are met. New admission is often granted continually throughout the year.
Montgomery College has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.
The Law School Admissions Council has estimated that approximately 30% of law school students have not tossed their four-year-degree caps into the air and proceeded directly to law school. They've taken at least a few years to think about it.
Older employees often have children, aging parents, and other life commitments that can prevent them from making the 50- to 80-hour-per-week time commitment that many law firms require. You can be relatively sure that future employers will be wary if you're 35 and married with three kids, or divorced with custody of three kids.
Career Longevity. Employers sometimes hesitate to hire "second career" lawyers because older employees have fewer working years ahead of them. Many law firms seek employees who are willing to make long-term commitments to the firm—they'll stick around long enough to contribute to the long-term growth of the organization.
Age bias exists in the legal profession just as it does in many other industries. Some firms prefer to hire younger, inexperienced workers who are willing to work for less money, as well as for their career longevity, trainability, and commitment.
Going to law school can be a formidable challenge for older students. Add to that a saturated job market, cut-throat competition, and a changing legal industry, and you might wonder if you can even secure a job after you've graduated and passed the bar.
This is where you have to sell yourself. If you have a passion for the law, let it show. Yes, the firm might not have you around as long as it would that 27-year-old, but if the 27-year-old is yawning or fidgeting her way through the interview, you might still come off as the better prospect.