Applications are being accepted for the 2025-2026 school year!
Are you ready to transform your senior year?
Students interested in being a part of the Vail Early College must go through an application process. The purpose is to make sure that the Vail Early College is the right fit for the student. VEC students should be ready academically as well have the maturity to take on the expectations of college early.
Applicants should meet, at minimum, the following:
Have a personal motivation to transform their high school experience into one that will truly prepare them for college.
Be able to place into WRT 101 and MAT 151 (or higher) at Pima Community College. Placement based on Pima's placement qualifications
Be on track for graduation, have good grades, good attendance, and no disciplinary concerns.
Application Details
In addition to securing two current core teacher recommendations and sending them the link to the recommendation form (linked below & in application), applicants will complete the application form (see link below), which includes the submission of an essay that addresses the following:
Tell us about yourself. Share your background, interests, and any experiences that have shaped your academic or personal journey. What are your career goals, and how do you envision your college education helping you achieve those goals?
Why do you want to join the Vail Early College program? What motivates you to pursue this opportunity, and how do you believe it aligns with your academic and personal growth? Discuss what you hope to achieve during your time in the program and how it will prepare you for the next steps in your education and career.
How have you prepared for the demands of college-level work? Reflect on your readiness for the challenges of higher education, especially a year early. Provide specific examples of experiences, skills, or habits that demonstrate your ability to thrive in a rigorous academic environment.
How have you demonstrated independence in your life? Include your thoughts on what it means for learning to be your responsibility and how you apply this perspective in your education and daily decisions.
Ready to apply? Click the link below to begin your application:
Application Deadline is midnight January 23, 2025.
The Application Process
The application process is as follows:
The process starts with students completing the online application and securing recommendations from two current core content teachers.
Applications received by the deadline are evaluated. Students will be notified if they qualify for an interview. Interviews will start in late January and go through February. The interview window may extend into early March, depending on the number of applicants
Once the interview process and final evaluation of student applications are complete, applicants are notified via email regarding their acceptance status.
Students that are accepted into the VEC will have to attend several mandatory orientation sessions in the 4th quarter. Most sessions will occur outside of the school day at Pima East Campus. Plenty of time will be given for students to make accommodations to attend.
Our selection committee scores each candidate using a holistic rubric that focuses on:
Progress towards high school graduation
Cumulative unweighted grade point average
Rigor of coursework in high school
Ability to take college level courses
Evidence of overall student motivation
Application essay
Recommendations from two current core content area teachers
Interview (if application initial score qualifies applicant for interview)
IMPORTANT VEC APPLICATION NOTE:
The Vail Early College is a program run by the Vail School District and NOT Pima Community College. Applicants do not need to apply to Pima prior to applying to the Vail Early College. If accepted into the VEC program, new students will be guided through applying to Pima. However, if an applicant needs to take Pima placement tests, they will need to apply to Pima prior to applying to the Vail Early College so they can take needed tests. Completing an application to Pima Community College and getting an acceptance notice from Pima Community College does not mean an applicant has been accepted into the VEC program.
