How to Plan an Effective College Application Week

1. How to Plan an Effective College Application Week • Chris Franken, Ed. S. • Eastview High School-College Planning & Assessment • Amanda Ziebell-Finley, M.A. • Minnesota College Access Network-Director • Laura Ritter, M.S • Cooper High School- College Counselor

2. Session overviewSession Overview • History of College Application Week nationally • Key stakeholders in Minnesota’s College Application Week • Getting the word out • Resources for College Application Week • College Application Week at Cooper High School • Results of College Application Week • Questions/Discussion

3. Nearly 90% of students, including low income, first generation students, express and aspiration to attend college. • 1/3 of these students never enroll in a post-secondary education opportunity • College Access Matters II: Diverse Student Pathways to College in MN

4. College Application Week looks different in different states. Statewide Campaigns PSA bill boards print ads Social media tv spots, etc. Many Governors (including MN’s) issues proclamations for “College Application Week Some states have a week, some have college application month. What matters is that students are given the chance during the school day to complete applications with assistance from staff and volunteers. • College Application Week began as a single day, pilot program of GEAR UP North Carolina at one high school • Minnesota participated in 2011 focusing on directly supporting pilot sites • College Application Week Toolkit: http://www.sreb.org/cgi-bin/MySQLdb?VIEW=/public/docs/view_one.txt&docid=1652

6. MN Commissioner of EducationBrenda Cassellius’Welcome Message http://youtu.be/kp7whMtg91U

7. MN College Application WeekSteering Committee • Mary Lou Dresbach • Diane O'Connor • Mike Lopez • Julie Sweitzer • Jim Bierma • Mary Cecconi • Amanda Ziebell-Finley • Astrid Ollerenshaw • Brian Kao • John Manning • Shelly Landry • Joann Knuth • Ann Postelwaite • Jillian Hiscock • Chris Franken • EliaBruggeman • Sally Wherry • Rose Chu • Kris Moe Office of Higher Education Office of Higher Education Minnesota State College and Universities University of MN College and Career Readiness Consortium University of MN College and Career Readiness Consortium Parents United MN Minority Education Partnership/MN College Access Network Chicano Latino Affairs Council Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans Minnesota Private College Council Minneapolis Public Schools (School Counselors) Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals Minnesota Association of Counselors of Color Minnesota Association for College Admissions Counselors Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota Department of Education Minnesota School Counselors Association

8. MACACEmail to Membership

9. Volunteers can participate in a variety of ways such as: • greet and sign-in students, • assist students with the completion of college applications, • speak to student groups, • share information about the college going or college application process, • share personal stories about your college journey with students • share about your area of expertise (financial aid, diversity, college preparation, essay writing, etc.) How do you sign up? Click on the link below to access our Google docs volunteer sign-up sheet and fill in the appropriate information for the sites you would be interested in visiting. The high school site coordinator for this event will contact you about the possibilities at their site. Although College Application Week occurs November 14-18th, schools may be interested in having you visit before, during, or after this week.

10. CAW Volunteer Sign-up: GoogleDoc

11. MACAC College Counseling Institute (CCI)Promoted at Fall Workshop for HS Counselors

12. MCANWebsiteHoused Resources

13. Shared ResourcesMACAC & NACAC

14. More Sample Resources…

15. Resources for Undocumented and First Generation Students:NAVIGATE: http://navigatemn.org/First in the Family: www.firstinthefamily.org/

16. CollegeBoard Resources:YouCanGo! – Free resource to inspire lower resourced students who want to go to college.CollegeEd Online – Flexible standards-based college planning and career exploration program

17. EastviewHigh SchoolCollege App Week Handout

18. MNSCUFee WaiverList

19. Volunteer Feedback (Survey)

20. Article in MACAC Newsletter

21. College Application Week 2011 Cooper High School

22. COOPER HIGH SCHOOL New Hope, MN

23. How did we get started?? • Put together a College Application Week Committee • College Counselor, AVID teacher, College Prep and Service Learning Coordinator • Attended the MDE College Application Week Training • Created a list of ideas for the week • When would we do it? • What would we do? • How would we do it?

24. When did we do it?? • College Application Week-Nov. 14-18th • Every period of the week starting on Monday during 3rd hour • Scheduled 10-14 students per period in our “College Application Computer Lab.” • Thursday/Friday- sent out 2nd passes to students who didn’t show up the first time

25. What did we do? • Advisors facilitated advisory lessons 2 weeks before the event • Volunteers signed up on the Google Docs created by MDE • Made announcements in Advisory, through e-mail, phone dialer, intercom • Sent all seniors a pass to their first hour class • Decorated the hallways— “Stepping to college” & “Pathway to College”

26. Advisory Guiding Questions What do you need to do to apply to a 4 year college, generally speaking? What do you need to do to apply to a 2 year or technical college, generally speaking? How do you request transcripts at Cooper? Name 3 Minnesota State Colleges or universities? (there are 32 of them) What is the Common Application? What should seniors bring to College Application Week? • **So far, these colleges are waiving application fees for ALL students during College Application Week--- See attached list • **So, if you have not applied yet and are going to apply to one of the above schools, please plan on doing it this week to avoid paying the application fee!!

27. WELCOME TO COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEKStudent Instructions READY TO APPLY WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS • Step 1- Log in to Naviance • Step 2- Add colleges to “Colleges I’m Applying to List” • Step 3- Go under the college profile and choose “Apply Online” • Step 4- Complete Application • -Do you need a teacher recommendation? • -Do you need to pay the fee or is it waived? • -Do you need an essay? • -Have you sent your ACT score yet? • Step 5- Request transcript through Naviance • Step 6-Complete MCIS Survey • Step 1- Check in with College Application Week Mentors • Step 2- Create a plan (research colleges in Naviance, create a resume, career interest profiler) • Step 3-Complete MCIS Survey • **If you are ready to apply, follow the instructions. • **If you are not ready to apply, schedule an appointment with your counselor, college counselor, or visit the career center.

28. Now that you’ve applied….what’s next? • Call or e-mail the college in 2 weeks to verify that your application is complete • In January, fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) • Parent/guardian income tax information will be needed in this process • If you need help with the process, come to Cooper’s Financial Aid Night (Feb. 9th) to receive help filling out the online form. We will have financial aid experts available to answer questions • In March, you should receive financial aid packages back from the colleges/universities that you applied to. Many students wait to pick their college until they know how much it is going to cost them. • May 1st is the standard deadline for housing for most colleges; however, you should verify the housing deposit deadline with each individual college. In order to get housing, it is important that you have your decision and deposit completed by this date. • Continue working hard in all of your classes. Colleges require an end of the year transcript!!

29. How did we do it? COLLABORATION…..with college admissions counselors, high school counselors, financial aid counselors, National Guard representatives, and interns!!

30. Results at Cooper • We met with 82% of available seniors • Did not include PSEO or transition students • 504 transcripts sent out • Student application rates • Start of week= 20% • End of week = 65%

31. What about College Application Week 2012? • Ideas for improvement • Kick off event for seniors in auditorium • More lessons in advisory leading up to the week • Various presentations during the week • Advertise starting in September • Staff will wear buttons “Ask me about college!” • Celebration event at the end of the week

32. Minnesota CAW Results

33. MN College Application Week 2012 • November 12-16 • 75+ schools registered so far • Steering Committee is currently building a logic model and securing institutional commitments • Continued collaboration between MACAC, MCAN, MDE, OHE, and other partners

34. College Application Week Contacts National Contacts Joni Petschauer Senior Fellow- ACE jpetshauer@acenet.edu Bobby Kanoy Senior Fellow - ACE bkanoy@acenet.edu Minnesota Contacts Jessica Espinosa MN Dept of Education jessica.espinosa@state.mn.us Amanda Ziebell-Finley MN College Access Network Aziebell-finley@mmep.org

35. College Application Week Results • Prezi Created by Jessica Espinosa, Dual Enrollment Specialist at Minnesota Department of Education • http://prezi.com/your/

36. Questions?? • Amanda Ziebell-Finley • Aziebell-finley@mmep.org • Chris Franken • Chris.franken@district196.org • Laura Ritter • Laura_Ritter@rdale.org