Post on 12-Dec-2021
How to Host a College Application Event
August 11, 2020
Moderator – Lisa King, ACAC
ACAC Webinar Series 2020
Joseph Malatesta – Fontana Unified School District, California
Bridget Jackson, Capital City Public Charter School, Washington, DC
Katie Cameron, Benson High School, Omaha, Nebraska PRESENTERS
• Welcome and introduction
• Setting the stage – “Why host?”
• 3 High School College Application Initiatives:
–Brief history/2019 snapshot
–2020 Campaign anticipated changes
• Q&A
Agenda
Meet Our Presenters
Katie Cameron
Benson High School
Omaha, Nebraska
Bridget Jackson
Capital City Public
Charter School
Washington, DC
Joe Malatesta
Fontana Unified
School District
Fontana, California
• Planning for the future does not stop because of uncertainty.
• Investing in one’s education is the smartest way to deal with uncertainty.
• Staying employed during the current pandemic was more likely if the employee had higher education credentials.
Why does hosting a college application event
during a crisis matter?
Increase the number of students applying, enrolling, and succeeding in college
First-generation and students from low-income families
Takes place during the school day even when a virtual event
Occurs in the fall
In-school events can be held over 1-2 days; online events may require more
days over a longer period of time.
What Is ACAC?
Host Site Expectations
• Make a plan for how to reach all seniors
• Match and fit
• Break down application components
• Computer and internet access – whether face-
to-face or remote
• All students have opportunity to submit at least
one application
• Track and share data with state coordinator
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
College Acceptance A-G Completion FAFSA / Dream Act Graduation Rate
College Acceptance, 94.7
A-G Completion, 55.7
FAFSA / Dream Act, 95.2
Graduation Rate, 98.3
Fontana High School College & Career Indicators
2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
587
292 290
768
562
372 371
2007
542
370 368
2193
551
405 399
2301
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Senior Class Size # of Seniors Eligible # of Seniors Submitting # of 4 yr. Applications
Fontana HS 4 yr. Application Trends
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
• FSA ID – 100%
• CAL GRANT – 100%
• COLLEGE SEARCH
• CSU SEARCH
• UC ELIGIBLE & SEARCH
• PRIVATE – COMMON
APPS
• APPLICATION COMPLETED
PRIOR TO CAD
• PULLED FROM ELA 3 TO 4 DAYS
• EOP DONE VIA SENIOR ELA CLASSES
• FEE WAIVERS TRACKED & IDENTIFIED
587
292 290
768
562
372 371
2007
542
370 368
2193
551
405 399
2301
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Senior Class Size # of Seniors Eligible # of Seniors Submitting # of 4 yr. Applications
Fontana HS 4 yr. Application Trends
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Capital City Public Charter School
Bridget Jackson
Capital City Public
Charter School
Washington, DC
Capital City Public Charter SchoolWashington, DCwww.ccpcs.org
➢ Pre-K 12 Public Charter School in Washington, DC (school-choice)➢Serve approximately 1000 students (350 High School)➢Started by parents in 2000 (Lower School)➢High School opened in 2010➢Focus on Whole Child and Family Engagement➢Committed to Diversity and Inclusion➢First Graduating Class in 2012➢100% College Acceptance for Every Graduate Since 2012
Past Experiences with College Application Week, Month and Beyond
• CCPCS held our first College Application Week event in 2013 in
coordination the DC Office of the State Superintendent for Education
(OSSES), NOSCA , ACAC and ACE.
• It was the first year of coordinated
participation for Washington, DC
• http://vimeo.com/84555484
College Application WeekNovember 3 – 7, 2014
Application Totals – Participation Bulletin Board on Senior Hallway
Monday – Friday, Dedicated time for Seniors to work on Applications in Senior Seminar
Wednesday, 11:30AM – 12:30PM – Working LunchSubway Sandwiches, Chip and WaterCollege Counseling Staff work with students directly on applications
Friday, 2:30PM March to the Mailbox
Plan for the Week
Past Experiences with College Application Week, Month and Beyond
• College Rep Visits/College Fairs/Overnight College Visit
• Community College Application Day (Lunch Provided)
• March to the Mailbox (Signature Event)
• Establish Tradition within the Whole School Community (PK – 12)
• Continuously Develop College-Going Culture
• Build School-wide excitement
• Include Families
What College Application & Exploration Month Looks like NOW (2019)!
October College Exploration Month5 Family Financial Aid Retreat – FAFSA Event11 – TBD Local College Trip All Grades (Georgetown/GW) 16 SAT (12th Grade Only) PSAT (9th, 10th & 11th Grade)17 & 18 College Trip (Lincoln, TCNJ, Temple & Montclair State)21 Alcanza College Fair – George Mason University -11th &12th Grade 10/28 – 11/1 College Application Week
November College Application Month8 March to the Mailbox *13 Local College Trip All Grades (UMBC/UMD/Towson/Bowie)
*March to the Mailbox https://drive.google.com/file/d/12oUF-ngv1CLxJ3GbyWIR5RUUKwfKEmUX/view?usp=sharing
COVID-19 PLANNING
➢Start Early➢Communicate Often – 3X Communication Plan➢Take Advantage of fewer space limitation➢Plan something for 3-5 days per week➢Seek Allies/Look for Community Events➢Invite Guests – More than usual (All Grades)➢Prepare/review data collecting/reporting methods
COVID-19 PLANNING
➢Create attractive visuals (get help if it’s not your thing)➢Utilize social media (get help if it’s not your thing)➢Prizes/Incentives (Ask colleges and universities)➢Utilize Alumni currently enrolled in college➢Create a calendar with links (websites, Zoom invites, etc.)➢Make it fun and exciting
COVID-19 PLANNINGDaily Workshops/Work Session Ideas
In-house or Guest Presenters
➢Common Application/Coalition Application/How to apply (logistics)
➢FAFSA/FAFSA Forecaster/Financial Aid
➢Essay Writing
➢National Scholarship Applications (Gates, Questbridge, Posse)
➢College Athletics – How to get connected
➢Naviance/College Board
➢Military Academies
COVID-19 PLAN forCollege Application &
Exploration Month
Week 1 – Financial Aid Week - Financial Aid/FAFSA Event Oct.3Week 2 – College Exploration – How to Apply
Highlight Regional Colleges (DC, MD & Virginia)Week 3 – Selective Colleges & HBCU’sWeek 4 – Local Colleges (Regional Community Colleges)Week 5 – College Application Week – Work Sessions
A Little About Me…
I worked in Higher Education in Omaha, Nebraska for over 15 years before moving to high school.
• Metropolitan Community College
• University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Currently at Benson High School, Omaha Public Schools
Benson High School Info
Inner city school1350 Students311 seniors89% Free/Reduced lunch30% ESL29% SPED
Post Secondary : 70% Applied to college
Split about half-half between 4-year & 2-year colleges
50% matriculation rate
40% FAFSA completion rate
Military
Job corps
Union apprenticeships
Straight to work
Apply2College Campaign• Apply2College is Nebraska's state-wide campaign, sponsored by
EducationQuest, which partners with the American College Application Campaign (ACAC).
• A2C runs Oct 1 - 31, but Benson HS participates the last week in September
• EducationQuest* provides schools with: ✓ A Banner✓ A Site Coordinator Checklist to follow✓ An application Checklist for Seniors ✓ “I applied” stickers✓ Additional resources on their website
✓ They also coordinate registration across the state
* EducationQuest is a private non-profit organization that
provides free services to help with college access
Last year
Prep
• Invited college reps & community members to assist
• Reserved space in our school library
• Seniors completed a Post-Secondary Plans survey – helps designate
2-yr/4yr, ESL, non-college
• Counseling created passes for all seniors to attend at least 1 day
• We reminded students to MEMORIZE their SS#
• Updated handouts
1. Step-by-step “How To” Apply2College
2. FSA ID instructions & FAFSA Checklist
3. Financial resources for DACA / Undocumented
Last year
Week Of Apply2College
• Block Schedule, all blocks, all counselors help on rotating schedule
• Other assists by: College reps, college access program reps, interpreters
• EVERY senior visits once, to apply or share PS plan
• Complete at least 1 application and FSA ID, can visit again
• Mon-Thurs = College Reps
• Fri. = Military, Job Corps
Apply2College Annual Comparison
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
DatesOct 26-
30Oct. 6-12 Oct. 9-13 Sept. 24-28 Sept. 23-27
# Seniors
eligible296 304 314 303 301
A2C
AttendeesNo data* 212 247 258 256
Completed
Applications(plus)
No data* 212+ 369
354 college
apps18 Job Corps
5 Unions
5 military
9 to work
379 college apps
2 Job Corps
17 Unions
9 military
13 to work
Connected
students to:Colleges Colleges
Colleges
Military
ELL, Job Corps
Colleges,
Military,
Job Corps,
ELL, Unions
Colleges, Military,
Job Corps, Unions,
Ell, Trade schools
* 2015 DATA: There were 209 students from Naviance list indicating they had NOT applied to college
by A2C week. By Feb, 2016 - 180 had applied to college
2020 Brings NEW Challenges• Brainstorming session with college counselors from all district high schools
Ideas include:
• Focus on one thing only, applying to college. Do this digitally/virtually.
• Create an online survey to capture the same data we would have in person,
(PS plan, career interest, etc.)
• Counselors will email all seniors & parents explaining what the application
process will look like this year
• Create A2C TEAMS group at each HS – upload all handouts, resources, links
to colleges and EducationQuest
• Hold off on FSA ID until FAFSA opens – offer separate remote help for
this/FAFSA completion (Partnering with EducationQuest – able to VPN in)
Register
Register your high school at:
Equityinlearning.act.org/acac
We will connect you with your
ACAC state coordinator!
Supporting Students in Building
their College List
August 25
2:00 pm ET
Utilizing myOptions Encourage
to Implement ACAC
September 22
2:00 p.m. ET
Register your high school at:
Equityinlearning.act.org/acac
We will connect you with your
ACAC state coordinator!