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?

Why host an ACAC event?

High School or

less

Some college

Associate

degree

Bachelor’s

degree

•99% of all new jobs

went to workers with

postsecondary

education

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

Fontana Unified School District

Joe Malatesta

Fontana Unified

School District

Fontana, California

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•

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•

•

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

•

•

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•

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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

Big Surprise2014

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

Make it Fun. Make It Obvious

…and Food

MARCH TO THE MAILBOX

MAKE IT FUN GO PLACES

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

Benson High School

Katie Cameron

Benson High School

Omaha, Nebraska

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

Handout: A2C Step by Step

Apply to college

Add your college to Naviance Student

Handout: A2C Step by Step (cont.)

Complete your FSA ID

Check out

Handout: FSA ID/FAFSA

Source:

www.educationquest.org/resources/handouts/

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)

QUESTIONS FROM ATTENDEES

WHAT IF...?

WHERE ARE …?

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!

Lisa King

Director, American College Application Campaign

Lisa.King@act.org

Questions

Joni Petschauer

National Trainer, ACAC

Joni.Petschauer@act.org