Volume 7, Issue 5 – October 2023 

Director's Note

Dear friends, 

To kick off the college application season, ACAC hosted its annual #WhyApply Day social media campaign on Sept. 22. We loved seeing everyone’s photos and reasons why the Class of 2024 should apply to college. You can follow us at @American_CAC on X [formerly Twitter] and see the activity across many social platforms by searching the #WhyApply hashtag. Additionally, you can read more about the purpose of #WhyApply Day in my Forbes op-ed.  

For high schools that are still preparing for college application events, remember to check out the list of resources that will save you time planning and benefit your students. Download and print tools like the “Next Steps for Students After Applying” and the “College Application Fee Waiver” info sheet. Keep sharing what your school is doing over the next several months and use the #IApplied hashtag so we can celebrate along with you! 

In July, ACT received a grant from The Kresge Foundation to pilot College Match Days in five states and four targeted cities. The College Match Day for high school juniors, in conjunction with the American College Application Campaign (ACAC), will help high school juniors to identify the types of postsecondary institutions that fit their interests and needs and build a college list. College Match Day events will target students from low-income families, first-generation students, and students of color.  

The College Match Day concept was developed with ACAC’s state networks and high school leaders as well as Encoura team members to expand current college application strategies to provide stronger support and deeper knowledge about the college-going process for high school juniors. The pilot will test the efficacy of adding junior year activities to focus on building a college list of postsecondary options that are a match and fit for students’ interests and learning goals, increasing their likelihood of applying to one or more postsecondary intuitions during their senior years.  

It is our goal to expand beyond a pilot program and make resources available for all ACAC-participating high schools by the end of the three-year grant period. We are thankful for The Kresge Foundation’s support and will continue to share updates and resources with you. 

Finally, I will be attending the National College Access Network conference in Dallas later this month. If you will be in attendance, look for me in the exhibit booth and say hello! 

Warmly,  
Lisa King, director 

Nebraska Schools Join Forces to Create College Application Campaign

By: Joan Jurek, director of college planning and outreach services, EducationQuest Foundation

As the coordinator of the Nebraska College Application Campaign (Apply2College), I often have the opportunity to witness firsthand the excitement high schools generate when creating and facilitating Apply2College events. While it can sometimes be a challenge for rural high schools to elicit college participation, one successful event comes to mind for overcoming this hurdle. 

Two Nebraska schools have collaborated to create a fun, informational, and successful night for their juniors, seniors, and families. For the past couple of years, Norfolk Catholic and Lutheran High Northeast have formed a unique collaboration to bring around 15 colleges, military, and EducationQuest representatives to their Apply2College event. 

“Hosting a college event is important no matter how many students we have,” said Lutheran High Northeast counselor Emily Woodall. “Making information understandable and accessible to students is of utmost importance. Some students don't have the ability to go on college visits. This event allows them to receive the same information without worrying about setting up a visit time, traveling, or missing school. Convincing colleges and universities to participate was much easier than I anticipated. I’ve found that if we provide them with an opportunity, they are more than happy to attend and work with us!”

During the event, juniors listen to a college planning presentation facilitated by EducationQuest, and the seniors work on college applications and visit tables featuring participating colleges. After an hour, they switch places. While the juniors visit with the college reps in a fair-style setting, the seniors attend a financial aid presentation and FAFSA workshop conducted by EducationQuest. After the two sessions, all students and families come together for door prizes donated by the colleges and military reps. Additionally, students from both schools have the opportunity to win a scholarship from their school’s foundation. Students have to be present to win, which encourages attendance. 

“I haven't been a school counselor long, but I have seen a small shift when students are preparing for college,” said Woodall. “Most students have an idea of what they want to do and some goals for their future as early as their freshman year. Because of this early planning, students are looking for more college credit in their high school careers. I also have several students who know they want to go into a trade earlier, so they are looking for job experience or job shadows through high school to help jump-start their postsecondary careers.”

I am happy to share that Norfolk Catholic and Lutheran High Northeast were chosen as co-awardees of the 2022 School of Excellence for their collaboration and creativity. Their event is just one of many examples of ways to increase engagement in the college application process. Here are some other event ideas for your school to consider: 

• The Passport Program: Create a small booklet (passport) with events (going on a college visit, completing an admission application, completing the FAFSA, creating their resume, getting letters of recommendation, etc.). Students earn points for their completed events then get entered for prizes and scholarships.
• Provide a tasty treat: Pizza, cookies, and other food items can be a great way to generate attendance.
• Take a selfie: Create a selfie-photo station with pendants and props and encourage your students to share their experience on social media. 
• Help students complete their FAFSA: Set up a table to help students start their FAFSA or complete their FSA ID registration. 

• Use volunteers: Get teachers, administration, school board, and community members to help plan and facilitate your event. 
• Provide incentives: Hand out T-shirts, goodie bags, or other prizes.

No matter how small or large your school or program, the College Application Campaign can be customized to fit the needs of your students. Just have fun and know you’re making a difference — one student at a time! 

Counselor Corner: What’s New in College and Career Prep?

By: Danielle Reid-Filak, product content strategist, Encoura

Exciting news from Encourage®! We’ve added new features to our web app that will supercharge college and career planning, including a Majors and Careers Quiz. This simple quiz, built from the successful ACT Interest Inventory, includes 36 questions to help students narrow their top majors and careers.  

The quiz shows students potential career pathways and allows them to explore the education requirements for various occupations. To begin, students answer a series of questions that aim to identify their skills, hobbies, and interests. Once students finish the quiz, they receive a personalized list of majors and careers they may enjoy. From there, they can narrow their lists even further by favoriting the majors and careers that best align with their skills and aspirations. They can even see if their top college picks offer these majors.  

Within the descriptions of each major, students can see which high school classes they should take to prepare for future college courses. They'll also find helpful information on career prospects, pay, and job responsibilities. 

The Majors and Careers Quiz is available on our website and will be launched on our mobile app this fall.  

If you're looking for ways to help your students become college and career ready, Encourage® has the tools to help. In addition to the quiz, we’ve developed engaging lesson plans to help your students fulfill their potential and dig deeper into their passions. The lesson plans include five core lectures and 20 supplemental activities that support college, career, and financial readiness. Plans can be used as stand-alone activities or incorporated into your existing curriculum by using the Encourage web and mobile app tools.  

To access our lesson plans, visit our website and scroll down to view and download.

Our comprehensive in-school college and career planning program also includes a no-cost educator web app platform that gives you access to interactive reports of participating students. These reports and dashboards provide data related to each student's college and career plans as well as school, state, and national trends. To get started with this free program or to schedule a demo to learn more, visit myOptions® Encourage for educators.

We know you’ll love these new features as much as we do and look forward to working with you!

Register Today for ACT My Journey

On October 17, ACT is teaming up with Collegewise for a virtual event for students and their champions, “Invest in Your Future: Expert Tips on College Selection, Affordability, and Financial Aid.” In this webinar, students will discover the key strategies that will unlock the doors to higher education without breaking the bank. From need-based aid to scholarships, expert Collegewise panelists will demystify the complex world of financial aid, offering practical tips to help students and their families navigate the application process with confidence. Spread the word – learn more at act.org/registermyjourney.

LEARNING:

Why Host a College Application Event: Insights from ACAC 2022 School of Excellence Awardees
View the recording

RESOURCES:

ACAC 2023 Campaign Resources
Find helpful templates, handouts, and planning resources on the ACAC website.

FOR STUDENTS:

College and Career Planning Resources
Learn more

College Admissions from A-to-Z: Ace Your Application Process
View the recording

Upcoming College Admission Testing Dates
ACT: Dec. 9 (Register by Nov. 3)
SAT: Nov. 4 (Register by Oct. 5) and Dec. 2 (Register by Nov. 2)

Encourage
Create an Encourage account to explore careers, match with colleges and scholarships, and plan for your future.
Learn more

SHARE YOUR EVENT:

Whether you’ve already hosted your campaign event or it’s coming up, make sure to share so we can celebrate with you.

• Download the ACT photo and media release form to have on hand.
• Snap photos throughout your event of different people and activities.
• Use the hashtag #IApplied.
• Tag us (@American_CAC on Twitter (now known as X) or @americancac on Facebook) as well as relevant people, partners and sponsors where appropriate.
• Post on your social media channels.