Director’s Note 

Dear friends, 

The enthusiasm and participation we saw for this year’s #WhyApply Day were truly fantastic — just what we needed to celebrate our students and inspire even more of them to consider postsecondary education. It’s the perfect way to kick off college campaign season with events already underway. Let’s keep this energy going into National College Application Month in November.

National College Application Month is a time to celebrate all the hard work our students have invested into their education thus far, while also providing them with the resources and insights they need to apply to the colleges that best suit their goals. I encourage teachers, counselors, and advisors to meet with students and pass along knowledge that can assist them in making these exciting decisions.

At the National College Attainment Network and National Association for College Admission Counseling conferences in September, I spoke about the vital role school-based college preparation supports play in preparing students for college. From application events to exploring college majors and future careers, these efforts are crucial to student success. Let’s continue to work together and remain diligent in helping students build a promising future.

With gratitude,  
Lisa King, director 

#WhyApply: Students Share Their College Application Experiences and Why They Think It Was All Worth It

By: Lisa King, director, American College Application Campaign 

“Why should I apply to college?” This is a question many students ask themselves. Here are just some of the reasons college applications can seem daunting and ultimately not get completed: a lack of motivation, financial concerns, uncertainty about where to attend, long application processes, and being a first-generation student without family or friends who could provide insight.

But the “why” in the question is what speaks to the bigger picture of college. It’s not just about doing what everyone expects of you. It’s about the opportunities provided by attending and giving your future self the best chance at success.

When asked what inspired her to apply to college, Missouri 2024 Hume High School graduate and University of Central Missouri student Emily Wadel said, “The possibility of what I could be and what I could do in the future with my degree [...] The connections and the people are incredible and the memories you’ll make — good and bad — will shape you into a better person.”

And what could some of those good memories be? Studying abroad, learning about new cultures, navigating through self-discovery and independence in a healthy environment, joining extracurricular clubs and activities, and more.

Nothing worth having comes easily, but with the right support, all things are possible, including attending and graduating from college.

To hear from more students and learn about why they decided to apply to college, read the full blog here.

Are You Ready for College Campaign Season? Here’s a Communications and Marketing Checklist to Set You on the Right Path

By: Brittani Williams, program consultant, American College Application Campaign

Each year we search for new and interesting — but effective — ways to reach and engage students throughout college campaign season. While there’s always room for new ideas and initiatives to improve events, there are tried-and-true strategies that consistently deliver results. By combining these proven methods with fresh ideas, you can create an engaging and successful campaign.

The best way to kick off your campaign is by analyzing the previous year’s event performance and results. Consider these key questions:

• How was attendance?
• Which outreach/marketing tactic garnered the most responses?
• Which table or activity had the highest participation?
• How many students completed applications?

By examining these metrics, you can identify what worked well and where you can improve. Use these insights as a foundation for your campaign planning.

The next step in planning a successful campaign is to outline your goals for the upcoming season. Identify your target audience and determine what you want them to take away from your campaign. Clear, measurable goals help you create a more thoughtful and effective plan.

A great way to develop fresh ideas is to conduct a team brainstorming session to collaborate on an outreach, marketing and event plan. Once your plan is outlined, it’s time to put those tried-and-true marketing tactics to work. Here are a few essentials:

• Social media: Create a toolkit with shareable images and templates that can easily be distributed.
• Email: Customize your emails for students and parents.
• Posters: Create eye-catching posters advertising your event.
• School announcements: Use the morning announcements or newsletters to spread the word.

Once you have your staple ideas and know what you want to accomplish at your event, you may want to experiment with something a bit more imaginative. Here are some ideas to push your marketing to the next level:

• Social media takeovers.
• Social media contests.
• Share student stories.
• Share alumni stories.
•  College campus videos in partnership with universities.
• Webinars.

We can’t forget the event itself — we want students to be excited to attend, enjoy themselves while they’re there, and, ultimately, complete college applications. Consider using interactive workshops, games, prizes and insightful worksheets to make the event both informative and fun.

A well-planned event with engaging activities can transform students’ perceptions of college applications from intimidating to exciting. Ultimately, by combining thoughtful planning with interactive experiences, you will inspire both students and parents to be involved at this year’s event — and encourage more students not only to attend but to complete their college applications, making your event the success you designed it to be! 

Partnering With Educators to Empower Students’ Futures

By: Yoruba Butler, strategy director for postsecondary success, Alabama Possible 

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, when students meet one-on-one with a school counselor to discuss their future, they are 3.2 times more likely to attend college.

Every fall, ACT’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) hosts the #WhyApply social media campaign to encourage students nationwide to apply to college as they plan for their futures. This year, more high schools than ever before participated in ACAC events, helping more than 467,000 seniors submit at least one college application in school, during the school day. A vital part of the campaign’s success is the support efforts of high school counselors and advisors, who guide students through the college application process as part of the ACAC.

As high schools across the country prepare for #WhyApply 2024, Yoruba Butler, strategy director for postsecondary success at Alabama Possible who works closely with the Alabama State Department of Education, discusses the crucial role of high school counselors and advisors in supporting college application success and eliminating barriers to college access.

Read the full blog here.

Finding Your Fit: Researching & Choosing the Right College Webinar 

Join Collegewise at 7 p.m. EDT on Oct. 16 when admission experts share top tips for effective college research and creating a well-rounded list of schools that so every student can be thrilled about their options.    
   
 By the end of the session, you will discover:   

• How to do robust and effective research.  
• Which factors to consider when conducting college research.  
• How to maximize college visits.
• How to create a balanced college list that includes likely, target and reach schools. 
• How to find schools that are the right fit for students’ personalities, aspirations and budget.
• And much more.

Register now to secure your seat.

New ACT Research: High School Students Gather College Information from Diverse Sources

How are students gathering information about colleges? A new ACT Student Voice research report released on Sept. 11 surveyed students in Grades 11 and 12 about resources they use for college information gathering.

The research revealed that amid speculation that a four-year college or university is becoming less attractive for many high school students and young adults, students are actively seeking information about postsecondary education. However, disparities exist around access to that information.

To learn more, read the full blog and explore the research by ACT Research Scientist Dr. Joyce Z. Schnieders and ACT Principal Research Scientist Dr. Becky L. Bobek.

The Roadmap to Success: Preparing Early for Your Best College Experience Webinar

The transition from high school to college is an adjustment, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. MyJourney’s on-demand webinar provides helpful insights and tips on preparing for and thriving in college, from studying to financial planning to navigating a new environment.
By the end of the webinar, learners will discover:

• How to find and prepare for a great-fit college for their interests and lifestyle preferences.
• Important skills they should start developing in high school that will help them in college and beyond.
• How to make a great first impression in their college classes and find a routine for studying.
• How to prepare for the challenges of living away from home.
• What factors to consider in finding and building their college community.
• Available college resources on campus to help them settle in and succeed.

Register here to prepare for your new journey.

FAFSA Opening Dec. 1

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid announced that they will release the 2025-26 FAFSA on Dec. 1 with full, end-to-end functionality. Outreach tools and resources that typically accompany the form will be released in advance, and FAFSA processing will occur within one to three days of submission. If realized, this announcement means the system will be fully functional for all students on Dec. 1.

To learn more, visit NCAN.

Encourage: Affirmations in College and Career Planning Webinar

It’s common for students to sometimes feel overwhelmed, confused or frustrated when thinking about and planning for the future. The free myOptions Encourage program will host a webinar on leveraging affirmations to build students’ resilience as they navigate life after high school, including a free affirmations lesson plan.

To join this October 8 learning session, register here.

#WhyApply Day Success

Students and educators celebrated this year’s #WhyApply Day with inspired vigor. See how students and ACT’s CEO, Janet Godwin celebrated:

We hope to see even greater participation and support for students’ futures for next year’s #WhyApply Day.