A Note from the Senior Director

Dear friends, 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's #WhyApply Day! Each year, I'm inspired by the creativity, energy, and commitment that schools and communities bring to this celebration. This year was no exception. Together on September 18, we reached more than 1.3M people on social media (2.1M+ over the past month), reminding students that applying to college and pursuing a postsecondary education can open doors to new possibilities.

But #WhyApply Day is just the beginning.

As we move further into the fall, there are countless opportunities to build on that momentum. For some students, the next step may be attending a college application event or submitting their first application. For others, it may mean having a conversation about what they want their future to look like, exploring schools and programs they had not previously considered, or simply beginning to believe that college is an option for them.

That's where your continued support matters so much. The excitement of a single day can spark an important conversation, but the encouragement, guidance, and resources students receive throughout the year help turn that initial spark into action. As application deadlines approach, let’s continue creating opportunities for students to ask questions, explore their options, and take the next step toward their goals.

This fall also brings opportunities for us to connect in person. A few other ACAC folks and I are hitting the road again and will be attending the National College Attainment Network National Conference in Vegas next week. If you’ll be there, we hope you’ll join us for both our sessions, “From Awareness to Utilization: Improving Fee Waiver Impact Through Engagement” on Oct. 5, and “Building Statewide Strategies and Supports for Senior Year” on Oct. 6. Stop by, say hello, and listen in! There is nothing quite like connecting with others who share a commitment to expanding access and opportunity for learners.

Thank you again for making #WhyApply Day such a meaningful celebration. Let’s carry that energy forward, not just through the rest of application season, but in every conversation and opportunity we create for students to envision what comes next.

With gratitude,  
Lisa Sommer King, senior director

Mazama High School Named ACT American College Application Campaign School of Excellence

By: ACT Industry Insights Blog

What does it look like to create a college-going culture where every learner has the support and encouragement to take the next step? Mazama High School in Klamath Falls, Oregon, is showing us. Recognized as an ACT American College Application Campaign School of Excellence, Mazama has built an application event around access, equity, and the belief that every learner deserves to graduate with choices.

Read the school's story and discover how a commitment to thoughtful planning, shared responsibility, and student support is helping keep doors open for learners.

Suiting Up for the Future: Inside NPHS’s College GO! Week Revival

By: Tara White, director of college & career readiness, New Prairie United School Corporation

If you were to look at our school counselor calendars on any given day at New Prairie High School, you’d see a chaotic blend of academic planning, crisis management, and trying to convince a senior that being a "TikTok Influencer" might require a backup plan. Because the range of services and support our students need from us is widely varied and never-ending, it’s ridiculously easy for annual events to fade into the background noise of the school year. But after watching so many students self-select out of options for their own futures, we realized it was time to blow the dust off our annual College GO! Week and revive our efforts and promotion to make sure all students had high levels of confidence in their future plans. While we are constantly guiding students through career inventories, academic planning, and postsecondary research all year long during the “regular season,” we decided that College GO! Week would be our “Super Bowl" — complete with contests, celebrations, and all manners of hype to make the world of college accessible to our seniors and visible and enticing to our underclassmen.

Recognizing the need to reinvigorate our efforts, our student support services team worked intentionally to revive our annual college application campaign. We knew we couldn't just throw together a few announcements and call it a day — we needed an intentional game plan. We anchored our work around three clear goals designed to engage our entire school community: equipping seniors with the practical tools to navigate their options, empowering teachers to share their real-world postsecondary stories, and generating an unmistakable wave of excitement throughout the building. 

Goal 1:  Demystifying the Application Process for Informed Choices
Our first objective was to ground every senior in reality: making sure no student opted out of their future simply because they lacked clear, actionable information. Applying to college can feel like trying to decipher a secret language, especially for first-generation students. By focusing our energy on direct support — completing applications, writing essays, understanding financial aid options — we leveled the playing field. The ultimate victory wasn't forcing a four-year university path on every student, but ensuring that every senior made a fully educated, confident decision about whatever postsecondary journey they chose to pursue.

Goal 2:  Rallying Teachers for Real Conversations
Our second goal focused on turning our faculty into our allies by encouraging teachers to share their honest, unvarnished college journeys. Students hear plenty of official pitches, but nothing beats hearing a favorite math or history teacher talk about changing majors three times, struggling through a tough freshman semester, or figuring out financial aid as a first-gen student. Through small group discussions and mentorship, teachers were able to open up about their real-life paths — complete with the detours, doubts, and triumphs — which humanized the entire process. These genuine conversations broke down barriers and gave students permission to admit their own fears and ask hard questions.

Goal 3: Sparking School-Wide Energy and Excitement
Finally, we knew that to truly revive our "Super Bowl," we had to bring stadium-level energy to the entire building. College planning can feel heavy, so our third goal was to inject excitement, competition, and joy into the effort. Seniors received a ticket for every application they submitted to enter a drawing for free prom tickets, which is a huge deal at our school. All students in grades 9-12 participated in daily challenges and trivia contests to win college-themed prizes like dorm fridges, bean bag chairs, microwaves, TVs, and Woozoo Fans. From our partnerships with Amazon and our collaborating universities (Indiana University South Bend and Grand Canyon University) to wear-your-college-gear days, we transformed the process into a school-wide celebration. This collective hype didn't just motivate our seniors to cross the application finish line; it reached underclassmen watching from the sidelines, normalizing college culture for younger students long before senior year even begins.

Reviving our College GO! Week campaign at New Prairie proved that when we combine practical support with school-wide energy, the culture can change and the trajectory of the future for any student can shift. As a result of our work, we have seen an almost 60% increase from last year in the number of students — both seniors and underclassmen — who are starting the school year requesting college and career coaching sessions to talk about their options after graduation.  At NPHS, we will continue playing the long game all year, but when campaign week arrives, we will be suiting up, bringing the stadium vibes and making sure every student gets their chance to shine.

National College Application Month

November is National College Application Month! It’s a time to help learners across the country navigate the daunting admissions process with support and motivation.

During this time, state campaigns will be taking place, encouraging students to apply to college through engaging activities and thought-provoking stories. While these efforts may take place anytime from September through December, they share a common goal: helping students take the next step toward their futures.

Is your state recognizing College Application Month through a governor’s proclamation, declaration, or other official recognition? Let us know! We’d love to highlight them and celebrate the ways states and communities are championing postsecondary opportunities.

Blog: How Families Stay Grounded and Manage Stress During the College Journey

College planning can be exciting, but for many learners and families, it can also bring pressure, uncertainty, and stress. As application season picks up, consider sharing resources that remind students they don’t have to navigate the journey alone.

Collegewise offers 10 Tips to Tackle Academic Pressures, with practical ideas students can use to manage stress, stay grounded, and maintain perspective during busy seasons.
 
A helpful reminder for students and families: taking care of well-being is an important part of preparing for what comes next.

Read the full blog here.

Webinars: MyJourney October and November Sessions

ACT’s My Journey webinar series gives learners, families, and educators the opportunity to hear directly from college admissions and planning experts. Two upcoming sessions help learners navigate important decisions throughout the fall:
 
Major Decisions: How to Pick the Path That’s Right for You
October 6 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Students will explore how their interests and strengths connect to potential majors and academic pathways — and learn how to approach being undecided with confidence.

Register here.
 
Ask an Admissions Counselor: Extracurriculars and College Apps
November 4 | 6:30 p.m. CT
An interactive Q&A designed to help learners better understand how colleges view extracurricular involvement, leadership, and authentic engagement.

Register here.

Another Opportunity for Students to Learn from College Essay Guy

Calling all high school juniors and seniors!
We're excited to partner with College Essay Guy this fall to offer a free workshop to help students get started on their college personal statement.

During this workshop, students will:

• Learn what makes a strong personal statement.

• Discover ways to find meaningful essay topics and stories.

• Start brainstorming ideas that can turn into a full draft later.

We’re excited for students to participate and get a strong start on their essays — whether for college applications, scholarship applications, or job applications!

Register here!