Purpose and Goals

The College Access for Middle School and High School Freshmen Initiative

The College Access for Middle School and High School Freshmen Initiative

What is the Goal?

Middle schoolers and ninth graders will be exposed to the importance of college and the path needed to get to college early in their academic journey. Middle schoolers will have a better understanding of academic and extracurricular considerations for college admissions

Why Does it Matter?

Middle school sets the foundation for success in high school, college, and beyond. Eighth and ninth grade is also early enough for students to make decisions in high school which can improve their chances of attending college. Teaching middle school and ninth grade students about college early on will increase the potential for students to  internalize the message that college is their future –- especially students who are underprivileged and-or will be the first in their family to go to college. Conversations which focus on college in middle school and early high school give students an opportunity to make better decisions in high school, such as with choosing classes and extracurricular activities, and about their future.

What is the Need?

Too many students find themselves late in high school realizing they did not adequately prepare for college admissions.  Students find they did not do enough in high school or put enough effort in. Often this leads to students deciding that college is not for them. This initiative may make college feel real and accessible to dozens of students each year.

About this Curriculum

This is an exciting opportunity to support youth on their journey to achieve higher education. Important to building a college-going culture within a school is to provide students with the knowledge and resources needed to prepare for and understand how to navigate their journey to college. These five lesson plans are designed to encourage students to expand their mindset around going to college. These lessons can be used in sequence or as stand-alone modules. Facilitators may also use other resources and curriculum to support students’ knowledge around college. These lessons can be used to engage parents and families. This curriculum was adapted from NYC’s Department of Education’s College Access for All for Middle School and with the help of International College Counselors.

Topics Covered

1. Why College?

The facilitator will address myths surrounding whether or not college is a good option for all students. The benefits of college will be explained.

2. A Day in the Life of a College Student

Students will learn about the advantages of being a college student, which include curricular and extracurricular opportunities.

3. College Mapping

Students will explore the different steps they can take from 8th/9th-12th grade to prepare for college.

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4. Getting to College

Students will uncover ways they can find support and solutions to the challenges they might face in navigating the path to college, including how to afford college and the various forms of financial aid they can get to help pay for college.

Have Questions about College Access for All Middle Schoolers and Freshmen?

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Email Penelope Heller at penelopeheller0@gmail.com for further inquiries.

My Story

Hi. I'm Penelope Heller. I'm a Girl Scout and working on this project as part of my Girl Scout Gold Award. I started Girl Scouts in 1st grade and I am now in 10th grade. I am passionate about education and about helping other students succeed. I started helping students with college admissions when I was in 8th grade. I gave webinars to Girl Scouts, letting them know why Girl Scouts will help them in college admissions. 

Now that I am in 10th grade and preparing myself for college admissions, I see just how many students are unprepared. By high school, students should be exploring interests, be involved in extracurriculars and be aiming for leadership opportunities. Students also need to be taking the right classes and be serious about getting good grades. 

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My interests include nutrition, running, rock climbing, community service, the environment, hiking, and education. 

Meet The Team