Montana College Application Week

Montana College Application Week

November 11-15, 2013

Background1. What is College Application

Week?2. What are the benefits?3. Why does it matter?4. Who participated?

What is College Application Week?

Participating high school seniors have an opportunity during one special week to apply to college during their school day

A partnership between the Montana Office of Public Instruction and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education

Sponsored by the American Council on Education Special focus is placed on assisting students who will be

the first in their families to attend college and those who may not otherwise seriously consider applying to college

This was the second year this initiative took place in Montana. Last year was a pilot year with 4 participating schools: Fergus, Arlee, Hardin and Lincoln

What are the benefits? Helps students who might be the first in their

families to attend college navigate the application process.

Helps students who have not yet seriously considered going to college.

Gives students the confidence and encouragement that college is possible.

Helps reduce the barriers associated with having to use time away from school to complete the college application process.

Helps reduce the financial burden of college application fees

Why does it matter? Montana needs more college graduates.

An essential step to increasing the number of graduates is increasing the number that apply and enroll.› In 2010, only 61% of Montana high school

graduates enrolled in college in the fall semester immediately following graduation.

› Also in 2010, fewer than 50% of Montana’s high school graduates enrolled in the Montana University System.

Who participated? 18 Montana colleges and universities 84 Montana high schools

For a complete list of participating colleges and high schools, please visit http://mus.edu/GearUp.

The Partnership1. MT GEAR UP Commitment2. OPI Commitment3. Participating College

Commitment4. Participating School

Commitment

MT GEAR UP Commitment Host a one-hour

orientation for site coordinators.

Host weekly technical assistance conference calls.

Provide site coordinators with a planning toolkit.

Provide promotional materials.

Promote the week’s activities.

Provide information and additional resources on the website.

OPI Commitment Sharing Data with

Schools Sharing Successes

College Commitment Waive or Defer

Application Fee Process applications Some colleges were

able to send representatives to schools

School Commitment Designate a site coordinator. Site coordinators

were required to participate in a one-hour orientation.

Provide a time during the school day for seniors to complete college applications.

Use and display Montana College Application Week promotional materials and college materials.

Involve community and higher education volunteers.

Help track application data.

Results1. How many students submitted an

application?2. Where did students apply to?3. Which colleges received the most

applications?4. How did students complete their

applications?5. What additional events did schools

organize?6. What about volunteers?

1773 students submitted an application!

WHERE DID STUDENTS APPLY

TO?

College Number of ApplicationsAaniiih Nakoda College 5Bitterroot College 11Carroll College 18City College-MSU Billings 29Dawson Community College 37Flathead Valley Community College 47Gallatin College 16Great Falls College-MSU 83Highlands College of Montana Tech 7Helena College-U of M 39Little Big Horn College 40Missoula College-U of M 51Miles Community College 13MSU Billings 104MSU Bozeman 405MSU Northern 81Montana Tech-U of M 107Rocky Mountain College 4Salish Kootenai College 34Stone Child College 16University of Montana 554University of Montana-Western 76Total Number of Applications 1777

Which colleges received the most applications?

MSU Billings

Montana Tech-U of M

MSU Bozeman

University of Montana

010

020

030

040

050

060

0

Total Number of Applications Received

Total Number of Applications Re-ceived

How did students complete their applications?Time Set Aside Class Time: English,

Government, Finance Special Period: Study

Hall, Homeroom, Advisory

Lunch Open Office Hours Out of School Time:

After School, Evening

Amount of Time Used As little as 50

minutes As much as…

unlimited! Students were allowed to take their applications home to complete.

Additional Events CAW Presentation or Introductory Session Wear College Apparel Day/Week Guest Speakers

› Student Assistance Foundation› College Students› College Representatives

Financial Aid Night Staff and Teachers Share their College Experience at a

School Assembly or during class time “Ask Your Teacher” Drawing Montana Career Information System Scavenger Hunt Class time to learn about Montana colleges, the Financial

Aid process, scholarships, etc.

What about volunteers? 98 reported volunteers Teachers, school

counselors, school board members, college representatives, parents, community members, college students, local business employees, AmeriCorps VISTA, Student Assistance Foundation staff, military representatives

Highlights

Any questions?