Delaware Celebrates College Application Month

Last week concluded Delaware’s College Application Month, part of a nationwide effort to assist high school seniors in the college application process and increase college attendance. Special focus is placed on first-generation college students or those who otherwise may not have considered applying to college. Delaware piloted this program in two schools last year, and this year’s program was state-wide with 20 public high schools providing designated school time to help seniors apply for college. Delaware was among 40 states including the District of Columbia that hosted an event this year.

The Delaware Department of Education, with support from the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration, hosted volunteer opportunities for community members to help students in this process. Eager to help support schools and students, our entire staff volunteered at different schools. We were energized by witnessing students’ optimism about continuing their education as well as by the college-going culture at the schools.

Delaware’s College Application Month is aligned with the state’s College Access Grant Challenge initiative to support student access to higher education. We look forward to next year’s College Application Month and other college-going initiatives and programs that will continue to strengthen Delaware’s student college and career readiness efforts.

The McKean High School library windows were decorated with posters about the college process and names of students who have applied to college.

Thoughts from our Communications Director, C.R. McLeod:

I had the opportunity to visit McKean High School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District during its College Application Week and assist a group of students who were navigating what can be an intimidating and scary process – deciding where they should go to college!

It was interesting to hear the variety of discussions taking place in the room – from amenities like dorm size and activities to locations either close or far away to home, the students all shared one common characteristic – excitement about the possibilities ahead. McKean had more than 300 applications submitted during the course of the week. Providing a time and place during the school day for students to work on applications, ask questions, and receive assistance helped to ensure that seniors are preparing and applying to schools now and meeting necessary requirements well before deadlines approach in the new year.

Hopefully College Application Week will become a standard part of the school year for future seniors, and that ultimately we will see more high school seniors applying for and being accepted at colleges to continue their education and prepare them for the career of their choice.