College Connections for Student Success April 1, 2015 Terrell Monroe Communities in Schools of Atlanta Stone Mountain High School Sarah Wenham University System of Georgia Office of Student Affairs

Collaboration Makes it Possible!

GAC Goals Encourage students to apply to college Encourage students to apply earlier The Georgia Apply to College program seeks to:

The BIG Picture Students prepare by researching colleges and gathering the information needed to complete the admission application. Site Coordinators may incorporate supplemental activities to build excitement and encourage college conversations leading to their event. Site Coordinators secure volunteers to support their event. GAC provides volunteer training and materials for the events. Site Coordinators select a day or days for their event. They work with teachers to be sure all seniors will have the opportunity to participate. During their event, students receive assistance completing their online applications from specially trained college and community volunteers

GAC Growth

Support for Participating High Schools Available Materials: Site Coordinator and Volunteer Training Videos Site Coordinator and Volunteer Handbooks Apply to College Guideway and Guide for Preparing for Your Students Buttons and Stickers Posters Banner

Site Coordinator Materials

Volunteer Materials

Student Preparation Materials

Spreading the Word

Encouraging College Conversations

Creating an “I Applied” Culture

“The fact that my school had volunteers to help answer our questions and encourage us to continue to apply to college.” “It encourages you to apply early and you get your questions answered.” “I was encouraged to apply and had a set time and place to do so. I also had great volunteers to help me when I needed them to. They answered my questions.” “The most helpful aspect of this event was simply getting time to work on my college applications and having help along the way.” “If it wasn't for this event, I would've procrastinated on applying to college.” What do Students Say?

How Can You Get Involved? Partner with your local high school to help them plan and hold a GAC event. Plan and hold a GAC event at a non-school location (YMCA, church, Boys and Girls Club, military base, etc.) Volunteer to help students apply during a scheduled GAC event at your local high school. Volunteer Feedback I enjoyed the interaction with the students. I had forgotten what it was like to fill out an application and was amazed at all the questions that would seem straight forward but aren’t actually easy to answer!… Wonderful program! Keep it going! This event is very beneficial. I helped a student who does not have a computer at home and other students whose parents would not have helped. I am certain some students may not have applied without his event.

Stone Mountain High School Terrell Monroe, Communities in Schools of Atlanta, coordinates the event. First GAC event held in 2013 and event continued to grow in Incorporated activities to help students prepare to apply and to share excitement across the school. Volunteers played a key role in making the event a success!

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