COLLEGE APPLICATION MONTH 2014
South Carolina - 9/5/2014
Congratulations Greg Mathis Charter High School and Fairfield Central High School!
I have to admit - I am very impressed with today and it sounds like the College Representatives are as well along with the students! Wonderful work today! I spoke with Winthrop earlier and the representative stated the event he attended was going very well and was very excited to assist.
By the look of it, between two schools, 101 students completed the student survey and according to their answers, 149 college applications were completed and submitted! What a great first day!
The master application fee wavier list has been emailed but have attached a copy to this newsletter as well. Also, I attached the sign in and out sheet that will need to be used in order to collect additional data that we need along with the student surveys. The sign out portion is when the student writes how many applications they completed during their session.
Here are the steps on how to report your data to CHE:
1. Once the event has ended, please take your sign in and out sheet and go to the END OF EVENT REPORT on SCCANGO.
2. Please enter the information requested and click submit.
3. Lastly, scan your sign in and out sheet to CTeam@che.sc.gov. If you cannot scan and email, please fax to 803-737-3610 or mail to my attention at 1122 Lady Street, Suite 300, Columbia, SC 29201.
4. YOU ARE DONE - (oh, don't forget to send pictures to CTeam@che.sc.gov).
You will find the TV commercial on our YOU TUBE channel that will be aired this week and keep an ear out for the radio commercial as well.
Please remember to continue and promote your event and working with your planning committees! Also make sure volunteers are being identified and contacted so they are involved in your day.
Some of who have asked for instructions for the actual day and this can be found in your Coordinator Toolkit.
But here is a brief summary:
1. Place the sign in and out sheet out where students can sign in and out.
2. Introduce all volunteers and college representatives to the students and welcome the students to their College Application Day event.
3. Ask students to pull out their fully completed Student Resource Booklet so they can enter information needed that they previously worked on.
3. The SCHOLAR PAGE should be up and ready before students before they sit down for the application session.
4. Remind students what the * means next to certain schools.
5. Also, let students know that there are waivers available - this can be done before their session if one on one meetings happen before the event.
5. Students can then begin applying to colleges using the SCHOLAR PAGE. Yes students can apply outside of SC.
6. Once a student is finished applying, they will need to complete the STUDENT SURVEY. This can be found in two places: above in the tab section of the College Application Month section or in a green bar above the list of colleges on the SCHOLAR PAGE.
7. Then the student will need to sign out by simply placing a number of how many applications they completed and submitted.
8. Drum Roll...Then they receive the I APPLIED STICKER!!!
Thank you everyone for all your hard work and time preparing these students before your events to ensure they are successful when applying.
If you have any questions or want to schedule a webinar training, I do not mind at all. Just send me an email and we will schedule a time to do so.
Thank you,
Catherine Team
Assistant Director of Pre-College Youth
SC Commission on Higher Education
Fairfield Central High School
Lakewood High School
Greg Mathis Charter High School
Planning For You Event:
Here are some tips that will assist you with your planning:
1. Make sure you have a "Planning Committee" in place weeks before your scheduled event. Some key people to include - School Counselor, English Teacher, Librarian, Career Coach, IT person/staff, Principal
2. Have you received your College Application Month materials in the mail from the SC Commission on Higher Education? If not, please contact Catherine Team at CTeam@che.sc.gov as soon as possible to inquire about your materials. *MATERIALS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE - please see above link.
3. Make sure all participating high school seniors receive their Student Booklet and College Organizer folder weeks before their event. Booklets need to be completed prior to attending their scheduled event in order to successfully complete and submit their college application(s). English teachers can assist with the completion of these booklets and add activities into classroom time. Some schools are providing grades or extra credit for completed books before they attend College Application Month at their high school.
4. Recruit community volunteers to assist with your event. If your school has a preferred volunteer list, this is a good place to start. If you hosted College Application Month before, do you have returning volunteers who are interested in assisting this year? What about military branches, businesses, faith-based entities, non-profits and administration? Make sure volunteers are aware of the agenda for the day and make them comfortable by welcoming them with a space to take breaks. Also, make sure your front desk is aware of your scheduled day so they can assist volunteers when they arrive. Are their students that would be able to assist with volunteers when they arrive?
*Each school will receive a list of registered college representatives for events by September 2 along with a list of college application waiver information.
5. Please have a sign in and out sheet available for all students to fill out before and after they complete their College Application Month session. Please include the following: First and last name (sign in), How many applications did you submit (sign out)? Following your event, there will be a reporting form listed on www.sccango.org for each College Application Month site coordinator to complete based upon the sign in and out sheet, number of volunteers and other attendees including college representatives
6. Make sure your computers are able to have www.sccango.org/college-application-month displayed correctly. Each student session will need to begin on the SCHOLAR tab to apply to colleges in South Carolina. Yes, students may apply to any higher education institution they choose, but the SCHOLAR tab lists all SC colleges/universities and directs them straight to the assigned Application. Schools with an * next to them are CollegeNet schools where they will be able to apply using a password and having information auto-populate into another school with an *.
7. Make sure each student completes the STUDENT SURVEY before they leave their College Application Month session. This is very important for reporting purposes. Some teachers are awarding extra credit to those students that complete the STUDENT SURVEY.
For the weeks leading up to the very first College Application Month events in September, you will receive more tips and resources to assist you with your events.
College Application Month Contact Information
Email: CTeam@che.sc.gov
Website: www.sccango.org
Location: 1122 Lady Street, Columbia, SC, United States
Phone: 803-737-9758
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SC-CAN-GO/193525064146647
Twitter: @SCCANGO