1/14/13
The College Countdown Begins
A new year’s begun and it’s time to get your seniors ready to pursue education beyond high school. Answer the questions below to see how you can help the students and parents you serve get the college ball rolling!
What’s the best way to get seniors ready for college?
Host a College Countdown event for your seniors and their parents to explain the FAFSA and provide other college planning materials and information. Let the Oklahoma College Assistance Program (OCAP) help offset the cost of your event by requesting a College Countdown stipend of up to $1,500, paid as a reimbursement after your event.
Why should I host an event?
You know your students and their parents best. When it comes to college planning, they trust the important information you provide. OCAP can help you present this information by offering:
- free FAFSA and college planning materials to distribute at your event.
- a ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation (including speaker notes) to talk about the FAFSA and college preparation tools.
- train-the-trainer sessions to teach you how to present the materials.
- an event planning guide to help you nail down the details.
An OCAP Outreach Specialist may even be able to help you conduct the session on-site, schedule permitting. Contact us for more information.
When should I schedule my event?
Many colleges host College Goal Sunday events in February; however, it’s your option to host a College Countdown event at a time that best fits the needs of your school. The earlier the better! Students should complete their FAFSA early in the year to ensure they meet state and federal deadlines for financial aid; especially free aid.
Who should attend?
High school seniors are your target audience. However, inviting their parents can help ensure important messages are received, especially as it concerns the parents’ roles in FAFSA completion.
Where should my event be held?
We recommend hosting at your school or possibly partnering with a local college or technology center. Depending on the focus of your event, you may want to consider providing access to a computer lab for students who want to complete their FAFSA on-site. If the event is hosted on a college campus, financial aid staff may be available to participate and help answer more complicated questions about the FAFSA or financial aid in general.
Contact us today to start planning your College Countdown event for graduating seniors. The process to apply for a stipend to help pay event expenses is easy and fast. Start planning today!
Penny Gandy
Manager of Outreach Services
Oklahoma College Assistance Program (OCAP)
P.O. Box 3000 | Oklahoma City, OK 73101-3000
pgandy@ocap.org | www.OCAP.org