Over 450 West Virginia schools registered to participate in “College Application and Exploration Week”
“College Application and Exploration Week” helps students explore postsecondary options and careers
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – “College Application and Exploration Week” will be celebrated statewide on November 4 – 8. Students, from pre-school to adult learners, will participate in hands-on college planning activities including college application workshops, panel discussions with current college students, college scavenger hunts, and trivia contests. They will also learn about different types of college options available such as certificate programs, career and technical programs, two-year degree programs, four-year degree programs, and military experience.
“The path our students take after high school is one of the most important decisions they make,” said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Paine. “College Application and Exploration Week allows for students to engage fully with the college application process and to attend events across the state that will help them realize their postsecondary opportunities.”
The campaign helps to address the gap between the number of West Virginians with a postsecondary credential and the number of West Virginians who will need a postsecondary credential to meet future workforce demands. Fewer than one-third of West Virginians hold an associate degree or higher, yet in the next few years, 60 percent of working-aged West Virginians will need a certificate or degree to maintain the state’s current workforce and attract new employers.
“College Application and Exploration Week gives students of all ages an opportunity to explore options in furthering their education,” said Dr. Sarah Tucker, Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and West Virginia Community and Technical College System. “It is never too early or too late to begin to have conversations about the importance of postsecondary education and this event provides West Virginians with resources and tools to help them achieve their goals.”
Last year, nearly 100,000 students participated in “College Application and Exploration Week” and parent participation increased by 20 percent. In 2017, more than 80 percent of the college applications that had been submitted statewide by the time of the event’s conclusion had been submitted by students taking part in the celebration. School registration for this year has been the highest in the event’s history with over 450 schools registered.
The College Foundation of West Virginia (CFWV) coordinates the annual “College Application and Exploration Week” event. CFWV is a college- and career-planning initiative managed by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in conjunction with the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, and the West Virginia Department of Education. To learn more about the initiative, visit cfwvconnect.com/college-application-and-exploration-week.
Follow the campaign on social media:
Twitter: @CFWV
Facebook: College Foundation of West Virginia
Instagram: @collegefoundationofwv
Hashtags: #CollegeBoundWV #WhyIChose #IApplied