College application week pilot program returns statewide

This week marks the second year of the state’s pilot program called College Application Week, where the state provides resources to local high school seniors to help them complete their college applications, and in some cases, even waive those expensive application fees.

State Coordinator for the program Dana Kelly said this is part of a national effort to encourage high school seniors to apply for college during the early fall months.

She said last year they started with 21 schools, and this year they are up double that amount.

“Last year we were advised by the national group to only allow between one and 10 schools, and our steering committee thought we needed to include as many schools as we could so we bumped that up to 21. By next year, we are hoping to include every school in Idaho who wants to be a part of this program.”

Chairman of the counseling department at Century High School Scott Tyson said he applied two years in a row to allow Century to participate, but the school wasn’t accepted.

Kelly said for the pilot year, they were looking for lower-income schools and those with fewer resources.

Tyson said every year the high school sees between 30 and 40 percent of its students on the free and reduced lunch program, and college application fees alone could deter some of those smart students from applying.

“We’re talking sometimes 30, 40, 50 bucks-a-piece and it’s common practice for some students to apply to three or four colleges, so that’s quite a bit of money for a student who is on free and reduced lunch,” Tyson said.

He said three years ago, he implemented a program at Century called Think College, and so the first Friday of every month, teachers spend the first ten minutes of class discussing college topics.

“And because of this, over the last three years, we have seen students change their college application effort from January or February, up to more of a September or October effort. So now we’re seeing a ton of enthusiasm from our senior class,” Tyson added.

He said the school even petitioned Idaho State University and Boise State University to try and allow one day for students to apply without having to pay that application fee.

“Last year ISU made $30,000 on application fees and so we wanted just one calendar day where we can take those students who need help with college application fees, and help them apply.”

But the universities weren’t willing to give up that profit quite yet.

Kelly said data from last year’s pilot program show out of the 3,000 students they served, there was a 78% completion rate among students who filled-out at least one college application.

Out of those, Kelly said the majority of students applied to in-state schools such as ISU, Boise State, and the University of Idaho.

For more information, visit the state’s website here:http://gotocollege.idaho.gov/