College Application Week

November 4 - 8, 2013

Why CAW?	Application to participate
Volunteer Resources	Site Coordinator Resources	Senior Resources

What is College Application Week?

College Application Week is a national initiative with the goal to provide every graduating high school senior the opportunity to apply to college. Special focus is placed on assisting students who would be the first in their families to attend college and students who may not have otherwise seriously considered applying to college. College Application Week can open the door for students by encouraging them to take a significant step toward college in their senior year.

Why one week dedicated to completing college applications? The application process can be daunting, even for students surrounded by a support system of caring adults, and often students cannot afford the application fee. Schools hosting College Application Week will spend the weeks leading up to CAW helping students identify the right institutional fit, drafting essays, and securing all information needed to complete their applications. Schools help break down the application process for students and the week provides dedicated time to ensure all students successfully submit at least one application.

National Efforts:
College Application Week began in North Carolina as a pilot effort at a single high school in Siler City, NC in 2005 and has since grown to a statewide effort in North Carolina. Since then, many other states including Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, South Carolina, West Virginia and Florida also have begun to develop College Application Weeks/months to meet the needs of their respective states with a common goal of increasing the percentage of first-generation and low-income students that pursue a postsecondary education. Activities now occur in more than 1,200 schools in 24 states and the District of Columbia. As the CAW initiative has grown, the American College Application Campaign was developed to support all states currently participating and to encourage new states to participate. The American College Application Campaign is a national effort to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential. The primary purpose of this effort is to help high school seniors navigate the complex college admissions process and ensure they apply to at least one postsecondary institution.

Michigan Efforts:
Inspired by the national concept, the purpose of Michigan College Application Week is to target low-income students, first-generation college going students, and those who would have not otherwise considered college. Our goal is to ensure all seniors complete at least one application by the conclusion of Michigan College Application Week at host high schools. To learn more about Michigan CAW, download the 2012 CAW Report and the 2013 CAW one pager. holton college application week_web

2012 CAW Report (PDF)
2013 CAW One Pager (PDF)
2013 CAW Host Site Application - deadline is May 10

2013 Michigan Host Sites:
The application to participate as a 2013 CAW host high school is now available. Selected host sites are expected to host activities for completing applications during Michigan College Application Week, November 4 - November 8. Their activities will take place during the school days and hours. Each host site creates and sets their own schedule that fits the needs of the school building. Selected host high schools will be announced in June. Due to summer break, host sites are not expected to start planning until the last week of August.

Want to learn more about serving as a host site? Click here to watch the recorded webinar.
Webinar Recording Date: Tuesday, April 2
Presenter: Lisa King, MCAN Assistant Director
Go to webinar recording

2013 CAW Host Site Application - download - deadline is May 10, 2013

FOR VOLUNTEERS:

Volunteers are critical to a successful Michigan College Application Week event. Statewide and local recruitment of volunteers is needed to provide sufficient staff for each local event. Volunteers may include high school staff, registrars and admissions officers from nearby postsecondary institutions, and representatives from the community. Volunteers can greet and sign-in students, assist students with the completion of online college applications, or distribute information about financial aid opportunities.

How to sign up to volunteer:

Each host site will have specific needs for their College Application Week events. As host sites confirm their schedule of events, we will update the host site list with site coordinator contact information and their request for volunteer needs. Please note that host sites are not expected to begin planning their activities and needs until the last week of August due to summer break. This means most host sites will not know their volunteer needs until late September.

Volunteer Webinars - Training
Two webinars will be available for volunteers. A Volunteer Recruitment webinar will discuss what is College Application Week, why we need volunteers and how you can help as a volunteer. The second webinar will serve as a Volunteer Training for those that have signed up to volunteer as specific College Application Week host sites. 2013 dates of the webinars are TBD.

Volunteer Recruitment Webinar - What is College Application Week? Why Volunteer?
Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 3:00 - 4:00 pm
WATCH THE RECORDED WEBINAR
Download the PowerPoint

Volunteer Training Webinar - specific to those that are confirmed volunteers at host sites
Thursday, October 11, 2012 from 3:00 - 4:00 pm
WATCH THE RECORDED WEBINAR
Download the PowerPoint

FOR SITE COORDINATORS:

Applications to participate as a host high school will be available on April 1, 2013. Selected host sites will be notified in June 2013. Due to summer break, host sites are not expected to begin planning until the last week of August. A webinar training for Site Coordinators will be available in late August. Date is August 29, 2013.

2013 Site Coordinators Resources will be available in August. The following items are anticipated:

2013 Site Coordinator Resource Manual for participating high schools
Planning Checklist for participating high schools (available within the Site Coordinator Manual)
Volunteer Resource Guide (available within the Site Coordinator Resource Manual)
Data Tracking Tool
Promotional materials including "I Applied" stickers, posters, pens

FOR GRADUATING SENIORS:

The following resources will be available in August:
Senior Resource Guide & Application Checklist
Michigan College Access Portal
College and University Application Fees, Essay and Letter of Rec Requirements - includes updates of institutions waiving fees during CAW 2013

Michigan College Access Portal:

The Michigan College Access Portal is a statewide initiative that provides FREE support for students, parents and site coordinators to simplify the process of transitioning from high school to college and career. It is a comprehensive one-stop-shop for students to plan, apply and pay for college. Sign up today at www.michigancap.org.

Multiple webinars and training resources are available to help you understand how to utilize specific user roles like Student, Counselor or Parent. You must first create an account at www.michigancap.org and log in to access the recorded trainings. Once logged in, training resources are available at "Support," the select "Training Center."

QUESTIONS:

Questions regarding Michigan's College Application Week should be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 517-316-1713.

THANK YOU:

The Michigan College Access Network would like to thank this year's Implementation Committee for their support in bringing this initiative to Michigan. A complete list of the Implementation Committee can be found at the bottom of this web page.

Attachments:
2013 CAW One Page	[ ]	362 Kb
2013 CAW Host Site Application	[ ]	72 Kb
2012 CAW Report	[PDF]	1020 Kb
Site Coordinator Resource Manual 2012	[PDF]	2769 Kb
Implementation Committee	[ ]	187 Kb
College Access Portal Webinar	[ ]	7 Kb
Senior Resource Guide & Checklist	[for Seniors]	723 Kb
Volunteer Resource Guide 2012	[for Site Coordinators and Volunteers]	274 Kb