As the air finally gets crisp and chilly, and it’s football season, students and their families are set to explore what’s next after high school – choosing a college or university.
First, they need to learn about the college admissions process and then meet fast-approaching deadlines: applying for admission, taking exams, figuring out how to obtain financial aid, and other tasks. That long list of questions and issues can overwhelm even the most organized high school senior.
The Keys to Success/Las Llaves del Exito program can help. The free college fair for families will be held Sat., Oct. 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mountain View College, located at 4849 W. Illinois Ave. in Dallas. Presented by the Dallas County Community College District, in partnership with the Dallas Independent School District and Mountain View, the event will provide students with the keys they need to succeed in higher education, including information about how to navigate the system so that they can attend a college or university.
The program will focus on students in grades 6 through 12. Parents and school counselors are invited. Breakfast will be provided. Participants are asked to pre-register online at www.dcccd.Llaves2016.eventbrite.com.
The half-day event will feature a FAFSA/TAFSA clinic, as well as a variety of other sessions geared specifically for middle school and high school students, plus programming for parents and school counselors. “The FAFSA application has been available since October 1, and we want to help students complete their applications on site during the college fair,” said Esther Canales, manager of partner alliances in DCCCD’s outreach office, who is coordinating the event. “We recommend that students bring their FSA identification; if they don’t have one, they can create an FSA ID at www.fsaid.ed/npas/index/htm. They also need to bring their Social Security card, a Texas driver’s license or ID, and their parents’ 2016 federal income tax return.”
Sessions will be offered for several groups:
· General sessions for 6th- through 12th-graders and their parents are: College: Not Just Academics; How to Find and Compete for Scholarships; Enough Is Enough: Moving Together to Stop Violence; and the FAFSA/TAFSA clinic.
· Sessions for middle school students include College: Not Just Academics; High School: Getting Prepped; Choosing a Career Path; Magnet Schools and Choice Schools; Professional Career Insight Panel; GenTX’s Game of Life; and Beef Up Your Security.
· Combined sessions for middle- and high-school students are: Enough Is Enough; Earning College Credit While in High School; and O Snap! Better Safe than Sorry.
· Sessions for high schoolers will be: How to Find and Compete for Scholarships; Extracurricular Matters; College Entrance Exams; Understanding FAFSA/TASFA; Get Ready for DACA/DAPA; Smart Money Moves for High School and Beyond; From Campus to Career: Young Professionals Panel Discussion; Internships: Overview and Search Tips; and FAFSA Clinic.
· Parents’ sessions are: Getting Ready for DACA/DAPA or Preparese para DACA/DAPA); and You Can Afford College or Usted Puede Pagar la Universidad. Counselors can attend two sessions: Social Emotional Health; Summer Melt FAQ.
Sponsors for the event include: DCCCD, Dallas ISD, Mountain View College, UT Outreach-Dallas, H&R Block, Credit Union of Texas, University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas County Schools, La Grande 107.5FM, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Education Is Freedom, Telemundo 39, Keepin’ It Real Youth Empowerment Summit, Well Fargo, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Ford Motor Company, Texas Woman’s University, CapitalOne Bank, University Crossroads, Dallas Public Library, Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez, LULAC National Education Service Centers Inc., Resource One Credit Union and Teen Graffiti.
Almost 1,200 people participated in the event last fall, and more than 200 volunteers will be on hand to assist students and families this year and to provide practical information so that they can go to college. Representatives from area colleges and universities will participate in the program and talk to students and families about the process of enrolling in college.
Details also are available at dcccd.edu/KeysToSuccess.
