College Application Week gears students toward future

THOMPSON FALLS – The Thompson Falls High School participated in College Application Week last Wednesday, with 93 percent of the students filling out at least one college application.

The week was a statewide initiative through Gear Up Montana that allowed high school seniors the opportunity to apply to colleges during the school day with either a waived or deferred application fee. Overall, 18 Montana colleges took part in the week.

The week spanned from November 11th to November 15th. Thompson Falls Counselor Jodi Morgan picked Wednesday, November 13th for the seniors to fill out the applications.

“We ended up having 42 of our 45 eligible seniors complete a college application,” Morgan said. “For us to have 93 percent, that was really cool.”

This was the first year College Application Week was held, however, in the past Morgan encouraged students to come to her if they needed help with their applications.

The task at hand was significant but Morgan made sure the kids had a fun day to look forward to. Prizes were handed out throughout the day and a pizza lunch was provided.

“One of the bonuses is that students who participated and completed one college application received an opportunity in a drawing. And we had some really great prizes,” Morgan said.

The list of prizes included a Mini iPad, a Kindle Fire, a dorm fridge as well as different college t-shirts and gear bags.

Morgan explained the purpose of the day was to provide students with a plan or an additional option.

In order to host the day, the Student Assistance Foundation, a non-profit out of Helena, offered a grant to schools that wished to participate in College Application Week and College Goal Montana, which is the financial aid day that takes place in February.

SAF provided up to a $5,000 grant to interested schools. Thompson Falls asked for $4,000 and received it.

According to Morgan, approximately 65 percent of the graduating seniors of Thompson Falls will go on to enroll in college. Compared to a majority of Montana schools, Morgan said their enrollment rate is higher.

Although she knows that most likely not all of the students who applied to college will choose that route, Morgan said the important part is the graduates will now have that option.

“Probably not all 93 percent will enroll in college but at least they’ll have that option to look at it and that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about what options do I have after I finish high school and that’s just one of them,” Morgan explained.

Morgan would like to see the program continue for years to come.

“I think it’s all about opportunity and kids who don’t necessarily see themselves as college material will apply. It makes them look at college,” Morgan said.

Although Morgan said the college has to be an appropriate match for the student, she stressed that College Application Week can open doors for some students who would not otherwise have applied to college.

With an influx of college applications headed to the numerous colleges, Morgan expects the turn around rate to take longer than usual.

“It’s going to be daunting for the colleges because they have never seen this many applications (at one time),” Morgan said.

The schools will process the applications and follow up with students who may have not filled out the application as thoroughly as possible.

The next step in this process is with College Goal Montana. This initiative will allow students to fill out information for financial aid and includes filling out FAFSA. The event will be held on February 5th and students will have the opportunity to bring in their parents.

Gear Up Montana, the program that sponsored College Application Week, strives to college prep kids as soon as possible.

“It wants you to get kids ready for college,” said Gear Up Liaison Penny McPherson. “The goal is to get them hooked early and interested early so they go on and have a goal for themselves throughout high school.”

The Gear Up program in Thompson Falls focuses on 7th to 9th grade students.