College Knowledge Month
Site coordinator support and resources for college application events in October
Why Host College Knowledge Month Events?
To help establish and/or build upon a culture of career and college-readiness in Minnesota and support our state's Educational Attainment Goal.
To provide necessary support to Minnesota students and families who have historically been underrepresented in the postsecondary education process.
To increase the number of Minnesota students who complete the college admissions process.
A list of where Minnesota students can apply for free throughout the year.
Overview
Who can participate: All Minnesota schools can participate in College Knowledge Month. College access programs that work within districts or charter schools can also participate!
Site expectations: Sites interested in participating must devote time and space during the school day for college exploration activities for their students. Schools serving 12th grade students must include time and support for seniors to complete college applications during the month. Registered sites can participate at any point during the month of October. Sites are asked to complete a site coordinator survey after month concludes. Participating sites are eligible to be named a School of Excellence.
Social media hashtags: #MNGoesToCollege #IAppliedMN #WhyApply
Registration: Register your site to host an event during the 23-24 school year. Announcements and news will be sent to registered sites.
Event Planning and Promotion
Ideas and tools from other Minnesota site coordinators.
Student worksheets and event materials, K-8 lesson plans.
Site coordinator training opportunities.
Promotional materials provided by Minnesota Goes to College: social media guide, October calendar, etc.
Additional Resources
For students and families: Tools and online resources for the college search and application process.
PowerPoint Presentations
Apply to College - Coming Soon
Publications
Choosing a College - Order free publications for your event(s), from the Minnesota Office of Education.
Minnesota Private Colleges - Order free materials to learn more about what 18 private, non-profit Minnesota private colleges have to offer.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - Order free guidebooks and posters of the 33 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
College Fairs
Minnesota Education Fairs - When and where Minnesota college fairs are held, hosted by Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC).
National College Fair - Annual college fair in Minneapolis, hosted by National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
Schools of Excellence
School of Excellence winners are selected by the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) based on their demonstrated commitment to student success and for serving as an exemplary model for their state’s college application campaign. Each year, ACAC works with designated coordinators in every state and the District of Columbia to host college application events and reach students in their schools and communities, encouraging and helping them to apply to college.
Park Center Senior High School Named 2022 School of Excellence
The American College Application Campaign (ACAC) is proud to honor Park Center Senior High School as a 2022 School of Excellence winner as part of Minnesota Goes to College events to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential. Park Center Senior High School is one of 23 winners, a group of exemplary schools across the nation that are helping students pursue postsecondary success.
Special recognition goes to Sara Schreiner, Park Center's Career Resource Specialist, for her work coordinating Minnesota Goes to College events to assist students with college applications and the financial aid process.
Nationally, 4.2 million students have been served by ACAC, and 7.3 million applications have been submitted since the Campaign began in 2005.
