College Awareness Activities for Youth
Familiarizing Students With to University Experience
Nov 8, 2009
Many people assume that college awareness activities are strictly for high school students. After all, those are the students who are making plans to continue their education, and younger students are just not ready to think about the possibility of college. These assumptions are incorrect. Actually, college awareness activities can and should be conducted at both the elementary and middle school level.
Getting students interested in college early can be beneficial in many ways. By starting conversations about higher education, kids can start picturing themselves there, generating excitement about doors it will open in their lives. They may start to see more of a connection between the work they are putting forth now and their future. Their efforts may become more goal-directed. At the very least, they will start familiarizing themselves with the concept of college, and start to see it as a possibility for themselves.
Following are some simple ideas that can be implemented in a school, classroom, or youth group for a College Awareness Week. The suggestions may need to be adapted somewhat depending on the setting.
College Classrooms
Each classroom can “adopt” a college to represent. Students can decorate their classroom door in college colors and symbols, create representations of the college mascot, and research the particulars about their college. Classrooms can utilize this college identity for any group competitions or challenges that occur during College Awareness Week.
Staff College Experiences
Teachers and youth workers can share information about their own college experiences with students. This will provide kids with the opportunity to hear a variety of viewpoints, and to connect real people to any abstract ideas they have about college. Kids can take time to generate questions and use these to interview individual teachers, or a panel of staff members can field questions from a larger group. Teachers should make sure that they keep their comments and discussions appropriate: reminiscing about how much they drank at frat parties, or similar topics, is obviously unacceptable.
College Sweatshirt Day
A college apparel day will give kids the opportunity to see and share the names of a variety of higher education institutions. Teachers and staff can wear sweatshirts from their own college or that of their own kids. Kids can also wear tee shirts, hats, sweatpants, or other gear to show school spirit. Classes can compete against one another, earning points for participation.
College Penpals
Former students who are currently attending or recently graduated from college would make great email pen pals for students. Younger students can ask questions and hear firsthand about college life, making the college experience truly come alive.
College Challenge Questions
Event organizers can create daily challenge questions regarding colleges that require students to research to find the answer. Students can earn points for their “college” classroom.
With a little planning and creativity, schools and youth organizations can implement simple, fun college awareness activities that will get kids excited and thinking about the possibility of college in their future.
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