Indiana College GO!

College GO! Week is an annual, statewide event to promote enrollment in two- and four-year colleges across Indiana.

BRIEF SUMMARY

College GO! Week is an annual, statewide event to promote enrollment in two- and four-year colleges across Indiana. Schools are encouraged to promote enrollment in college with a weekly scheduled of events, based on this theme, such as having presentations by college admissions representatives, trivia contests, and daily announcements.

KEY POINTS

• College Go! Week is part of “College Go!” which takes place each August-November with information and resources designed to help Indiana students plan for education beyond high school. The official “College GO!” kick-off is always the last full week of September (September 25-29, 2023), and is known as “College Go! Week,” but you can incorporate College GO! activities and events whenever they fit into your calendar. Some schools select their own week during this time period to do their “College Go! Week” so that it better fits into their school calendar.
• The definition of college for College GO! Week includes other postsecondary options, such as apprenticeship programs.
• There is a recommended focus for activities at each grade level: Elementary level recommendations focus on college awareness and why college is important. Middle level recommendations focus on high school diplomas, college degrees and career goals. High school level recommendations focus on programs of study, finding the right school/program and the application process.
• Learn More Indiana (http://www.learnmoreindiana.org/) provides many resources, activities, and a suggested schedule of events for College Go! Week.

RESOURCES

• (Added 9/16/24, Hilary Deardorff, CHE): The eagerly anticipated Learn More Indiana shipments are on their way to you! We hope you enjoy this year’s updated content. Shipments are still being sent and should arrive within a week or two. Based on your feedback last year, this year’s shipment will contain updated handouts, 21st Century Scholars Guides in the new form of a postcard, and the addition of Educator Guides. These guides are equipped with worksheets and classroom activities that can be used to encourage career and college preparation and are perfect to utilize during Indiana’s College GO! Campaign and College Application Week, which runs from September 23 to 27. There is a QR Code located on the shipment label that will direct you to a quick survey. Fill out the survey for a chance to win some additional Learn More Indiana swag!
  • Don’t forget to sign the pledge for your school to participate in Indiana College GO! 2024 by completing the following form: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7932908/2024-College-GO-and-College-Application-Week-K-12-Site-Survey.
  • Reminder: If your high school is interested in being considered for the American College Application Campaign’s School of Excellence Award, you must submit the survey and confirm your school’s participation in College GO! Week.
  • Track your shipment today by visiting LearnMoreIndiana.org/shipment.
  • If you have any questions about your shipment, please contact Kayla Walke at MWalke@che.in.gov.
  • #WhyApply Day will be kicking off the campaign on September 20, 2024. Join us in celebrating #WhyApply Day by sharing your reason for applying to college. You can use this printout, to write your “Why” and post a picture of you holding your “Why” to social media with the hashtags #WhyApply and #CollegeGO. Don’t forget to tag us! – Facebook: @LearnMoreIN – X: @LearnMoreIN – Instagram: @LearnMoreIndiana
  • The following week starts College Application Week (September 23)! College Application Week is part of College GO! And is a national initiative of the American College Application Campaign (ACAC). The goal is to help high school seniors navigate the college admissions process and ensure each student submits at least one admissions application. Many Indiana universities join in the celebration by removing their college application fees for a week or longer so that students can apply for free. For a full list of schools participating visit: https://learnmoreindiana.org/college-discovery/college-go-initiative/#:~:text=Toolkit%20and%20Example-,College%20Application%20Week,-SEPTEMBER%2023%2D27
  • Indiana will also be participating in ACAC’s School of Excellence Award again! Starting in 2023, Indiana began to recognize one high school to be the recipient of the American College Application Campaign’s (ACAC) School of Excellence Award. This award is given to a school that serves grades nine through twelve and demonstrates a commitment to student success. Nominations for this award are based on College GO! involvement and college applications submitted during the campaign. The winning school excels in providing students with college and career preparation activities and college application support. The winning school is then recognized by ACAC and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. For additional information visit: https://learnmoreindiana.org/college-discovery/college-go-initiative/#:~:text=of%20Participating%20Institutions-,School%20of%20Excellence%20Award,-Starting%20in%202023 To sign your school up as a participating school, complete the following survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7932908/2024-College-GO-and-College-Application-Week-K-12-Site-Survey
  • Interested in learning more about the campaign and how to get involved? Check out the 2024 College GO! Starter Guide. The 2024 Starter Guide is your one-stop-shop for all things College GO!. Equipped with engagement ideas, background info, and helpful links, this guide will make sure your 2024 College GO! campaign is a success! Click here to review the guide: https://learnmoreindiana.org/college-discovery/college-go-initiative/#:~:text=our%20resources%20below.-,Starter%20Guide,-Social%20Media%20Toolkit
  • You can access printable classroom materials on Learn More Indiana’s website here.
  • Shipments to schools containing Indiana college posters are set to begin shipping on September 15. However, if you’d like to print the posters yourself in the meantime, you can here and here.
  • If you school is participating in College GO!, please let us know by completing our short survey if you haven’t already
  • If you have any questions about College GO! or your school’s shipments, please contact Kayla Walke at mwalke@che.in.gov.
  • Here are key dates:
    • September 22: #WhyApply Day
    • September 25-29: College Application Week. We will send a list in CounselorTalk of schools participating in College Application Week once it’s been finalized.
    • (Michelle Ashcraft, CHE): College Application Week is September 25-29, 2023, and Why Apply Day is September 22, 2023. I recently shared that our higher education institutions have until September 8, 2023 to indicate if they will participate in College Application Week. At that time https://learnmoreindiana.org/ college-discovery/college-go- initiative/ will be populated with the list of institutional participants.

    SHARED WISDOM

    Q: If you ask college-related trivia questions, can you please share what you ask?
    A: In the past, I asked the staff where they attended college, then I made trivia questions based on that. For example: “This ACTIVE staff member attended Ball State where he learned how to run from class to class.” The students had to email me the answer and the first correct one received a prize from the “college prize table.” The answer was our PE teacher. Then I gave 3 facts about Ball State.
    There are trivia questions and match the mascot sheets on counselor stop (below).

    In the past we have done favorite college sweatshirt day, favorite college hat day, dress for success day- students intended career. Students (and staff) love dress up days.
    

    We are going to do a door decorating contest. I will have the homeroom draw a college out of a hat and their door has to decorated related to that college/university. We will have judges judge at the end of the week. I will act two trivia questions over the intercom in the morning and I will collect the answer ballots after each morning. The 1st period, and homeroom, that win will receive a prize.

    CONTENT FEEDBACK

    If you have suggestions, feedback, or resources, please email counselor1stop@inspiresuccess.org and let us know.