(Albany, NY: date) October 28 – November 1 is College Application Week in New York State, joining 30 states in the American College Application Campaign’s national effort to ensure high school seniors apply to at least one postsecondary institution.  The effort will occur during the school day, with selected high schools and community organizations participating in the inaugural event.

New York’s campaign is being supported by the New York State Education Department in partnership with the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York (CUNY) and others, with the goal of providing assistance, encouragement and excitement for the college application process, focused on students from traditionally underrepresented populations who might not otherwise apply to college.

While people who hold a bachelor’s degree earn 84 percent more over their lifetimes than those who have only a high school diploma, only 44 percent of working-age New Yorkers have a college degree.

Dr. John B. King, Commissioner of Education and President of the State University of New York said, “Within the next several years, 63 percent of all New York jobs will require some post-secondary education, with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, healthcare and community service occupations growing the fastest.  Meeting the educational needs of underrepresented populations now will open doors that lead to a successful and bright future for them and help build New York’s economy, ensuring New Yorkers will be ready for the highly skilled jobs of the future.”

College Application Week participating high schools will hold week-long activities to help graduating seniors complete at least one college application with the assistance of trained school staff and volunteers.

Elsa Magee, Acting President of HESC said, “Our goal is to provide every graduating high school senior the opportunity to apply to college.  Students in the fastest-growing sectors of the state’s population, Hispanics and people of color, and high school students from low-income families attend and graduate from four-year colleges at half the rate of students from affluent families, even when they are equally qualified. New York’s College Application Week activities are focused on providing first-generation and low-income students both encouragement and direct assistance in completing their college applications.”

Carla Shere, Ed.D., Director of College Planning at Humanities Preparatory Academy in New York City says, “At my school, the budget only allows me to be there two days per week. An event like College Application Week will ensure that all seniors will apply to at least one college. Once students apply to even one college, they develop the self-confidence to continue the process."

Pedro Hidalgo a senior at Humanities Preparatory Academy says, "This is great because I'm able to sit with someone to complete my application and I won't be so lost. I'm the first person in my family to apply to college and my mom doesn't speak English, so all of my college help comes from school."

New York’s event is part of the American College Application Campaign (ACAC), a national initiative that is an effort of the American Council on Education. In 2012, ACAC campaigns took place in nearly 1,600 schools in 24 states and the District of Columbia. New York will be one of at least 30 states that will hold College Application Week events in 2013.

Steering committee organizations plan to expand the event to full statewide participation in 2014. For more information and a list of participating schools, visit www.GoCollegeNY/apply.

About New York College Application Week:

College Application Week (CAW) is a national initiative with the goal to provide every graduating high school senior the opportunity to apply to college. Special focus is placed on assisting students who would be the first in their families to attend college, low-income students, and students who may have not otherwise seriously considered applying to college. CAW began as a pilot at a single high school in North Carolina in 2005; last year, activities occurred in more than 1,200 schools in 24 states and the District of Columbia.

For more information: Contact Kathy Crowder, HESC’s Sr. Vice President for Communications at 518-402-1448; kcrowder@hesc.ny.gov.