Oregon GEAR UP

Oregon College Application Week (CAW) seeks to increase the number of students who are applying to college early in their senior year, with a focus on first-generation and low-income students as well as students who may not otherwise apply to college. As part of the nationwide American College Application Campaign® (ACAC) initiative, Oregon CAW will be held November 3-14 at more than 85 high schools and community based organizations across the state.

An initiative of the American Council on Education, in 2013 ACAC reached 2,500 schools and 150,000 students in 39 states and the District of Columbia—and generated 220,000 college applications nationally. During the 2014 school year, all 50 states and DC will be participating in ACAC.

During Oregon CAW, participating high schools and organizations will assist students as they complete college applications during the school day with the goal of each participating student submitting at least one college application. Students will be applying to all of Oregon’s 17 community colleges, 19 independent colleges, and 7 public universities, as well as out-of-state colleges and universities. In support of the initiative, Governor Kitzhaber has proclaimed that November is Oregon College Application Month:

“The long-term prosperity of our state depends on having bright, skilled, motivated entrepeneurs and employees ready to fill existing needs and create new enterprises. A highly educated population is the way to get there. College Application Week offers Oregonians a concrete step on the path to attaining postsecondary education.”

President Obama has also declared November to be National College Application Month. He said, "This month, we celebrate the limitless possibility within every child. We honor the teachers, school counselors, and parents who help students apply to college. We recognize the institutions that are taking steps to ensure they reach the best and brightest students, regardless of their background, and all those who ensure the next generation is prepared for success."

This is the third year that Oregon has hosted College Application Week, beginning with 7 pilot sites in 2012. With the tripling of sites from last year, Oregon CAW has the potential to reach more than 10,000 seniors, representing nearly a quarter of the state’s graduating class of 2015. The majority of participating students will submit their first college application during their school’s event. In fact, according to one graduate from Taft 7-12 in Lincoln City, CAW was critical to his applying at all: “I wouldn’t have applied without College Application Week. I couldn’t have even done this at home.”

Oregon College Application Week is coordinated by Oregon GEAR UP in partnership with a steering committee comprised of representatives from all sectors of Oregon K-12 and higher education.

For more information see oregongoestocollege.org or contact Adrienne Enriquez at 503-725-2914.