Students Speak Out at Reach for College! Forum

Students affirm importance of college and the 12th grade stresses of getting there

RFC sponsored a student-led forum last month for a panel of seniors in high school, who are nearing the end of their college access quest, to discuss their hopes and plans, how they've moved toward making those plans a reality, and the bumps along the way. Their insights, openness and determination in the face of challenges made for an enlightening morning.

Student forum panelists seated Jasmine Andrews (Washington Math, Science and Technology Charter,) Antonio McCoy (H.D. Woodson,) Donneka McPherson (Booker T. Washington Charter,) Christopher Brown (Booker T. Washington Charter,) Evelyn Richardson (Hospitality Charter). Student Moderators standing Andre Nichols (Spingarn High) and Tiaira Gilbert (Dunbar Pre-Engineering.) Not pictured but also a panelist--RFC Board Member Ashley James, past-RFC student now a junior at the University of the District of Columbia.

Certain threads came through loud and clear, bulleted below.

Student attitudes toward college and new opportunities:

Students understand very well that college is the best option for them, especially in a bad economy, because individuals with more education are going to be better able to compete for jobs.
Students understand that there are a lot of opportunities available to them now and later in life and they want to stay open and take advantage of as many as possible.
Students know that sometimes these opportunities are going to stretch them out of their comfort zones and they expressed some reservations and fears about that, especially regarding what they expect to be the workload in college and in leaving their families for the first time.
As much as they worry a little about leaving their families because they know they are going to be homesick, they are also eager for the freedom this will bring them.
Students look forward to independence and to prove to themselves that they can accept adult repsonsibilities and fend for themselves.
Students expressed some fear about failing in college, but they are also determined to do all they can to persevere and succeed for themselves and to set an example for those coming behind them.

What has helped students this year in going through the college application process and preparing for college:

All students cited learning to write a well-constructed essay as taught to them in their RFC class was one of the most important things they learned this year. This helped them do better on the SAT essay section and on essays required for college and scholarship applications.
Learning time-management and prioritizing what they had to do versus what they wanted to do.
The RFC class was important to them all as a 'place where you could focus on all the college things you needed to get done, not get distracted, and have time to prepare for the SAT'.
Taking AP and Honors classes and dual-enrollment part-time at a local university. Students said they know they have not been academically well prepared for college and are eager to try to close that gap before they get to college.

Difficulties or stresses they've experienced this year:

Meeting deadlines for scholarship applications. They said they had missed a lot of deadlines.
Managing their time with everything they have to accomplish because sometimes they are in leadership roles in school in addition to working, completing schoolwork and doing applications.
Worrying about how to pay for college and trying to get all the money together in a short period of time.
Waiting for acceptance letters, especially from their first-choice colleges.

Recommendations for younger students:

Plan ahead. There is so much to do in the senior year that it is stressful. So try to get as much done ahead of time as possible.
'It's not too early and it's not too late.' It's never too early to start planning and doing things to prepare for college. And if you are just now deciding to go to college, it's never too late to make up your mind to go. There are opportunities always available.
Take Honors and AP classes because they help prepare you for college-level work.

Recommendations for policy makers:

Students need to have a time and a place, such as the RFC class, to get everything done for college access and to network with other students to share information.
This could be an after-school program too. It would be good if students could be paid a stipend to participate in such a program because students need money and have to spend time working when there are so many other things they need to do in their senior year to complete high school and get ready for college.
More money for financial aid and scholarships.

All of the student panelists and moderators were RFC students, have been accepted to college and are planning to attend the following schools and pursue these majors:

Jasmine Andrews--Fayetteville State University, Computer Technology; Antonio McCoy--Prince George's Community College, Mechanical Engineering; Donneka McPherson--Ohio State University, Biology and then Veternary School; Chris Brown--Wilberforce University, Hospitality Services; Evelyn Richardson--still awaiting first choice acceptance; Andre Nichols--University of the District of Columbia, Criminal Justice; Tiaira Gilbert--Florida A & M, Architecture.

This year RFC is serving 4,600 students in 15 schools in D.C. and Prince George's County, Maryland.

For more information about what RFC does, where it is working, and student successes, please see our website: www.reachforcollege.org.