On the 22nd of April, freshmen went all over the city to tour colleges and scope out their potential school choices to further plan their future.
Students were spread among University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, and Eastern Kentucky University. The goal was to personalize the tours to students’ interests and academies as well.
Many freshmen have never visited a college campus, and this trip allowed students to see what it’s like on a real life campus. Opening them up to what programs are available, what you have to do in order to attend, and what steps students can take now to be better prepared.
Students may see themselves at that particular college, see a program or major they are interested in pursuing, find out how to apply for a scholarship or program, etc. Aligning with Frederick Douglass’s goal in shaping a student’s future goals and allowing them to have a better understanding of what they need to do at the high school level to achieve their post-secondary goals.
Freshman have a selection of colleges to choose from based on their personal preferences. Mrs. Jones, our College and Career Coach, looked at the specific academies selected by each student and then allowed all freshmen to complete a survey indicating where they would like to attend.
¨The trip as organized to provide meaningful experiences for students at FDHS. We want to help students reach their goals, and for many students, college after high school is a part of their future goals¨ Says Ms. Mills, an administrator here at Frederick Douglass.
Ms. Mills also had advice for freshmen that still aren’t sure about what they are interested in, ¨My advice would be to continue doing research on colleges and universities that may be the right fit for you. There are a variety of factors to consider, the majors and programs available at the school, the cost of tuition, how much KEES money you will have for college, what scholarships are available, and how attending the college aligns with your future goals¨.
Besides the opportunities available from the field trip with freshman, Frederick Douglas has academy counselors who help shape your schedule and align classes with your future plans, college and career coach who can help you apply to schools, understand FAFSA, and set up college visits.