During College Application Week, together let's encourage more students in Philadelphia to submit more college applications in order to ensure students have a strong postsecondary plan and good-fit options. CASE is promoting a series of coordinated events and initiatives throughout the week, including:

College Fairs // Application Workshops

Family Resource Guide // Social Media Campaign

Fee Waivers for 15+ Local Colleges & Universities

ALL WEEK: Area Colleges Waiving Application Fees

In recognition of this statewide initiative, these area colleges and universities are waiving application fees to encourage more students to submit an application, or they NEVER require application fees for Pennsylvania or Philadelphia students:

Please note the following colleges with specific fee waiver instructions:

• Chestnut Hill College Fee Waiver Code CHC2026
• Swarthmore College Complete SwatPass form for Fee Waiver Eligibility
• Penn State (All Campuses) Email abingtonadmissions@psu.edu for Fee Waiver

SAT 10/25: NACAC National College Fair Philadelphia

Encourage students to attend the NACAC College Fair on Saturday, October 25 at the PA Convention Center from 11:00am - 3:00pm. Fair presentations include:

• The Changing Landscape of College Admissions
• Financial Aid Presentation
• FAFSA Completion Workshop
• Scholarship Presentation

PLUS, there will be an on-site advising center where students and families can get questions answered right on the spot!

MON 10/26: "What's Your Plan?" Resource Guide

The On Track to College Graduation action team is rolling out the "What's Your Plan?" campaign in collaboration with PhillyGoes2College.org. "What's Your Plan?" aims to ensure that every graduating senior leaves high school with a clear, actionable, post-secondary plan.

The campaign also includes a companion resource guide, designed to empower families and students toward successful postsecondary educational outcomes that lead to fulfilling careers. The guide will include enrollment, entrepreneurship, employment and enlistment resources, scholarships, and application navigation support.

RESOURCE GUIDE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ON MONDAY, OCT 26

TUES 10/28: Campus Philly's Fall Career Event at TFI

This is an unique opportunity to experience college life in Philly, explore different career paths, network with young professionals and local college students, and build skills that will help in school, college, and a future career.

Attendees will meet reps from companies, colleges, non-profits, and government organizations across the Greater Philadelphia area and get a sense of what being a student in Philly is all about!

Plus, all attendees can explore Franklin Hall, Body Odyssey, and Wondrous Space during the event.

Currently, the Campus Philly Fall Career Event is only open to current college students, plus high school juniors and seniors.

WEDS 10/29: PASSHE College Fair at 440 N. Broad St.

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and its universities have come together to serve the students of Philadelphia by partnering with the School District of Philadelphia to conduct yearly college fairs. The purpose of the fair is to highlight the vast array of opportunities for all students within the State System.



At the fair, students will have the opportunity to:

• Speak with admissions counselors about programs
• Submit an application
• Learn how affordable it is to attend a State System university
• Explore the campuses virtually 

THURS 10/30: PCPR FAFSA Completion Training

To ensure that Philadelphia students have the best chance at receiving financial aid and enrolling in college, Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable (PCPR) is hosting a training for those assisting with FAFSA completion. There are two training sessions available at CCP:

Session I: FAFSA Basics

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Ideal for beginners or those with limited or no FAFSA completion experience.

Session II: FAFSA Advanced

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Perfect for those who have some FAFSA completion experience but need answers to complex questions.

SAT 11/1: Early Action Application Deadlines

Common App's Application Guide for First-Year Students highlights the application process. For each college, deadlines vary. Many colleges encourage students to apply by the November 1st Early Action (EA) deadline in order to receive a rolling, non-binding admissions decision ASAP and to qualify for maximum merit scholarship. 

• Temple and Penn State's Priority Application deadlines are 11/1/25
• Common Black College Application - https://commonblackcollegeapp.com/

PARTICIPATE: Submit an Event to the PG2C Calendar

If your school or organization is hosting an event to help support students and their families, or providing training/resources for the counselors/practitioners working directly with students, please submit the relevant information to be added to the PhillyGoes2College.org calendar:

TUES 10/14: Ellen Ridyard Joins Thom Butler of PCPR

Hosted by Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable (PCPR) Executive Director Thomas Butler, "Tuesdays with Thom" is a 30-minute, podcast-style information sessions that offers a relaxed yet insightful space to stay current on initiatives, programs, partnerships, and everything in between that’s shaping the college access and success landscape.

On Tuesday, October 14 at 12:30pm, PEF's Director of Collaborations and Partnership, Ellen Ridyard, sits down with Thom to "chop it up" about CASE College Access and Success Ecosystem.

WEDS 11/5: CASE Action Team Summer Melt Webinar

Summer melt is the phenomenon in which incoming first-year students who intend to go to college fail to show up on day one, often due to missed administrative steps or lack of summer guidance. This summer, the School District of Philadelphia released a report on summer melt for the classes of 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the CASE On Track to College Graduation Action Team has invited authors of the report to join and discuss.

Webinar is on Wednesday, November 5 from 10:00-11:30am. Webinar presenters:

• Dr. Aja Holden, Executive Director, Office of Postsecondary Readiness, SDP
• Dr. Motunrayo Olaniyan, Senior Research Associate, SDP
• Hillary Kane, Director, PHENND

In addition, PHENND will share a summer melt checklist that was developed after reaching out to area colleges for the information that they share with incoming students. Join the webinar to hear about the data, see the checklist and share resources and initiatives that have worked for your programs.

NEXT NETWORK-WIDE ECOSYSTEM MEETING

Weds., Dec. 10 from 9:30AM - 12:00PM

at Temple University's Charles Library

RESOURCES: Support From Statewide, National Orgs

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, is recognizing the College Application Campaign on the statewide level, providing robust resources and helping to elevate all efforts and initiatives aimed at increasing the number of high school seniors who will submit a college application this fall.

#WhyApply American College Application Campaign (ACAC)

The ACT's Center for Impact and Learning provides resources that are intended to guide high schools hosting a college application completion event from the early planning stage to post-event stage.

The ACAC team is available to offer technical assistance and trainings to help make your program a success!

FAFSA EVENT: WEDS 10/15 at 440 N. Broad Street

Please join The School District of Philadelphia at their 10th annual FAFSA kickoff featuring Dr. Watlington on Wednesday, October 15, from 3:30pm to 7pm.

This event is open to all School District of Philadelphia seniors (12th Grade) and the focus of the event is to provide live support to students and families completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Registration is required to attend this event.

Be sure to scan through CASE's resource page, featuring relevant content, thoughtfully curated by ecosystem meeting presenters and action team members.

Step Up to College

A guide to the college preparation, application, admissions, and financial aid processes.

Website & Instagram

Connecting Philadelphians to the resources and programs to help them plan, apply, and pay for college.

CCP's Catto Scholarship

Philadelphia residents can attend college for free! The Octavius Catto Scholarship is a city-funded initiative for low-income students at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP).