DCAN Update | Apr. 6 2021
MAKING A FINAL DECISION
May is Right Around the Corner!
Now that it's April, we need to make sure we are supporting seniors with making their final decisions. Being accepted into college is not the same as being enrolled into college. Students should complete the following this month:

  1. Set up & check college emails at all schools they were admitted to
  2. Look for financial aid award letters in the mail, regular email, or in the new college email
  3. Use the award letter to determine financial gaps
  4. Compare financial aid packages of colleges to determine the best financial fit and which school offers the best financial aid package
  5. Start applying to scholarships for the colleges in which they have been admitted

As a part of our Senior Admitted Days, seniors can join us virtually on 4/19 from 3-5 PM to discuss understanding award letters and college 101. Being able to afford college is a huge piece in the puzzle and we want students to fully understand the financial responsibility they take on when they choose a school or program.
COLLEGE DECISION DAY

College Decision Day is rapidly approaching and we want to know what your school is up to!

Please complete the survey below and let us know if you will be planning a school event and if you need support from DCAN.

If you need support with planning an event either in person or virtual with your students, check out Better Make Room's College Signing Day toolkit. You can find event planning guides, zoom backgrounds, social media graphics, and more.

Through the unique challenges, seniors deserve to celebrate their accomplishments and future beyond high school.
NOMINATE A DETROIT
COLLEGE AMBASSADOR
The Detroit College Ambassador (DCA) Program aims to empower student leaders to engage their peers within Detroit in virtual and in person programming to increase postsecondary readiness and access in Detroit. As an ambassador students are responsible for the following:

  • Attend Monthly Meetings with the DCA
  • Be apart of a DCA Sub Committee in which students will lead college access programs
  • Engage at least 5 students to participate in monthly programming hosted by the DCA
  • Post at least once a week on personal social media about upcoming DCA Programming 
  • Attend 2 DCA events a month

We are asking counselors to nominate student leaders from grades 8 to 11 to be a part of our program for the next school year. If you have questions about the nomination process, please email ambassadors@detroitcan.org.
MCAN SPRING APPLICATION WEEK
College Decision Day is May 1, but that doesn't mean it's too late for students who haven't yet applied!

In an effort to encourage more students to apply to college, MCAN is promoting Spring Application Week.

During the week of April 19-23, many Michigan colleges and universities will waive application fees to remove this potential barrier to prospective students. If you know of seniors who are still unsure about their postsecondary paths, please encourage them to apply!
IN THE NEWS: COLLEGE BOARD OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP
2 Detroit students from Frontier International Academy and Detroit Edison Public School Academy have been selected to receive a $40,000 College Board Opportunity Scholarship! Only 25 students nationally were chosen.

The $40,000 Complete Your Journey scholarship consists of six college planning steps laid out in the College Board Opportunity Scholarships program. The six simple steps include actions all students can take to get into college, such as building a college list, filling out a FAFSA form, and applying to schools that are the right fit. Completing each step earns a chance for a $500 scholarship; completing all six earns students a chance to win $40,000 for their college education. Research shows that completing these six steps can help clarify the complex college planning process, especially for low-income and first-generation students.

The program is now open to students from the class of 2022. They can get started by going to cb.org/bigfuture and make a starter list of six colleges they’re interested in. Students have until June 30 to complete this first step and earn a chance for a $500 scholarship. Students who complete this and all the remaining steps will be eligible for the next $40,000 Complete Your Journey scholarship, which will be awarded in spring 2022.
CONNECT: Detroit College Access Network