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 30+ Local Colleges & Universities

CASE is honored to have received a proclamation from Mayor Cherelle Parker, recognizing October 25 - November 1 as College Application Week in Philadelphia. This proclamation further uplifts the importance of these effort in support of Philadelphia students and brings even more focus to the dozens of organizations and institutions providing services and resources for postsecondary planning.

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
• Haverford College Email dmanini@haverford.edu for Fee Waiver Assistance
• Penn State (All Campuses) Email abingtonadmissions@psu.edu for Fee Waiver
• Swarthmore College Complete SwatPass form for Fee Waiver Eligibility

MON 10/26: What's Your Plan? Campaign Resources

The What's Your Plan? (WYP) Family and Student Companion Guide is designed to empower families and students toward successful postsecondary educational outcomes that lead to fulfilling careers. This guide is helpful for ensuring a cohesive and supportive learning experience to get students to the next phase of their lives.

The WYP campaign is led by the CASE On-Time High School Graduation Action Team, in partnership with PhillyGoes2College.org (PG2C), powered by the Philadelphia Education Fund.

What's Your Plan? aims to ensure that every graduating senior leaves high school with a clear and actionable post-secondary plan, whether that path leads to college, trade school, military service, full-time employment, or entrepreneurship. This campaign reinforces the belief that every student deserves support in identifying, naming, and taking steps toward their future goals. Follow PG2C on Instagram to see and share video content supporting the WYP campaign aims.



WYP Postsecondary Pathway flyers available here:

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.

• Bring your school transcript to submit an application on-site!
• Speak with admissions counselors about programs
• Learn how affordable it is to attend a State System university
• Explore the campuses virtually
• Use this College Fair Worksheet to get the most out of your experience

WEDS 10/29: FELLOWS HBCU College Prep Initiative

FELLOWS is offering a virtual session is designed to guide participants through the transition from exploration to action in their college planning journey. Building on prior discussions around college fit and affordability, The Next Steps will help students and families connect insights from previous sessions—such as identifying quality HBCU experiences and understanding financial aid options—to tangible next steps.

Session is on Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 PM



Led by Dr. Connie Boswell & Nichole Renée Mitchell

Participants will gain practical guidance on preparing for college tours, evaluating institutional value, completing financial aid forms, and leveraging scholarships and resources to finance an HBCU education. The session will conclude with clear action items to support informed decision-making and readiness for enrollment.

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:

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.

WEDS 11/19: Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fair

The School District of Philadelphia’s Office of Postsecondary Readiness will be hosting their 27th Annual Malcolm Bernard Historically Black College and Universities Fair on Wednesday, November 19 from 3:30pm - 7:00pm at Martin Luther King High School located at 6100 Stenton Avenue.

The Malcolm Bernard Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Fair is the largest HBCU College Fair on the East Coast. This historic college recruiting event has a track record of attracting nearly 12,000 students each year.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Some colleges and universities in attendance at the fair will be offering on site acceptances, so students are encouraged to bring copies of their unofficial transcripts!

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!

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).