College Admission & Advising Program
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In an effort to support the successful pursuit of education
beyond high school, the Wight Foundation established the College Admission & Advising
Program. The Wight Foundation College Admission & Advising Program provides guidance
to help scholars understand how to best navigate the college admission process and
best position themselves to enter, afford and graduate from college. There are two
components to the program. The College Admission Program (CAP) is focused on supporting
Wight Foundation Scholars as they make their journey towards college matriculation.
The College Scholars Program is focused on supporting the Wight Foundation Alumni
through their undergraduate matriculation years and beyond. Each component works
in conjunction with a range of Wight Foundation resources and programs to support
scholars and their families.
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THE CASE FOR COLLEGE
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While nearly 100% of Wight Foundation scholars matriculate
to college, the reality is that such is not the case for many individuals in American
society. According to the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems
(NCHEMS), while 62.8% of New Jersey students enrolled in college directly after
high school, only 55.7% did so nationally in 2004. Nationally, the six year college
graduation rate in 2004 was only around 55%, according to NCHEMS. (http://www.higheredinfo.org)
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Most people see college as a means to obtaining access
to careers. While finding employment is important and college graduates earn significantly
more over their lifetime than non-college graduates, there are many other benefits
to college including: |
• Developing strong communication skills (written and
verbal)
• Learning how to analyze and process information
• Developing skills to adapt to diverse professional environments |
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Each year, The College Board publishes a report titled
Education Pays. The report provides a thorough analysis of the "public and private
benefits of higher education." In addition to documenting the higher earnings of
college graduates, the report documents a range of benefits for the individual and
society including: |
• Increased access to employer sponsored health insurance
coverage
• Increased access to employer sponsored pension plans
• More likely to volunteer and donate time and money
• Lower unemployment and poverty rates (http://professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/trends) |
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The College Board further provides a breakdown of other
trends in higher education, including Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College
Pricing. Indeed, college requires an investment of time and money, but study after
study and the harsh reality of life indicates that college is NECESSARY. The Wight
Foundation is one of many programs seeking to increase access to college. Review
the National College Access Network (NCAN) program directory to search for other
programs. The Pathways to College Network provides additional tools to assist your
planning for college along with the following links: |
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