Department of Higher Education

The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education voted Thursday to expand College Application Week following the event’s successful pilot program last October.

More than 2,000 students submitted 3,600 applications to higher education institutions during the event at 26 high schools in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas and the south central part of the state.

Missouri hopes to double the number of high schools participating this year.

“Encouraging students to explore their options for higher education and apply to college is an important step in helping more Missourians earn a postsecondary degree,” said David Russell, Missouri commissioner of higher education. “We look forward to reaching out to more students by expanding College Application Week to additional schools throughout the state.”

While the event was open to all seniors at participating high schools, the focus was to increase the number of college applications submitted by low-income students and students who would be the first in their family to attend college.

The high schools provided time and resources during the school day for the event. A number of activities, including assemblies and college tours, promoted the importance of completing a higher education program and earning a two- or four-year degree or professional certificate.

College Application Week was sponsored by the Missouri Department of Higher Education with assistance from the Missouri College Advising Corps, a group of recent graduates working in high schools with a large percentage of students who are less likely to attend college. Advisers worked one-on-one with students to help them complete college application forms.

Missouri was one of more than two dozen states sponsoring College Application Week activities last fall.