Help Getting Into College

  Test Registration All EIF students are required to take one of the two national standardized tests (ACT or SAT) in their junior year. The EIF Higher Education Advisors work with students to decide which test to take and then ensure that each student has a study plan in place, and is aware of deadlines and fees.

 

 

  College Matching

A student's chances of succeeding in college often depend on choosing the right college. Size, location, academic focus, cost and environment are all major factors that the Higher Education Advisors help students consider.

 

Individual Counseling

Often, EIF students are the first ones in their families to go to college, so deciding which one to go to can be a daunting task. That's where the HEAs come in. They work one-on-one with each student to help them choose a college that best meets their individual needs and goals. Students are counseled to apply to at least 3 schools. • A school they know they will get into • A stretch school • A dream school

 

College Trips

It's hard to make a decision about attending a college if you've never been there. By coordinating college trips, EIF helps students get a first-hand feel for what each campus is like. From checking out the dorms to visiting with professors and meeting with student ambassadors, these field trips are an invaluable part of the EIF program.

In recent years, groups of EIF students have visited such schools as:

University of North Texas Southern Methodist University University of Texas-Dallas Texas A&M-CommerceRice University University of Houston Prarie View A&M University University of TexasMoorehouse College Clark Atlanta University Georgia Tech University Spellman College

 

Annual College Fair

Exposure, exposure, exposure. The DISD Annual College Fair lets EIF students meet with representatives from colleges and universities from around the country. Last year, over 1,100 students and more than 175 colleges and universities attended the fair.

 

 Essay Writing JamsThe hardest part about writing college essays is getting started. Starting junior year, students are invited to attend twice-yearly essay writing jams to get a head start. EIF reserves a Saturday morning and provides employees and volunteers to act as editors and cheerleaders. The students are given 3 topics to choose from and a goal of leaving with a draft of a 500-word essay. Since the jams are early in the school year, students have months to polish them. The EIF staff makes sure that every student's work is safely backed up on a flash drive and proofed. In short, one of the biggest hurdles in the college prep process becomes a party.

 

Applications! Applications! Applications! Individual Counseling All EIF students are required to apply to a least three 4-year colleges (a shool they know they will get into, a stretch school, a dream school), and one 2-year community college. HEAs work one-on-one with each student to identify their target schools and understand deadline and application requirements. They then help students craft their applications. Even though most students take the SAT/ACT in their junior year, EIF recomends each student retake them.

Financial Aid Since all colleges and universities use it as the basis for awarding all financial aid packages, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)  or the TASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid) is a critical element to the college application process. But, filling it out correctly can be complicated. HEAs help students and families navigate the process from start to finish.

Scholarship Applications EIF students are required to apply for at least six scholarships. To that end, our staff has assembled a database of local and national scholarships that can be searched by factors like dollar amount, deadline, and award focus. Our HEAs then work one-on-one with each student to identify appropriate opportunities and apply for them. Check out the EIF Scholarship Database.