"Early awareness" programs help students understand the benefits of graduating from high school and continuing on to higher education. These programs also help students prepare for this journey both academically and financially.
It has become increasingly evident that many students arrive at their junior and senior years of high school only to find that they have not fulfilled the requirements for admission to a college or university, or that they feel unable to afford an education beyond high school. Fortunately, there has been an awakening about the scope of these and related problems over the last several years. As a result, an increasing number of schools and organizations have initiated activities to promote early awareness.
Why Early Awareness?
Why should early awareness programs be implemented? Because they work!
- A study by the Higher Education Information Center (Boston, MA) found that 8th graders participating in early awareness programs were significantly more likely to plan to take college prep courses in high school than students who did not participate.
- An evaluation of Sponsor-A-Scholar (SAS), an early awareness and mentoring program, concluded that SAS students were three times more likely to attend college than the control group students, had higher grades, and participated in more college prep activities. The students on whom the program had the most impact were those who had low grade-point averages (GPAs) and high rates of absenteeism in the 9th grade, and those with minimal family support.
- A national evaluation of the federal government's TRIO Upward Bound early awareness program found that students who participate in the program expect to complete more schooling than similar students who do not. Also, the program has a positive impact on the number of academic courses participants take during high school. The students who benefit the most initially are those with lower academic expectations.
