NASFAA is helping to promote the launch of an innovative multimedia national campaign to help young people make their college dreams a reality. The KnowHow2Go campaign reaches out to underserved students, connecting them with information and resources that will help prepare them for a postsecondary education.
The campaign uses radio and television ads, public service announcements, outdoor advertising, and an interactive Web site at www.KnowHow2Go.org to reach youth who dream of college but may not have the know-how to attain those dreams. The campaign encourages students to take the following four steps to prepare themselves for college.
- Be a pain - in a good way. Find an adult who can help you with the steps to college. Let everyone know you want to go to college. And don't stop until you find the adult who can help.
- Push yourself. Colleges require you to take certain classes in high school. Find out which classes and sign up!
- Find the right fit. Think about interests and activities that you enjoy. Explore colleges with programs that suit your interests.
- Get your hands on some $$$. There's money out there to help pay for college. Apply for it!
The interactive Web site allows prospective students to explore their interests and then map their path to college accordingly. The site spends a significant amount of time dispelling postsecondary myths and informing students that a postsecondary education is within everyone's grasp. The site also provides customized information and newsletters based on a student's age and year in school, helping them prepare for college as early as middle school.
"We have to continually get the message out earlier to underserved students that college is an option for them," says Tim Christensen, NASFAA Vice President for Planning & Development, who has served in an advisory role on the campaign. KnowHow2Go is one of several collaborations NASFAA has entered into that address college access issues throughout the K-16 pipeline. Others include College Goal Sunday and the Pathways to College Network.
"First generation prospective college students from low-income families dream of a postsecondary education but many times find themselves unsure of what resources are available to them," continues Christensen. "Getting that information into their hands is the first step in keeping these students on the path to higher education."
States participating in College Goal Sunday assist families find financial aid and other college access resources. They work closely with the KnowHow2Go campaigns to bring college access information to families through college access marketing programs. This is a natural partnership as College Goal Sunday continues to be successful in helping first-generation students and low-income families access financial aid resources.
KnowHow2Go is the product of a national collaborative effort with the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation for Education, and the Ad Council. Visit www.KnowHow2Go.org to learn more.
By Justin Draeger
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications
Posted 01/18/07 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
