A number of states have developed web-based college access sites to provide students with critical information on what they can be doing in middle and high school to prepare for college and careers, on the states’ various postsecondary institutions (to help students find the best fit), and on financial aid and scholarship opportunities. These sites all aim to make the college application and enrollment process clearer for students but also have an important readiness component that clearly communicates postsecondary expectations to students, parents, guidance and career counselors and educators alike.

BE WHAT I WANT TO BE
Founded by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, Be What I Want To Be works to achieve meaningful, measurable and systemic improvement in schools and student achievement. The site offers students critical information about college and career planning, but also provides thought-provoking questions that help guide students as they figure out what they want to be. Students are encouraged to create an account to begin setting personal goals for life, career and learning.The site also includes a number of industry profiles – in areas such as energy, telecommunications and health – that include personal stories, major employers based in Maryland, examples of the range of jobs available in that industry, and what students can do to prepare for careers in those fields.

COLLEGE FOUNDATION OF NORTH CAROLINA
College Foundation of North Carolina is a nonprofit partnership between Pathways of North Carolina, College Foundation, Inc. and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. Together, these organizations provide a complete and comprehensive source of information – and real solutions – for students and their families. The web-based resource provides tools including a student planner that allows students to plan their high school education to meet the entrance requirements of North Carolina’s colleges and universities. There is also a virtual “college fair,” which allows students to search through the state colleges and universities to see which might be the best fit for them.

COLLEGE FOR ALL TEXANS
College for All Texans’ objective is to enroll an additional 430,000 academically prepared people in Texas’ colleges and universities – beyond the 200,000 enrollment growth that has been projected for 2015 – by providing critical college access information to students, parents and counselors, including planning resources, financial aid details and a link to a college readiness diagnostic assessment offered by University of Texas System. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which launched the College for All Texans website, estimates that adding more students to the state’s higher education system and raising the annual number of graduates to over 210,000 is essential for Texas to close the gaps in college participation and success by 2015 and to follow a course toward a bright future for all of its people. The slogan is Education: Go Get It.

GEAR UP HAWAII
Hawaii’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a statewide campaign – geared towards students from 5th grade through high school, parents, teachers, counselors, education policymakers, legislators and the general public – developed in partnership by the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Department of Education and community partners. In addition to providing crucial information about college preparation, access and financial aid, GEAR UP Hawaii offers a number of programs and services, such as learning skills courses, preparation for college placement tests, a college awareness month (for which GEAR UP developed a comprehensive advocacy kit), and the GEAR UP Scholar program, which encourages middle school students to take a rigorous curriculum in high school. This very successful program has benefited from careful planning and research, highly targeted media and advertising strategies, direct marketing, and the effective leveraging of strategic partnerships. Read GEAR UP Hawaii’s 2007-08 performance report here.

GEAR UP OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) initiative is a comprehensive statewide social marketing effort, led by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, designed to ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in postsecondary education by building awareness about the importance of postsecondary education, early planning and the potential for financial support. The campaign is aimed at students from 5th grade through high school, parents, teachers, counselors, education policymakers, legislators and the general public. One valuable project of GEAR UP Oklahoma is the state’s 40-plus Plan4College centers, which provide students and parents with a one-stop shop for college access information.

LEARN MORE INDIANA
Learn More Indiana is the state’s Pre-K to college connection, the state’s strategic communication effort to improve student achievement and increase the educational attainment of all. Learn More Indiana includes a host of information on college and career access, with overviews of Core 40 graduation and assessment requirements, the various two- and four-year postsecondary options across the state, admissions requirements, and financial aid and scholarship options. Those interested are able to order materials through learn More Indiana, such as “Indiana’s Guide to Paying for College: An Introduction for Families and Students” and inserts for graduation plans that contain grade-specific checklists, goals, and an extra-curricular activity log to chart students progress towards college and career readiness.

WAY TO GO R.I.
Way to Go R.I. is Rhode Island’s student portal for college and career planning, developed by Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority. This comprehensive site allows students to create a portfolio and access a wide range of useful information. Students can build resumes, explore two- and four-year colleges by programs and majors in Rhode Island and across the nation, access college admissions and placement test practice modules, search for scholarships, build a financial aid plan, create a practice college application, and even apply directly to colleges through the Common Application.