30th Annual Latino College Expo & College Prep Seminars 2020 (9-12th graders)
Click on this link to RSVP for free! If you are attending, e-mail Nancy Brito at nbrito@summersearch.org.
Location: New York University
Date: March 21st, 2020
Time: 9:30 am– 3:00 PM
The Latino College Expo (LCE) is your gateway to meeting admissions representatives from over 50 public and private colleges, universities and community-based organizations. Founded in 1990, LCE's mission has been to "elevate the educational aspirations of the Latino community and all youth".
The EXPO is comprised of many Colleges and Universities, New York City Community Based Organizations, and the "Ask the Counselor" tables. Bring your school transcripts, test scores and list of extracurricular activities if you'd like to talk one-to-one with a college advisor.
You are also welcome to the COLLEGE PREP SEMINARS prior to the Expo in order to hear information and engage in discussions on various topics that will help prepare you for the college search process. (See below for more info)
COLLEGE PREP SEMINARS (10:00AM - 2:00PM)
(Seating is limited and pre-registration is highly recommended for each INFO SESSION. Please read the following Seminar descriptions below.)
The goal of the COLLEGE PREP SEMINARS is to encourage all high school students, parents/guardians, counselors, and community-based organizations to participate in various seminars for college preparation prior to attending, and during, the 30th Annual Latino College Expo.
COLLEGE PREP SEMINARS
SESSION 1 @ 10:00am / SESSION 2 @ 11:15am / SESSION 3 @ 1:00pm
You will be able to select one choice for each session.
Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis.
THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
Attendees will learn about the commitments and benefits of college life. Hear on a variety of topics such as balancing your schedule, academic demands, athletics, extracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, Greek life, social life, GLBTQ and multicultural organizations, taking care of your health, avoiding the “Freshman 15”, staying home vs. going away, living on and off campus, studying abroad and some other unique aspects college life has to offer. Engage in Q&A with current college students and recent graduates to find out some “inside info” on college life.
MAKING IT HAPPEN - The College Journey ... It's Not Where You Start But Where You Thrive.
Has so much focus and fuss on choosing and applying to colleges got you stressed? Not sure what to major in? Wondering what happens after college? This info session will give you an opportunity to ask professionals from the fields of Media, STEAM, Law, Medicine, Finance, Entrepreneurship and others all you want to know. They will share their personal journeys since graduating from college. Find out what colleges they attended, when they decided their majors, the career paths they chose, how they stayed connected to their schools, communities and more to get to where they are today.
ADMISSIONS BASICS & KEY THINGS TO KNOW
What comes first? Knowing the colleges you want to go to or taking the SAT or ACT? It all depends on a few key factors. Knowing when to start on the college process and taking specific steps will help to alleviate as much unnecessary stress as possible. How should researching schools be done? When is the best time to visit? What are schools really looking for? How important are the standardized tests vs. no test at all? These questions will be addressed along with preparing a portfolio, interviewing, essay writing, letters of recommendation, deadlines, handling stress, things that make you stand out, public vs. private institutions, opportunity programs (EOP, HEOP Seek/CD ...) , 2-Year options, the Transfer process, taking a Gap year successfully and more. Hear firsthand from college admissions representatives who are the experts on the inside info and key things to know about admissions.
ALL THINGS FINANCIAL AID & MONEY TO STUDY - Accessing Grants & Scholarships
Applying to college can be intimidating, confusing and expensive. There are millions of dollars that go unclaimed by prospective students. This session will address the essentials of applying to college, from crafting competitive applications to completing necessary financial aid paperwork (FAFSA & CSS Profile) in order to access the wealth of funding available. Participants will learn how to research and access various types of opportunity programs, grants, scholarships at the city, state and national levels. You will also learn about the different loans and repayment plans to pay for college. Resources will be shared such as websites, organizations and strategies to apply and obtain as much money as possible to help make college affordable and more attainable.
REACHING THE DREAM ... Money & Rights for Education
Participants will learn about New York State’s recently passed NYS DREAM Act legislation that allows undocumented and DACA students the ability to apply for state grant and scholarship programs, including TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship. Participants will learn how to find immigration reputable/reliable legal service providers to understand their immigration status.
WRITING THE RIGHT ESSAY
Many students have similar grades, test scores, and even extra-curricular activities, so how do you distinguish yourself from other applicants? By writing a stand-out personal essay! An exceptional college essay is a great way to show admissions officers your depth and personality. The Common Application offers six different prompts, ranging from a problem you’d like to solve to an essential story about your background. Many colleges also require supplemental essays which are shorter responses that are specific to a particular school. Writing about yourself is daunting. You'll walk away from his seminar with strategies to help make the process easier and even fun. The college application essays are your chance to defy expectations, be creative, and share something unique and memorable. This session will discuss brainstorming and writing tips, successful college essays, and typical mistakes to avoid. Anyone feeling anxiety about the personal essay should attend this session-- afterwards you will be ready to write!
SELF CARE TIPS FOR HANDLING STRESS WHILE APPLYING TO COLLEGE
The college application process is a time that can bring about a bit of stress for students, parents and guardians. Learn about techniques and discuss concerns to make it all manageable for you, your family and the environment you're in with skilled mental health professionals and educators. (Students, Parents & Guardians ONLY)