For many families, the college admissions process was scary, stressful and unsuccessful. With the onset of COVID-19 at the end of the 2019-2020 school year and the move to virtual instruction, it was apparent that high school students, particular rising juniors and seniors, had missed out on the opportunities to meet with their school’s guidance counselor to receive guidance in how to prepare for college. The Cyber College Prep Crash Course provided a way for the library to step in and give our teen community guidance.

We partnered with Collegewise, NC, to develop five workshops throughout September 2020. Each session focused on different aspects of applying to college. The topics covered creating a college application, personal statements, supplemental essays, finding the right college and paying for college. Each workshop was open to both parents and teens. We also hosted virtual round table visits with local colleges. By taking these workshops virtually, we could open them to both regular library users and non-regular library users.

After attending each workshop, students can submit a clear and compelling application to help them stand out. They learned writing techniques to write more engaging and persuasive college essays and leverage supplement essays to increase their chance of acceptance. Participants learn how to better identify and describe what they’re looking for in colleges to guarantee a successful college experience. Participants also learned how to complete the process of applying for financial aid and scholarships.