Preparing for College… in 8th grade!
Even though it might seem too early to be preparing for college before you’ve even finished 8th grade, we know that there is great importance in helping our students create a vision for their future selves.
“Students learned about study abroad, how to choose a major, the importance of taking advanced classes in high school, and more!”
So one day in May, our 8th graders came to school with luggage full of shower shoes and college dorm sheets, for an overnight trip to Grand Valley State University! We combined with students from our sister school, Detroit Achievement Academy (DAA), and arrived midday. After eating in a college cafeteria, we embarked on campus tours, followed by GVSU trivia and a student panel. Students learned about study abroad, how to choose a major, the importance of taking advanced classes in high school, and more! In the evening, we had a bonfire, complete with s’mores, and learned how to use dorm room keys (with only a few accidental lockouts).
“So one day in May, our 8th graders came to school with luggage full of shower shoes and college dorm sheets, for an overnight trip to Grand Valley State University!”
The next morning, our students were pretty tired on the bus ride home, but they were full of new memories and a renewed sense of purpose. They were able to see themselves on a college campus and begin to think through what type of post-secondary options might be the right fit for themselves. This type of experience is only one part of our high school transition process, where we support students to AND through high school (and beyond)!
