Research indicates that while 70 percent of youth aging out of foster care desire to go to college (Courtney, Terao, & Bost, 2004), only about 20 percent of college-qualified foster youth enroll, compared to 60 percent of non-foster youth (Wolanin, 2005). Applying to college can feel overwhelming, and like there are so many details you'll never be able to do it all. This toolkit is meant to provide you with a road map and timeline of things that you can do to make it easier for you to go through the college admissions process! You will find a link to our comprehensive Financial Aid toolkit, which provides step-by-step instructions on how to receive the most financial aid support! Finally, the National Association for College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) has produced a comprehensive Guide to the College Admissions Process, that students and professionals can use throughout the admissions process.

It can be helpful to find a supportive adult to go through this process with you, such as a caseworker, high school counselor or teacher, foster parent, or other supportive adult. A good idea would be for the two of you to sit together and review this toolkit together! Other professionals who can be helpful in applying for college would be Education Planners and MYOI (Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative) Coordinators, who have experience working directly with students in foster care.

Freshman Year

• Meet with your guidance counselor and tell them you want to go to college. In fact, tell everyone you know (family, friends, coaches, teachers, caseworker, supportive adults)! The more people that know about your plans, the more people will be able to support you. Many institutions have TRIO programs that help to support students access higher education, even before they graduate high school! 

• If you need help, ask your teacher or counselor!

• Because students with experience in foster care are sometimes placed in different schools while having to re-adjust to new surroundings or care givers, they may experience difficulty with keeping up with school work. Help is available in schools! You can ask your high school counselor for assistance in being evaluated for additional services such as tutoring, and more time taking tests

• Did you know that there is a law that will help you stay in the same school, even if your placement changes? It's called the McKinney-Vento Act, and it exists because when students are asked to change schools, that can lead to them falling behind, and making it harder to graduate (Smithgall, C., Gladden, R.M., Howard, E., Goerge, R., Courtney, M. (2004). This website will explain all of the resources available to you to help you stay in the same school.

Sophomore Year

• Begin to explore what college majors or what careers look interesting to you!  Some schools have a career counselor who can give you a test to match your talents to different careers.

• Being involved in extra-curricular activities shows colleges that you are interested in different things. Think about joining a club at school, or becoming involved in the Michigan Youth Opportunities Inititative, or Foster Club!

• Sign up for Advanced Placement (AP) classes! Taking advanced classes show colleges that you can do challenging work, and you may even be able to earn college credit for those classes!

• Practice taking the SAT or ACT : https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test

Junior Year

• Look for Campus Support Programs in Michigan. Every day, more campuses are developing supports for students from foster care, and they offer a range of supports from tuition scholarships to campus coaching!

• Visiting a college campus is one of the best ways to learn whether or not a school is a good fit for you. During a campus visit, you can meet with admissions staff, campus support programs, receive a tour and much more! Click here to see resources to help make the most of your visit. 

Senior Year

• Identify the schools that you would like to apply to and find out their admissions application deadlines. Some can be as early as October, especially schools with Early Admission.

• Take the SAT or ACT.- if you are in foster care, then you qualify to have the SAT fee waived. You also qualify for 4 "request for fee waivers" which remove the fees associated with college applications. 

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - FAFSA becomes available in January. Completing the FAFSA by March 1st gives you the best chance at getting the most financial aid (see below for a link to FSM's Financial Aid Toolkit for more Financial Aid info).

• Visit campus and schedule an interview with the Admissions Office and with the Campus Support Program as available. Asking for an interview shows the school that you are enthusiastic and interested! Ask questions that will help you figure out if the school is a good fit.

• Complete the College Admissions Application - Have at least 2 people review your application and essay. You can fill them out online or on paper. Include your high school transcripts with your application. If you fill out the paper application, call to confirm that the office received the application. Ask for letters of recommendation from supportive adults such as teachers, counselors, caseworkers, or care givers. Be sure to write a thank you note! Most college applications are fee-based, but you can submit a request to  have the fee waived if you are having difficulty paying for it.
• The spring of your senior year you will receive a College Payment Authorization Form from MI Student Aid. Give a copy of this to the financial aid office of the college you are planning on attending so they know you have TIP. If you do not have this letter contact MI Student Aid.

**Financial Aid**

• There are a lot of Financial Aid resources available to students with experience in foster care. FSM's Financial Aid Toolkit will take you step-by-step through the Financial Aid process.

After Acceptance

• Once you have been admitted to a school, check to see when the deadline is to accept admission. Keep in mind, if you miss the acceptance deadline, you may not have a spot held for you.
• Sign up for and attend student orientation activities at your school.
• Apply for housing on campus if it is offered.

• Transitioning into college is a big, wonderful step! It may also be happening around the time you turn 18, which means you are planning  to transition out of the child welfare system. Talk to your caseworker about Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care and extended medicaid, to make sure you are getting all of the support and resources you deserve!

Transferring schools

• Are you considering transfefring schools? This website has some good tips on how to decide transferring is right for you. There are also things to consider if you are transferring from a 2-year school to a 4-year school.