What is the Goal of Entering the College Zone?

 
The middle school years critically influence the life direction of children. Sixth, seventh, eight and ninth-graders make important decisions about their future based on information from a number of sources, including parents, schools, and peers. To encourage students to enhance their prospects for future success by preparing for college now, NBCDI created ECZ.
 
ECZ is an intervention/prevention program that empowers middle school students to achieve the goal of higher education, while motivating their parents to take an active role in furthering their children’s education. NBCDI recognizes the need to give every child a chance to realize their career aspirations. Through workshops on academic and financial preparation, students and parents alike learn what they can do to ensure college is part of the students' future. ECZ is designed to motivate students and their parents to begin planning for college while students still have time to gain the necessary skills and academic grounding for collegiate success. The project is premised on the need to work with students in their middle school/junior high school years when college preparation is crucial but often postponed until high school. Specifically, the seminars:

• Help students and parents determine what special skills, such as math, science and computers, are pre-requisites to success in higher education and certain careers.

• Encourage students to begin thinking about appropriate course offerings and extracurricular activities before they enter high school.

• Guide and assist students in learning about the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the important role it plays in the college admission process.

• Help students and parents identify ways in which their special aptitudes might translate into certain careers.

• Expose young students to a myriad of role models, such as college students and professionals, who can provide more personalized information on college and career choices.

• Assist parents to develop a "college plan" by sharing information on financial resources and more effective ways of working with guidance counselors.
 Comments from Students and Parents
  • “I think this program was very helpful to me. I think it helped me a lot as a person.” - 7th grader
  • “I learned that I needed to plan early for college, to really study hard and stay focused.” - 8th grader
  • “I think it was helpful how they showed us to go on the Internet to find out about college.” - 8th grader
  • “A very good program and informative.” – Parent
  • “I found the information to be very useful in preparation for the future of all my children and will definitely pass all of my new knowledge on to my friends who couldn't be here today.” – Parent
  • “The whole day was a great day for me.” – 6th grader
  • “It enlightened me to what my daughter needs to attend college.” - Parent

 

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