Building College Awareness in Middle School: Our Workshops in Miami and Kansas City
Middle school is a transformative time when students begin forming academic habits and mindsets that will shape their future educational journeys. Student Leadership Network’s College Access Services (CAS) team has introduced and adapted college awareness programs for middle school partners nationwide, preparing students for success well before college applications begin. While our workshops were originally designed for high school students, we incorporated feedback from teachers and principals regarding the need for earlier exposure and adapted the materials for middle school audiences. Let’s dive into our work in Miami and Kansas City to explore practices that educators can consider for their own schools.
Why Early College Awareness Matters
When students start thinking about college in middle school, they have more time to explore their interests and plan for high school courses and activities that will better position them to pursue postsecondary education. More importantly, this early exposure helps students develop what Harvard researcher Dr. Mandy Savitz-Romer calls a ‘college-going identity‘—seeing themselves as future college students rather than simply receiving information about college possibilities. By introducing college and career concepts to students and providing practical skills-building workshops and events, we collaborate with school staff to enhance students’ aspirations for higher education and foster a schoolwide college-going culture.
Middle school students will develop essential skills that can benefit them throughout high school, college, and their future careers. Research shared by the National Association for College Admission Counseling shows that key factors influencing students’ college-going behavior include speaking with a college counselor by ninth grade and participating in a college preparation program outside of school.
Through services tailored to each school’s needs and geographical context, we provide workshops for students on core concepts such as:
- Fixed vs. Growth Mindsets
- Who Am I – discovering passions and improving communication skills
- Introduction to College Concepts
- College Trip and College Fair Planning
Miami: Supporting Students with Skills-Based Workshops
Our partnership with North Miami Middle School exemplifies what’s possible. Carolina Moquete, Senior Manager of New Markets, led a team to facilitate a variety of workshops for nearly 400 seventh- and eighth-grade students. Alongside her colleagues Maria Jose Lascarro and Lizabeth Diaz, they hosted workshops such as “Goal Setting,” “Transitioning to High School,” and “Introduction to Financial Literacy” to set students up for success on their educational journeys. The team also demonstrated flexibility in facilitating workshops with Spanish translations as needed, allowing students with limited English proficiency to participate in and understand the materials.
“Students have shown exceptional engagement during these sessions,” shared Carolina, “and the principal reports significant improvements in students’ academic confidence and future planning.” This is our third year supporting the school, and the principal was extremely thankful for our continued partnership and contribution to their school community!
Kansas City: Building a Middle School’s College-Going Culture
Our partnership with the Kansas City Girls Prep Academy (KCGPA) takes a different approach. Adapting to the needs of Grades 5-8 served by the school, Carolina collaborated with school counselor Gina Bumgarner to help design and support the school’s first-ever High School Fair, featuring seven Kansas City high school partners. The event was held in conjunction with its College Fair, which included 11 Missouri colleges and vocational programs.
Early exposure to college concepts and college visits normalizes the expectations of higher education, encouraging students to develop the confidence to ask questions and explore a wide variety of postsecondary options. When students actively participate in exploring these possibilities rather than passively receiving information, they’re more likely to see college as achievable for themselves.
To increase exposure to the college process, Carolina and KCGPA staff led over 60 KCGPA students on a visit to the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), which included a college prep workshop led by the admissions director, a campus tour, a student panel discussion, and lunch in the campus dining hall. It was a very productive week for the future Classes of 2029 & 2030!
Advancing Educational Equity Through College Access Services
College access workshops help advance educational equity by normalizing conversations about college and by providing students, especially those from under-resourced communities, with the tools and knowledge to plan for their futures in a supportive environment. Recent studies from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show a 20% gap between immediate college enrollment for students from high poverty schools compared to those in low poverty schools. By collaborating with Student Leadership Network to introduce college awareness in middle school and throughout high school, staff and administrators are helping students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they’ll need to navigate their educational futures successfully.
Interested in designing a college access program for your public school? Contact us to explore partnership opportunities that will benefit your students for years to come. Please reach out to Carolina Moquete, Senior Manager of New Markets, at cmoquete@studentleadershipnetwork.org.
