Philadelphia High School Students to Get Free Campus Visits as State Schools Step In
As part of a new initiative, Pennsylvania's state universities are stepping up to provide transportation barriers-free campus visits for local high school students. The program aims to help prospective students from Philadelphia get a glimpse into college life without worrying about the financial burden of traveling.
Starting next week, 945 selected high school juniors and seniors will embark on day trips to seven nearby universities as part of this experimental program. Students participating in this initiative come from Heights Scholars, the Philadelphia Education Fund, and the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable - three organizations working to bridge the college access gap in the city.
During these campus visits, students will engage in activities meant to prepare them for college life such as eating in the dining halls and discussing their experiences with current students. Moreover, the host universities will share participating students' information with admissions offices of other state schools, thereby increasing their chances of being accepted into a state university.
"This partnership plays a crucial role in helping every student make informed decisions about their future," said PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. "This initiative allows students to learn about college options and find the right fit for them - even if they choose not to attend our universities."
Eligible students will be assigned to campus visits based on where they attend high school, according to Kevin Hensil, a spokesperson from PASSHE. Students are scheduled to visit Shippensburg University on November 6, West Chester University on November 12, and other institutions in December.
The program is funded by donations, including approximately $30,000 from the Patricia Kind Family Foundation, the Hamilton Family Charitable Trust, and some state universities, with a goal of raising another $100,000 annually to expand the initiative.
The foundation believes there's a clear need for programs like this, especially in urban and rural communities. As they evaluate student interest and participation levels, they will assess the program's impact on students' higher education decisions in order to secure additional resources to potentially expand the program further.
As part of a new initiative, Pennsylvania's state universities are stepping up to provide transportation barriers-free campus visits for local high school students. The program aims to help prospective students from Philadelphia get a glimpse into college life without worrying about the financial burden of traveling.
Starting next week, 945 selected high school juniors and seniors will embark on day trips to seven nearby universities as part of this experimental program. Students participating in this initiative come from Heights Scholars, the Philadelphia Education Fund, and the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable - three organizations working to bridge the college access gap in the city.
During these campus visits, students will engage in activities meant to prepare them for college life such as eating in the dining halls and discussing their experiences with current students. Moreover, the host universities will share participating students' information with admissions offices of other state schools, thereby increasing their chances of being accepted into a state university.
"This partnership plays a crucial role in helping every student make informed decisions about their future," said PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. "This initiative allows students to learn about college options and find the right fit for them - even if they choose not to attend our universities."
Eligible students will be assigned to campus visits based on where they attend high school, according to Kevin Hensil, a spokesperson from PASSHE. Students are scheduled to visit Shippensburg University on November 6, West Chester University on November 12, and other institutions in December.
The program is funded by donations, including approximately $30,000 from the Patricia Kind Family Foundation, the Hamilton Family Charitable Trust, and some state universities, with a goal of raising another $100,000 annually to expand the initiative.
The foundation believes there's a clear need for programs like this, especially in urban and rural communities. As they evaluate student interest and participation levels, they will assess the program's impact on students' higher education decisions in order to secure additional resources to potentially expand the program further.
! It's so cool that PA state universities are taking steps to break down those transportation barriers for Philly high school kids. I mean, who doesn't want to experience college life without stressing about how they're gonna get there? It's all about giving these students the freedom to explore and make informed decisions about their future. And, honestly, it's awesome that the host universities are already sharing participating students' info with other state schools - talk about a network effect! 
The fact that this program is funded by donations and aims to raise more cash to expand it further is just another level of awesome. I'm all for supporting initiatives like this one 
, because at the end of the day, we want every kid in Philly to have access to the same opportunities as anyone else 
.
! so they're basically taking care of transportation for these high school students from philly who wanna visit state universities - it's about making college accessible and not super stressful financially. i love that the host universities are also helping out by sharing info with other schools, like, it's a win-win! 
. I mean think about it, most of these kids are from underserved communities and they don't have the same resources as their peers from wealthier areas 
. This program is literally changing the game by providing them with a free trip to campus 
.
. I love that they're including activities like eating in the dining halls and discussing experiences with current students 
. It's all about giving these kids a taste of what they can expect if they do end up going to college.
. It just goes to show that we can come together as a community to make a positive impact on our youth 
. Let's keep supporting initiatives like this and creating more opportunities for everyone to succeed! 
is this even real?!?! They're literally giving free campus tours to high school kids in Philly! I mean, it's not like they can just afford a plane ticket or anything... 945 kids are gonna get a chance to experience college life without breaking the bank? That's so awesome!!! 
. I love how PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino is emphasizing the importance of giving students the tools to make informed decisions about their future 
. Can't wait to see the impact it has and maybe even get to participate myself 
!
I'm all about supporting initiatives that level the playing field for kids from Philly. It's crazy to think some schools have resources that others don't 
It's awesome that state universities are stepping up and making college access more accessible. The fact that they're also sharing students' info with other schools is genius - it'll definitely give those participating students an edge in the application process. 
I'm glad the foundation is looking into expanding this program too, 'cause who knows how many lives this could change? 
they're about to get a chance to see what life has to offer beyond their neighborhood and it's literally amazing that the state universities are stepping up to make this happen 
let's hope this program makes a real difference in these students' lives! 
. And I love how they're evaluating this program's impact to secure more resources – it's all about making a difference in the lives of these students 
.
.