Step up: Staff from Philadelphia Futures visited Northeast High School to distribute copies of the 24th edition of Step Up to College Guide, a free resource book to help high school students and their families during the college admissions processes. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
The folks from Philadelphia Futures were at Northeast High School recently, distributing copies of the 24th edition of Step Up to College Guide, a free 43-page resource book to help high school students and their families during the college admissions and financial aid processes.
In all, more than 40,000 free copies of the guide are being distributed to every public, charter and private high school in Philadelphia, free library branches and community-based organizations.
The guide is filled with information on the college application, admissions and financial aid processes. It helps students identify college choices, write application essays, understand financial aid, apply for scholarships and transition to college life.
On “Step Up to College Day,” Philadelphia Futures visited Northeast and 11 other high schools to deliver the guide and the Philadelphia Futures College Kit, which contained other college-going resources and tools.
Northeast High ninth- through 12th-graders received the guides in the cafeteria and their classrooms. Philadelphia Futures staff explained the guide and answered questions.
The way Philadelphia Futures sees it, the guide is particularly important at a time when college guidance services have been reduced in city public schools.
Joan C. Mazzotti, executive director of Philadelphia Futures, was at Northeast for the giveaway.
“At a time when our high schools are struggling to provide first-generation-to-college students with the guidance that is needed to successfully be admitted to college, our Step Up to College Guide offers a comprehensive resource,” she said. “It is vital that high school students understand the postsecondary options that are available to them. This year, as we confront the challenges in our schools, we all need to do more. We are hopeful we will get copies of the Guide in the hands of every high school student and their families.”
Philadelphia Futures received assistance in producing the guide from Eagles Youth Partnership, the U.S. Army ROTC and 12 local colleges and universities.
The guide is available at www.philadelphiafutures.org/step-up-to-college-guide
In addition, content is available on the Step Up to College page on Facebook. Students and parents are also invited to follow Step Up to College on Twitter. ••
Step up: Staff from Philadelphia Futures visited Northeast High School to distribute copies of the 24th edition of Step Up to College Guide, a free resource book to help high school students and their families during the college admissions processes. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
Step up: Staff from Philadelphia Futures visited Northeast High School to distribute copies of the 24th edition of Step Up to College Guide, a free resource book to help high school students and their families during the college admissions processes. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
Step up: Staff from Philadelphia Futures visited Northeast High School to distribute copies of the 24th edition of Step Up to College Guide, a free resource book to help high school students and their families during the college admissions processes. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
