WHY?
Our students deserve opportunities to earn higher incomes and chart a better life for themselves. In today’s economy, those opportunities require a postsecondary credential. This means achieving a four-year college degree, a two-year associate’s degree, or a trade industry certification that aligns with our area's careers.
Provides high return on investment
A postsecondary degree is the biggest predictor of economic mobility, which means access to better resources and ability to maintain a better quality of life.
Fosters better job security and career opportunities
Students with ANY postsecondary credential are 3.6x more likely to be employed than those with no postsecondary at all.
Helps to fight intergenerational poverty
Parents with a postsecondary education tend to be less risk averse and more readily able to invest in their own children’s education, leading to greater intergenerational wealth transfer.
Getting To & Through College:
Reach out for help when you need it.
Whether it’s studying for your first mid-terms, learning how to manage your schedule, or just getting comfortable with life at college, the best thing you can do for yourself is ask for help when you need it. Seek out older students, advisors, and professors when you feel stressed or have questions.
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Get involved and get connected.
College can feel intimidating and even foreign sometimes. The trick is to find your community. Getting involved in student activities is one of the best ways to pull this off – and it makes school much more fun too! Apply to become a student intern at our village here.
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Start early in thinking about the next step.
Higher education pays dividends and opens doors to future opportunity. To make sure you’re able to get the return on the investment you’re making in yourself, start exploring careers early. Visit Career Services at your school to ask about internships, co-op opportunities, and career paths. In addition, the Walker County Career Center is another good place to start.
A Path To College Success
College success is a realistic and attainable goal. Start today and take it step by step.
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Check out our student checklists to be sure you are taking advantage of your time in high school.
Set your sights on college.
Set your sights on college. If you don’t believe it already, college is a real option for you! If you’re not convinced, have a real conversation about it with your college adviser or school counselor. Taking the next step to higher education can set you on a path to achieve your dreams, whatever they are.
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Hit the books and keep your grades up.
College is a step up in many ways, not the least of which is academics. It’s no secret: one of the keys to getting to college and succeeding once you’re there is to do the very best you can in high school.
Check out what college is really like.
The best way to see yourself at college is to get a preview. Ask your college adviser about options to visit a local school and take a tour. To get a taste for what college-level study is like, ask your school counselor about dual enrollment opportunities.
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Take college entrance exams…seriously.
ACT, SAT or ACCUPLACER scores are required for admission to Alabama public colleges as well as most private and out-of-state colleges. Preparation for these exams is essential. Ask your counselor, college adviser, or any of our educators at our village how to best prepare yourself.
