Movin’ On Up: Opening Doors to College for First-Generation Students

Navigating the college entrance process can be a serious challenge for all families. For low-income high school juniors and seniors who may be the first in their family to attend college, the process may be even more difficult. Movin' On Up can open the door to college by paying for ACT classes and testing, college application fees, college visits and helping with financial aid paperwork. Students who apply for the program can attend monthly information sessions with their families to learn about the college entrance process. From the start of their search, through the application and financial aid paperwork, to visiting campuses, Community Action Partnership’s Movin On Up program will be there with one-on-one assistance and financial help for the fees associated with starting a college career.

Community Action Partnership's goal for 2009-10 is to help 45 low-income high school students get to college - many of whom will be the first in their family ever to attend college.

Real Story:  Simone, Business student at Missouri Western State University

Simone is a business student at Missouri Western State University.  As a senior at Central High School in St. Joseph, Simone participated in Movin' On Up, a program that helps low-income high school seniors apply to, enroll in, and transition to college.  Because she was the first in her family to attend, her family was not aware of the entire process of applying to both college and financial aid. Through Movin' On Up, Simone and her family were able to get the support they needed for her to begin a successful academic career studying business at Missouri Western State University. 

"Movin' On Up helped me get to college and start out on the right foot. The program provided a lot of help, from figuring out housing to how student loans work.  I am really glad I had their help. I am loving college.  It is so much better than high school!"