At College Possible Washington, we are thrilled to continue our annual college campus visits for students. This year we took a total of 41 students and AmeriCorps coaches from Decatur, Franklin and Todd Beamer High Schools to visit the University of Washington campuses in Tacoma and Seattle.
“The highlight for me was seeing the students so engaged in their surroundings,” says Megan, a College Possible AmeriCorps coach. “For many of them, it was their first time visiting a college campus.”
Megan’s sentiment captured the true essence of these outings – they aren’t just tours, they are pivotal moments in a students’ educational journey, and these tours are always transformative for the students.
This year’s visits were no exception. Students at both campuses received a warm welcome from the administration who offered insights into the varied academic paths available.
At UW Seattle, the event was enhanced with a personal welcome from the Office of Multicultural Affairs, followed by a tour from one of their ambassadors.
A notable highlight was meeting with College Possible Washington Advisory Board member Damariz Ibáñez, who works at the Foster School of Business. Her insights on promoting BIPOC student enrollment added an important dimension to our visit, underlining the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“For students who had never been to a college campus, it was a good thing for them to experience firsthand, because their opinion can completely change once they visit,” shared Julie, a College Possible AmeriCorps coach.
At the University of Washington Tacoma, students were welcomed by Megan Cooley, Associate Director of Admissions, and then had the opportunity to attend two out of eight presentations offered by staff and faculty.
These presentations covered a range of topics and academic programs, including healthcare leadership, engineering & technology, the Milgard School of Business, science & math, psychology, community building, teacher education, and urban studies.
The visit to UW Tacoma stood out to students, as it coincided with Freshman Preview Days and gave them a unique opportunity to see the student activities fair. This allowed students to interact directly with current UW Tacoma students, while learning about the various clubs and activities on campus.
“I absolutely loved that we got to experience UW Tacoma on the Freshman Preview Day,” said Megan
The campus visits hosted by College Possible Washington play a pivotal role in expanding our students’ perspectives and revealing new possibilities. They also serve as student recruitment opportunities for College Possible Washington, as select students outside the program are invited to join on the tours.
“One of the non-College Possible students ended up joining our program after the visit,” shared Julie. “It helped him see how valuable having support can be when going to college.”
These visits have a tangible impact on our mission: At the Seattle campus, all seven students on the tour applied to UW Seattle, and of the 14 College Possible students who visited UW Tacoma, at least three have applied so far.
In addition, following the UW Tacoma visit, five students who were not initially part of College Possible enrolled in our program, underscoring the visits’ inspiring influence.
If you know a student who could benefit from the inspiration of a college tour with College Possible Washington, encourage them to apply to our program today!
