Amora Miles is a 10th grader at Westfield Preparatory High School, a college-prep charter school in Redford. She’s always known generally that she wanted to attend college, but it wasn’t until she spent a summer week on campus that she pictured herself as a college student. By attending College Prep Week at Grand Valley State University, Miles moved one step closer to college readiness.
“What I loved most about College Prep Week was learning about what GVSU has to offer and learning the opportunities I can have in a college experience,” she says. She adds that she may not attend GVSU, but having the access to make choices about the environment that is right for her is yet another way Miles is getting ready for college life.
What it means to be ready for college and how students get there
When Miles and 100 other students from Michigan charter schools authorized by GVSU attended College Prep Week, most said they believed college was an attainable goal for them.
But not all knew the finer points about college, such as the resources available on campus, the steps involved in applying for financial aid or even what topics and majors they might be interested in studying when they attend college.
The team that makes College Prep Week possible for charter high school students knows all this because they surveyed participants before and after College Prep Week. They wanted to know how College Prep Week — a week-long immersive on-campus experience designed to help students gain skills to use now and in the future as college students — helped build college readiness in participants who attended.
Charter high school students experiencing College Prep Week at GVSU. Photo credit: GVSU CSO
Who attends College Prep Week at GVSU?
Two groups of students participated in the 2024 summer College Prep Week. Students from GEE Compass Academy and PrepNet Virtual Academy — two academies that offer virtual and blended learning experiences for Michigan students — attended a virtual version of College Prep Week.
Attendees of the on-campus experience came from a dozen charter schools, the majority of which are in metro Detroit. About 90 students represented Canton Preparatory, Taylor Preparatory, Lincoln-King Adams-Young Academy High School, Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy, University Prep Science & Math, UPrep Art & Design and Westfield Preparatory High School.
At the time they attended, students were rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors.
A core component of being a GVSU-authorized charter school is the oversight, support and focus on continued improvement provided by GVSU Charter Schools Office and the Charter Through College programs, including College Prep Week.
By attending a GVSU charter school, students have opportunities to learn about all aspects related to attending college, which is especially valuable to first-generation college attendees.
Students build confidence, skills and knowledge about college life
The survey data collected from students before they attended College Prep Week showed that students felt relatively confident about their future success in college, with 64% in strong agreement. Other “strong agreement” responses included:
- I see myself going to college: 69%
- I have learned about the steps involved in applying for college: 56%
- I know several people who I can ask for college advice: 51%
- Someone has shown me different resources that I can use to find more information about colleges and financial aid: 51%
- I know someone who can support me in developing an educational and/or career plan: 59%
- I have learned about the steps involved in the financial aid application process: 51%
- I believe my identity will benefit whatever college I attend: 59%
What students didn’t feel as confident about were:
- I know where to look for resources that will support my academic goals: 28%
- I know which topics related to college pique my interest: 49%
After participating in College Prep Week, student answers to the survey questions increased in agreement by 38%, on average. Post-survey “strongly agree” results ranged from 92-98% across the board.
Most striking was the level of strong agreement in response to the question regarding knowing where to look for resources to support academic goals. Post-survey results showed 92% of students in strong agreement.
Overall, students showed a marked increase in feeling supported in their college readiness journey. In addition to expressing higher levels of confidence about the actual steps involved in applying for college and applying for financial aid, students reported feeling more confident about knowing where to find additional support and information when they need it.
Knowing more about college helps prepare students for the rigors of college life
College Prep Week post-survey data also shows a level of resilience that is important for success in college. Students reported an increase in confidence about the reasons they want to go to college, their career goals and future plans and what it means to ask questions and ask for help on topics.
As part of their experience, students attended classes — just as college students do — to learn about mental health, resume-building and professionalism, goal-setting and determining their “why” for attending college. Their post-survey feedback reflected how much they learned from these experiences and how they left College Prep Week with new perspectives about themselves and their future in higher education.
Nicholas Rivera is a senior at Grant River Preparatory High School and he attended College Prep Week in 2024 for the second time. He knows he wants to attend GVSU since his mom is a grad, but he says he learned a lot about the many opportunities available to him in college, further cementing his decision to attend GVSU.
“I’ve always planned on attending here, but even more so now after experiencing the stuff from this camp,” Rivera says.
Learn more about GVSU charter schools in metro Detroit — and how your child can experience College Prep Week. Visit gvsu.edu/cso.
