In November, schools across Oregon participated in College Application Week, a statewide effort to help high school seniors apply to college and career training programs.
Over 80 high schools and community organizations took part, supporting over 6,000 students. Together, students completed over 10,000 applications to community colleges, universities, and career and technical programs.
College Application Week helps remove barriers for students who may be the first in their family to attend college or who need extra guidance through the application process. Schools hosted application labs, classroom workshops, college visits, and one-on-one support sessions to make applying easier and less intimidating.
Across the state, schools used this time to strengthen college-going systems. Many schools aligned classroom activities with application deadlines, created structured time for seniors to work on applications and financial aid tasks, and increased collaboration between counselors, teachers, and community partners. These efforts helped students stay organized, meet deadlines, and better understand their postsecondary options.
College Application Week plays a key role in increasing access to education beyond high school across Oregon. By giving students time, guidance, and encouragement to complete applications, the program helps more students see college and career training as realistic options. Each fall, this effort contributes to higher application rates, stronger college-going culture, and a clearer path forward for students as they prepare to graduate.
Oregon Goes To College is a statewide initiative of Oregon GEAR UP, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and supported by Oregon State University.
