More than 85 Missouri high schools are participating in Apply Missouri, a program designed to help more high school seniors plan for higher education and submit applications to colleges and universities they are interested in attending. The program will run through September and October and is expected to reach more than 25 percent of seniors in the state. “We know that many students can benefit from some extra help as they prepare for life after high school,” said David Russell, Missouri commissioner of higher education. “The Apply Missouri program helps students find the ‘best fit’ for higher education based on their plans for the future.” Now in its third year, Apply Missouri is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Higher Education. The event, previously called Missouri College Application Week, was renamed this year and expanded to two months. This is the first year all high schools in the state were invited to participate. School staff, assisted by volunteers with college advising and admissions experience, will work one-on-one with students to help them complete applications to one or more higher education institutions. The primary goal of Apply Missouri is to increase the number of applications submitted by all students, with particular emphasis on low-income and minority students and those who would be the first in their families to attend college. Participating high schools provide time and resources during the school day for all seniors interested in completing college applications. Many of the high schools host assemblies and offer individual college advising to provide students with information about higher education opportunities. “The program is designed to help students who might feel overwhelmed by the higher education choices available and the application process,” Russell said. “Apply Missouri also helps students better understand the benefits of higher education and the importance of planning for college early.” Higher education officials say the college application process establishes important communication channels between students, guidance counselors and postsecondary institutions. Colleges communicate with students who submit applications in the fall an average of five times to provide information about degree programs, financial aid, housing options and other details that can help students plan for college. “By 2018, approximately 60 percent of all jobs in Missouri will require some form of postsecondary education. Currently about 49 percent of working-age Missourians have a college degree or professional certificate,” Russell said. “We are working to increase that number to 60 percent by 2025 to ensure that students are prepared for good jobs and our state has the educated workforce needed to sustain a strong economy.” A pilot project for the program was conducted at 26 high schools in 2013 with assistance from the Missouri College Advising Corps. More than 2,000 students submitted approximately 3,600 applications to higher education institutions. Last year, 55 high schools participated, and nearly 2,900 students submitted more than 4,600 applications. For more information about Apply Missouri, visit dhe.mo.gov/ppc/students/applymissouriforstudents.php. High schools participating in Apply Missouri include: Central Missouri:
- Battle High School, Columbia
- Centralia High School
- Eldon High School
- Fulton High School
- Lincoln R-2 High School
- Moberly High School
- Slater High School
- Vienna High School
- Warrensburg High School
- Waynesville High School
Kansas City area:
- African-Centered Prep Academy
- Cameron High School
- Center High School
- Central Academy of Excellence
- Early College Academy
- East High School
- Fort Osage High School
- Liberty North High School
- North Kansas City High School
- Northeast High School
- Odessa High School
- Paseo Academy
- Raymore-Peculiar High School
- Raytown High School
- Raytown South High School
- Ruskin Senior High School
- Southwest Early College Campus
- Van Horn High School
- Winnetonka High School
Northwest Missouri:
- Albany R-III High School
- Maryville High School
- Penney High School, Hamilton
- Trenton Senior High School
South Central Missouri:
- Bourbon High School
- Cuba High School
- Dixon High School
- Hermitage High School
- Lebanon High School
- Salem High School
- St. Clair High School
- St. James High School
- Sullivan High School
- West Plains High School
Southeast Missouri:
- Cape Girardeau Central High
- Central High School, New Madrid
- Chaffee Senior High School
- Clearwater High School
- Farmington R-7 High School
- Kennett High School
- Potosi High School
- Sikeston Senior High School
- South Iron R-I High School, Annapolis
- St. Genevieve High School
Southwest Missouri
- Bolivar High School
- Fair Play High School
- Forsyth High School
- Hillcrest High School, Springfield
- Osceola High School
- Ozark High School
- Parkview High School, Springfield
- Pleasant Hope High School
St. Louis area:
- Bayless High School
- Carnahan School of the Future
- Central Visual and Performing Arts High School
- Cleveland NJROTC
- Clyde C. Miller Career Academy
- Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience High School
- Gateway STEM High School
- Hancock High School
- Hazelwood East High School
- Jennings High School
- McCluer High School
- McCluer North Senior High School
- McCluer South-Berkeley High School
- Nashed Chapman New American Academy, ESOL Bilingual Migrant Program
- Normandy High School
- Northwest Academy of Law
- Notre Dame High School
- Pacific High School
- Pride St. Louis
- Ritenour High School
- Riverview Gardens High School
- Roosevelt High School
- Soldan International Studies
- St. Francis Borgia Regional High School
- Sumner High School
- Vashon High School