Young people in all socio-economic groups have college aspirations. In fact, eight out of 10 expect to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the U.S. Department of Education. But despite their aspirations, low-income students and those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education are severely underrepresented on college campuses. Studies show these students often lack the guidance they need to prepare for postsecondary education.
In order to turn these students’ college dreams into action-oriented goals, the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council launched the KnowHow2GO campaign in January 2007. This multiyear, multimedia effort includes television, radio and outdoor public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage 8th through 10th graders to prepare for college using four simple steps.
The Four Steps to College
- Be a pain – Let everyone know that you’re going to college and need their help.
- Push yourself – Working a little harder today will make getting into college even easier.
- Find the right fit – Find out what kind of school is the best match for you and your career goals.
- Put your hands on some cash – If you think you can’t afford college, think again. There’s lots of aid out there.
To ensure that students and adult mentors who connect with the powerful messages of the PSA campaign can easily find real-time, on-the-ground assistance, we have built and continue to support a strong grassroots network of partners. To date, more than 14 state and regional coalitions and 30 national partners have signed onto the campaign.
Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) is the lead partner for the KnowHow2GO campaign in Michigan.
In order to build and sustain a vibrant economy and strong communities based on a highly educated population, MCAN will work to ensure that everyone in Michigan has the opportunity to access and succeed in postsecondary education. It is MCAN’s goal to increase the proportion of Michigan residents with college degrees or high-quality credentials to 60% by the year 2025.
MCAN supports the creation, expansion, and sustainability of high-quality, community-based college access strategies, known as Local College Access Networks(LCAN). MCAN serves as the primary support organization to LCANs by providing technical assistance and grant opportunities.
Local college access networks provide college application and financial aid advising, last-dollar scholarships, college visit opportunities, resource centers, retention programs, career guidance and more. Learn about existing LCANs.
As the statewide leader and advocate for college access efforts, MCAN works to coordinate college access resources and identify gaps in service to increase college attendance and completion across Michigan.
MCAN services include professional development, technical assistance, program support, funding opportunities and other resources—all provided to maximize the effectiveness of Michigan’s college access professionals who share the goal of getting all Michigan’s students to and through college.
MCAN supports a range of college access initiatives, including the KnowHow2GO multimedia public awareness campaign, and the Michigan College Access Portal, a comprehensive web-based one-stop-shop for students, their families and counselors.