Sandpoint students apply for their future

SANDPOINT — College Application Week is a statewide initiative encouraging high school seniors to seek some sort of training after high school, whether that be a college or university, trade school, military or other options.

“It’s not just about college applications as much as it is a plan for after high school,” said Jeralyn Mire, Sandpoint High School postsecondary counselor. “It doesn’t have to be a four-year degree, but some kind of training is really important — something to help a student advance in their career and their plan.”

The initiative has expanded since SHS was pilot school for College Application Week in 2013 as the first school to work with North Idaho College, which waived its application fee for seniors throughout the week. Since then, the State Board of Education launched Apply Idaho, an online application that allows Idaho students to apply to one or more of Idaho’s colleges and universities through a single application, free of charge.

At SHS, each student throughout the week is given a full class period dedicated to getting the time and help they need to apply for college or look at other options, as well as apply for scholarships and financial aid. This year, Mire said, there is also a “Future Finder” quiz on the Next Steps website as an assessment for students to look at some of the careers that may interest them.

“I think that is one of the exciting things this year that we are really able to offer,” Mire said. “If they are not really sure what they are interested in, it’s a great place to start.”

High schools across the state now participate in College Application Week in October, though the week it is held can vary by school. Clark Fork and Lake Pend Oreille high schools, for example held theirs last week, Mire said.

While the All Things Senior event got the students thinking about different options, Kendall Lang, SHS college and career mentor, said the College Application Week adds another level.

“I think it is just a really good kick start, getting them (the students) in one area, having them sit down, do it, and at least start to understand the process first-hand,” Lang said.

Lang said it is “truly” a community event as well, with representatives from Lewis-Clark State College and North Idaho College, as well as the high school’s C.A.R.E. parent group helping out throughout the week.

Most of the students appreciate the time to look at options and apply to colleges, whether they are planning on staying in Idaho or not.

SHS senior Sarah Rowe, for example, said she is looking at University of Portland, where her older sister currently attends, as well as considering Tulane University in New Orleans and the University of Montana. She plans on going into a math field, she said, possibly programming. Rowe was among the first students for the week, from Pam Webb’s AP English class, who made their way to the library on Monday to participate in College Application Week. While she said the Apply Idaho application was not helpful in her case, having the time set aside to work on applications for college and college funding was.

SHS senior Cicorra Stiles said she plans to at least start her college education in Idaho at NIC because it is a less expensive route to getting her general education degree. Then she will be pursuing design and architecture, possibly at University of Idaho, but said going to NIC will also give her time to decide which university will be the best fit for her chosen career.

Stiles said she got her career idea from her mom, who was interested in architecture. On the design side, Stiles said most designers go in after a home has been built, Stiles said, but she wants to be there from “laying the foundation to putting in the furniture.” UI is the only university she has found so far that offers a joint degree in architecture and design, she said.

Stiles, who also had the final class period of the day on Monday to participate in College Application Week, said she was using the time to apply to NIC.

“It opens a door, because sometimes it is hard to find time to go in and talk to Jeralyn or Kendall,” Stiles said of the initiative. “Our classes are a lot more vigorous this year because we are doing AP, dual credit or senior project stuff, so finding time in school is really hard. The fact that they set aside time for us is helpful.”

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.