FOCUS ON: Road to College

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Sacramento State and the 22 other CSU campuses created a unique method to show high school students how to apply to college – a rolling tour that allowed the students to get the information they needed without having to leave their own school.

Video: (Narrator:) This is “Focus” from the campus of Sacramento State.

(Voice:) “That will help you track your grades and your courses and everything you need.”

(Jim Finnerty reporting:) These students at Elk Grove’s Valley High School are getting college counseling online and “on bus.” It’s part of a unique tour undertaken by California State University and AT&T.

(Alexander Gonzalez, Sacramento State President:) “We’re trying to reach students where they are. They’re comfortable with technology. They’re comfortable with the messages that we’re going to be giving them.”

(Finnerty:) Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez was one of those taking part in the kickoff of a four-year tour to high schools whose students might not otherwise learn about options for higher education.

(Keven MacDonald, Valley High School Principal:) “The students that represent our school come from an area that’s typically under-represented in college. When they come here they understand that college is an easy access for them. All they have to do is walk about the parking lot and onto that bus.”

(Finnerty:) Valley High student Bridget Richardson says the high-tech road trip approach answers many questions for those still unsure.

(Bridget Richardson, Valley High student:) “They will figure it out. They will figure out in the long run. Some of them are iffy, but they’re going to be okay.”

(Finnerty:) Computer setups on and off the bus allow students to take virtual campus tours and fill out enrollment and financial aid applications.

(Richardson:) “Because when you’re ready to apply to college, that’s the website you want to go to.”

(Gonzalez:) “That translates from thinking about something to acting on something. I think it’s going to take us to a different level of being able to reach out to students to make sure they get the opportunity to attend the university.”

(MacDonald:) “You see the students come on. You see them fully engaged and you see them fully believe that they are indeed going to college. And the possibilities are endless.

(Finnerty:) This is Jim Finnerty reporting.

(Narrator:) For more information on this and other news from Sacramento State, visit our website.