U-M grads to help students find ways to get to college

By Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press

April 16, 2010

The University of Michigan  is creating a corps of recent U-M grads who will work full-time for up to two years as college advisers in eight high schools throughout Michigan next school year.

The program -- the Michigan College Advising Corps -- is one of 14 programs around the country that are part of the National College Advising Corps.

"The university has been looking at ways to increase the number of students in the state of Michigan with a post-secondary degree," said Amy Prevo, assistant director of the U-M Center for Educational Outreach. The partnership with the national group, she said, "is a natural fit."

In the first year, the program is to assign advisers to high schools in Pontiac, Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Muskegon and two more yet to be announced.

The advisers are to work with students on determining what schools are a good fit, applying to college, writing essays for college applications and applying for financial aid.

Thomas Maridada, superintendent of the Pontiac School District, said the program's highlight is its focus on all students having access to college.

"Very often, students that have the GPA and students that have the skill set that's requisite for success in college don't go to college simply because they don't know all the choices, the options," he said.