College Prep Activities The College Prep Activities help inform students about post-secondary education and prepare them to be ‘college ready’ whether or not they choose to pursue college immediately upon graduation.  Preparation for college should be a comprehensive and coordinated process throughout a student’s high school life, and should include a broad array of strategies, structures and activities, including: A focused set of awareness and skill-building workshops Carefully planned college visits Counseling and mentoring supports Parental involvement The curriculum described below is an essential component of what schools can offer as part of their comprehensive program. The College Prep Activities consist of 12 workshops sequentially arranged to be used throughout a student’s 3-to-4 year progression through the Career Academy. The aim of these lessons is to help students see that college is an important, appropriate and achievable goal that they should be preparing for from the outset of their high school experience.  The curriculum weaves purpose, goal-setting, exposure to college activities, essential tools and strategies for successfully applying, and some of the critical supports needed to ensure a successful transition to college should a student choose that pathway.   Throughout the workshop series, students will produce products needed for college planning, application, and transition. Many of these products will be collected into the students’ College and Career Portfolio. These workshops use the same format as the Career Development Activities. In addition to lesson plans, they include background information for the teacher and student, suggested connections to core academics, and opportunities for extensions. Structured college visits are embedded in the series.  While the curriculum presumes a logical progression, or sequence, of lessons, Career Academies can schedule these activities flexibly throughout the year.