Cleveland students, from middle schoolers to seniors, are getting a taste of college life through summer tours organized by College Now Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). The goal of these tours is to expose students and their families to the possibilities of higher education.

Exposure and Exploration

Bre'Niyah Penn, a rising seventh grader, was one of the students on the tour. She was excited to learn about college life and asked questions about student life, including whether college parties are like they are portrayed in movies. Her brother, also a seventh grader, was on the tour as well, and their mother encouraged them to think about their future and the possibilities that college could offer.

The tour included a visit to the University of Akron, where the students and their families got to see the campus, including the sensory room in the library. The students also got to talk to a senior at the university, Nicholas Kohut, who shared his experiences and answered their questions.

College Readiness

The tours are part of a larger effort to prepare students for college and to make higher education more accessible. College Now and CMSD have been hosting these tours for over a decade, and they have included middle schoolers in their outreach efforts in the hope that early exposure will encourage more students to apply to college.

In addition to the tours, College Now and CMSD are offering workshops for students and families to help them navigate the college application process and to learn about financial aid and scholarships. These workshops will be held throughout the month of July.

Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.