By the end of next week, every senior in St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools will have completed and submitted an application to further their educations after high school.

The St. John the Baptist Parish School District is participating this year in Louisiana College Application Access Month, held throughout the month of October in high schools throughout the state.

Coordinated by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance with help from key education stakeholders across Louisiana, the goal of Louisiana College Application Assistance Month is to help 12th grade students navigate the complex college admissions process and ensure students apply to at least one postsecondary institution.

Although it’s called College Application Access Month, it also includes students whose interests may lie outside four- or two-year colleges. Seniors will have the choice to fill out an application for a university, technical college, the military or to begin a career.

Each high school will have a College Application Day, when students will fill out their chosen applications with the help of school personnel, admissions professionals and volunteers from the community. In advance of the actual application day, both high schools and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance will be working with students and parents to get them information such as a Federal Student Aid ID and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Applying early in their senior year increases the chances students will get into the school of their choice, be able to enroll in high-performing student programs, be admitted to honors colleges, be considered for major scholarships, get more assistance from their chosen university, be able to participate in pre-college programs, get their preferred on-campus housing and plan for any fees associated with enrollment and for the financial requirements after being accepted.

Our goal is to not only prepare our students academically for life after high school but to open those doors and to truly make college accessible by providing our parents and students with support in completing applications and gaining knowledge about college in order to set our students up for successful futures.

With College Application Day, our annual Academic Signing Day and multiple college visits beginning in middle school, we are creating a culture in our school system where students know that it is not only possible but expected that they go on and do great things.

Jennifer Boquet is the communications specialist for St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools. Email her at jboquet@stjohn.k12.la.us.