Building a College Going Culture This Fall

September is here, and it’s the perfect time to get students excited about their future. Creating a college-going culture isn’t just about posters or pep talks. It’s about making college and career pathways part of everyday life at school. When students see and hear about opportunities all around them, they start imagining themselves reaching those goals. 

What Does a College Going Culture Look Like? 

A college-going culture is all about energy, encouragement, and action. Here’s how to make it happen: 

• Celebrate every win: From testing milestones to college acceptances, let students know their hard work matters. 
• Show off the options: Highlight different colleges, careers, and pathways through newsletters, bulletin boards, and classroom chats. 
• Get families involved: Send tips, resources, and invites so parents and guardians are part of the excitement. 
• Share your story: Encourage staff to talk about their own education journeys. Students love hearing real-life experiences. 
• Let students shine: Ask them to share goals, dreams, or reflections on what college or career success means to them. 

Every little action adds up to a culture where students feel supported and believe in their potential. 

Celebrate #WhyApply Day 

One of the best ways to kick off the school year with energy is #WhyApply Day, sponsored by the American College Application Campaign (ACAC). This day gets students pumped for college applications while highlighting why education after high school matters. 

Here’s what’s happening this year: 

• When: Friday, September 19, 2025 
• Where: Schools across nearly all 50 states and DC 
• Who: Students, staff, families, and anyone who wants to cheer students on 

ACAC encourages everyone to wear college gear—t-shirts, hats, pins, you name it—and share your story about why applying to college matters using #WhyApply. Students and staff can post short videos, take fun photos, write their “why” on paper, or even get creative with drawings. The goal is to spread encouragement and excitement as students start their application journey. 

Make It Fun at Your School 

Here are some ways to bring #WhyApply Day to life: 

• Why Wall: Cover a hallway with signs sharing everyone’s “why” 
• Photo Booth: Grab some props and let students snap photos holding their “why” 
• Video Clips: Record quick clips of students and staff talking about why college matters 
• Classroom Conversations: Spend a few minutes letting students share goals and dreams 
• Little Rewards: Hand out stickers, pencils, or other small goodies to celebrate participation.

#WhyApply Day is the perfect excuse to celebrate students, inspire them, and show them that college and career pathways are for everyone. Get loud, get creative, and have fun spreading the message that the sky is the limit.