The Minnesota Office of Higher Education has teamed up with a group of teens to promote Summer Nudging — a program that uses text messages to help high schoolers successfully navigate the transition to college.
Students from the High School for Recording Arts — a charter school located in St. Paul, Minnesota — recently created a music video to promote the free service.
Teens who sign up receive weekly text messages reminding them when key deadlines are approaching.
“One in five college-bound students fail to enroll in the fall, oftentimes because they aren’t aware of the steps they need to take or lack a support system,” program coordinator Kat Klima said in a press release. “The gentle reminders sent out through the nudging program help them avoid missing deadlines and provide practical advice on things such as completing financial aid forms and preparing for college orientation.”
Summer Nudging, launched as a pilot program in 2013, reached over 1,800 Minnesota students in 2016. Klima hopes to get more than 5,000 students to sign up for the program this year.
In addition to weekly “nudges,” students can text questions about college admission and enrollment to program staff. The service also helps connect students to campus resources that can help them through the process.
Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.