For one week this summer, more than 100 high school students in the College Horizons program had a crash course in college admissions on the Princeton campus.
"Our goal at College Horizons is to increase the number of Native Americans that are accessing higher education," said Carmen Lopez, the program's executive director.
During the week, students research their top schools; complete college essays, resumes, the Common Application, and the preliminary Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as FAFSA); receive interviewing skills, test-taking strategies and financial aid information; participate in a college fair with representatives from more than 40 colleges and universities; and get advice on how to succeed in college as a Native student.
Princeton hosted the program for the first time this year, with staff participating in general sessions, financial aid presentations and advising, and the college fair.
"Oftentimes students don't see Princeton as a school that's theirs, that could be their home," said Kevin Hudson, Princeton's assistant director for college opportunity. "And by getting students here over the summer, to be exposed to the campus, to meet administrators ... it lets more students know that Princeton can be an option for them."