10-Day Virtual College Admissions & Financial Aid Intensive for High School Students
Format: Live Virtual Instruction
Session Length: 45 Minutes
Instructional Style: Interactive, Simulation-Based, Student-Centered
Instructor: Paula Dofat, College Funding Strategist
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
College Ready: The Admissions Quest is a 10-day virtual intensive designed to help students understand the college admissions and financial aid process through hands-on simulations, real-world decision-making, and guided college planning activities.
Rather than learning through lectures alone, students will follow two fictional high school students, Jordan and Maya, throughout the entire program. Each day, students will help these students navigate different parts of the college admissions journey, including academic planning, extracurricular involvement, financial aid, scholarships, college selection, and affordability.
As students guide Jordan and Maya through realistic scenarios, they will simultaneously build their own personalized College Readiness Portfolio containing practical tools and action plans they can apply to their own high school and postsecondary goals.
The program is intentionally designed to make complex admissions and financial aid concepts more engaging, relatable, and easier to understand in a virtual learning environment.
PROGRAM SIMULATION MODEL
Throughout the program, students will work with two fictional student profiles:
Jordan: A high-achieving student interested in engineering who is concerned about college affordability and financial aid opportunities.
Maya: A leadership-oriented, first-generation student exploring affordable college pathways and career options.
Students will evaluate:
for both students throughout the program. This continuous simulation model allows each day to build naturally upon the previous session while helping students apply concepts in real-world scenarios.
DAILY SESSION STRUCTURE
Each 45-minute session includes:
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & COMPETITION
To maintain engagement in the virtual environment, students will participate in a leaderboard competition using daily Kahoot review games and simulation challenges.
Final Awards
1st Place — $50 Gift Card 2nd Place — $30 Gift Card 3rd Place — $25 Gift Card
FINAL STUDENT DELIVERABLE
By the end of the program, students will have their own College Readiness Portfolio including:
DAILY PROGRAM OUTLINE
DAY 1 — Understanding College Admissions
Theme: “Meet Your Students”
Students are introduced to Jordan and Maya while learning how college admissions works and what colleges evaluate in applicants.
Simulation Challenge: Students analyze both student profiles and identify strengths, weaknesses, and admissions goals.
Portfolio Deliverable: College Goals Snapshot
Kahoot Challenge: Admissions myths, terminology, and “What matters most?” scenarios
DAY 2 — Building a Competitive Academic Profile
Theme: “Your Academic Choices Matter”
Students learn how GPA, rigor, and course selection impact admissions decisions.
Simulation Challenge: Students advise Jordan and Maya on course selection and academic planning strategies.
Portfolio Deliverable: Academic Planning Roadmap
Kahoot Challenge: Weighted vs. unweighted GPA, rigor, and transcript strategy review
DAY 3 — AP, Dual Enrollment & College Credit
Theme: “Saving Money Before College”
Students explore ways to earn college credit in high school and reduce future college costs.
Simulation Challenge: Students determine which advanced academic options best fit Jordan and Maya’s goals.
Portfolio Deliverable: College Credit Savings Plan
Kahoot Challenge: AP vs. Dual Enrollment vs. CLEP comparison scenarios
DAY 4 — Extracurriculars & Leadership
Theme: “Standing Out Beyond Grades”
Students learn how leadership, service, and involvement strengthen college applications.
Simulation Challenge: Students improve Jordan and Maya’s extracurricular and leadership profiles.
Portfolio Deliverable: Activities & Leadership Inventory
Kahoot Challenge: Leadership, extracurricular impact, and applicant profile ranking scenarios
DAY 5 — College Research & Fit
Theme: “Choosing Colleges Strategically”
Students learn how to research colleges and identify strong academic, social, and financial fits.
Simulation Challenge: Students build balanced college lists for Jordan and Maya.
Portfolio Deliverable: College List Starter
Kahoot Challenge: Reach, match, safety schools, and college fit scenarios
DAY 6 — Careers, Testing & Postsecondary Planning
Theme: “Planning Beyond High School”
Students explore career pathways, majors, testing strategies, and college ROI.
Simulation Challenge: Students determine the best testing and career planning strategies for Jordan and Maya.
Portfolio Deliverable: Postsecondary Pathway Plan
Kahoot Challenge: SAT/ACT strategy, career pathways, and ROI decision scenarios
DAY 7 — Financial Aid Fundamentals
Theme: “Understanding How College Is Paid For”
Students learn key financial aid concepts including FAFSA, grants, scholarships, and loans.
Simulation Challenge: Students compare financial aid offers for Jordan and Maya.
Portfolio Deliverable: Financial Aid Basics Guide
Kahoot Challenge: Financial aid vocabulary, FAFSA basics, and aid package breakdowns
DAY 8 — Scholarship Search Strategies
Theme: “Finding Free Money for College”
Students learn scholarship search strategies, organization systems, and application planning.
Simulation Challenge: Students identify scholarship opportunities for Jordan and Maya.
Portfolio Deliverable: Scholarship Tracker
Kahoot Challenge: Scholarship search strategies, deadlines, and scholarship scam identification
DAY 9 — The College Decision Challenge
Theme: “Which College Should They Choose?”
Jordan and Maya are accepted to multiple colleges with different financial aid packages, scholarship offers, and transfer credit opportunities.
Simulation Challenge: Students determine which college option is the best fit academically, financially, and personally for each student.
Portfolio Deliverable: College Comparison Worksheet
Kahoot Challenge: Affordability vs. prestige, financial aid comparison, and final college decision scenarios
DAY 10 — Building Your Personal College Action Plan
Theme: “Creating Your Roadmap for Success”
Students apply everything learned throughout the program to build their own personalized college and career action plans.
Simulation Challenge: Students reflect on how Jordan and Maya’s journeys connect to their own future goals and decisions.
Portfolio Deliverable: Personalized College & Career Action Plan
Kahoot Challenge: Final Mission: College Championship Review Game