Girl Scouts offers new pre-college experiences to get girls ready for life after high school

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
     Release Date: 9/16/2005
     Press Contact: Lori Sullivan, 954-739-7660, ext. 219
     
     Girl Scouts offers new pre-college experiences to get girls ready for life after high school
     
     Oakland Park, FL --- For 93 years Girl Scouts has been the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls – their needs, their interests and their development. A key developmental milestone for all teenagers is the transition from high school to college. Because of the highly competitive nature of today’s collegiate system, pre-college preparation begins earlier and can be an unsettling time which can cause stress. In response to the growing needs of girls entering this important period, Girl Scouts of Broward County has created two new programs this Fall to help girls explore their options and give them the tools to go after the schools they want to attend.
     
     In partnership with Nova Southeastern University, Girl Scouts of Broward County is offering a unique on-campus program entitled “Be a College Student for a Day” on Friday, October 7 at the NSU Davie and North Miami Beach campuses. Girls will experience a day-in the-life of today’s active under-grads – hearing directly from current female students who are studying in a variety of educational areas. Girls will visit the dorms and be introduced to other on-campus hot spots to mix with the student body, ask one-on-one questions about social life, study habits, off-campus employment, time management, etc. NSU faculty members and administrators will share information on careers of interest, growing professions for women both locally and nationwide, as well as a frank discussion on the college admissions process and the ins and outs of financial assistance.
     
     No matter where girls have their hearts set on going to school, they will need to know how to navigate college admissions and applications. These applications are often one of the most dreaded and overwhelming elements of the pre-college process. To give girls the insight to master the art of admissions, Girl Scouts of Broward County will offer “College Admission Fundamentals” on Wednesday, October 19 at 7 p.m. This 90-minute workshop, designed for girls in the 11th and 12th grade (with their parents and/or guardians) will teach financial aid basics, including how colleges package aid and how to identify a reasonable pool of colleges. In addition, the program focuses on what college admission officers look for in an applicant; what to keep track of to make completion of applications easier; and how to market yourself to your best advantage when applying. Program facilitator, Ken Dowdall, is an expert in college financial aid planning, and has worked in this area of practice since 1963. He is a member of the National Financial Aid Practitioner’s Alliance. Dowdall’s tips and techniques can make the difference between acceptance or rejection to the college of choice.
     
     Girl Scouts is at the forefront of facing today’s most relevant issues facing girls. Girl Scouts of Broward County’s CEO Leslie Roth knows the importance of these new programs. “Girls – and their families – need to be talking about their college plans much earlier in their high school career, but who knows where to begin after catalogues fill your kitchen table after the SATs?” Roth said, “Girl Scouts has always been the perfect place to add to the girl’s admission resume with community service projects and leadership opportunities. Now these new programs answer more questions for girls and help them prepare their applications – and themselves – for the next stage of their lives.”
     
     These programs are open to girls and we welcome non-Girl Scouts. For more information on these pre-college programs, contact Mary Birch-Hanson at 954-739-7660, ext. 235 or at mbhanson@browardgirlscouts.org.
     
     Girl Scouts of Broward County, Inc. serves more than 9,000 girls and 4,500 adult volunteers. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Broward County, including adult volunteering opportunities and girl registration, contact Lori Ebinger Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing at 954-739-7660; ext. 219 or lsullivan@browardgirlscouts.org or visit www.browardgirlscouts.org.
     
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