College Board Launches YouCanGo! Resource for Students Considering College

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an ongoing effort to help inspire high school students who do not think that college is in their future, the College Board today announced the launch of YouCanGo!, an interactive web experience designed specifically to engage those students for whom college seems out of reach. YouCanGo! offers a variety of simple and interactive tools that aim to inspire students to think of college as an option that is available to them.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52249-college-board-launches-youcango-resource-for-students-considering-college

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"The College Board believes that every student can make it to college," says John Lee, Policy Director for the Advocacy and Policy Center at College Board. "The hard part is getting every student to believe it. YouCanGo! affirms something that every prospective student needs to hear: There are students just like them who have made college a reality."

YouCanGo! features video testimonials from real college students who overcame obstacles and adversity to make their college dreams come true. By sharing their personal stories, these students provide a path to success for others faced with similar challenges. The website also provides information on common student concerns, such as the costs of college, grades and test scores, proximity to home and how to balance a college schedule with other obligations.

A key aspect of YouCanGo! is the ability for students to make a public pledge about their college goals and aspirations. In a world of social media, sharing experiences, dreams and commitments with peers is part of every young person's life. YouCanGo! lets students pledge and share their college motivations with friends and family through Facebook or email.

"Building a support system is a key component of success," said Lee. "When students are offered positive reinforcement from their peer groups, it can be a meaningful validation and powerful step to get students invested, committed and on the path to college. YouCanGo! uses social networking as the perfect medium to build that support network."

For more information on the YouCanGo! web experience, please visit the website at http://YCG.org.

The College Board

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns.  For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.

SOURCE The College Board