American College Application Campaign Kicks Off Another Year
September 10, 2018

ACE’s American College Application Campaign (ACAC) is kicking off the 2018 application season next week, hosting its annual #WhyApply Day on Friday, Sept. 21. #WhyApply Day is a national social media campaign to inspire and encourage students during this important step on their journey to postsecondary education.

You can join in the #WhyApply celebration by sharing your own reasons for pursuing postsecondary education using this template and posting on your favorite social media platform on Sept. 21—if you tweet at @ACEducation, you may be retweeted. Follow along that day using the hashtag #WhyApply on ACAC’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or join the #WhyApply Twitter chat at 1 p.m. EDT.

ACAC is a national effort to increase the number of first-generation students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential. The primary purpose of this effort is to help high school seniors navigate the complex college admissions process and ensure they apply to at least one postsecondary institution. The effort occurs during the school day, with a focus on students who might not otherwise apply to college.

Each fall, ACAC partners with thousands of high schools across the country. This year, ACAC and state partners aim to engage 7,000 partner high schools to host individual application assistance events, guiding an estimated 500,000 students.

After submitting their admissions applications, students also create their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) username and password known as the FSA ID, are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA form, and are provided with general information about the process.

ACAC was launched in a single North Carolina high school in 2005. It turned into a nationwide initiative in 2010 when ACE convened a national steering committee of government and nonprofit education leaders to guide the effort. By ​2014, ACAC had expanded to all 50 states and Washington, DC.​