When walking through DC this past weekend I saw a group of middle school children wearing shirts that read “I am college bound”.  I instinctively thought the shirt was a bit odd as these kids are yet a decade away from having to decide where and what college they will attend.  Then I thought “AH HA!” these shirts are for those who may never consider going to college – following unfortunate family trends or lacking financial resources – these shirts were sending a powerful message to not only those children wearing them, but to society and all others who may eventually impact their educational future.

So it is with no surprise that today in the paper, an article highlighted the measures being taken in Boston, Massachusetts to introduce college concepts, choices, dorm room life, and financial aid assistance to middle school children.  The program is targeted amongst low income, minority schools where parents and grandparents were not college graduates:

”Seventh-graders learn about types of colleges -- junior, undergraduate and graduate -- and how much schooling they would need for different careers…In eighth grade, students learn about how they can finance their education, about dorm life and how to manage money and time. They make campus visits to colleges…”.

Do you think this program will impact children at such an early age when higher education choices and decisions are made further down the road at ages 17 and 18?  Will the information and helpful assistance that they gain early on, be lost by the time it matters?

This report was contributed by Danielle Morrison