The University of Delaware Office of Admissions held its inaugural Conquering College Admissions conference on Thursday, Oct. 20, in Clayton Hall.

About 118 high school students and 15 school counselors and school assistants from throughout the state participated in the event.

Attendees came from UD’s Upward Bound Math and Science program, MOT Charter High School, Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School and Delcastle Technical High School, as well as Appoquinimink, Middletown, Glasgow, Brandywine and Newark high schools.

The conference featured morning workshops for finding the right college and maximizing individual College Board performances while providing attendees with a blueprint for a successful college application process during their senior year in high school.

"We are committed to working with potential students to ensure their access, readiness and success in the application process,” said Douglas Zander, director of admissions at UD. "By the end of the conference, high school students gained an awareness of the various types of colleges out there and learned how to determine a strategic fit when selecting which colleges to apply to."

Zander noted that students also became familiar with admissions processes and the timeline for applying to the colleges represented at the conference, as well as other institutions.

"They gained an understanding about how an admissions officer holistically reads a student's application and also learned about academic scholarships and need-based financial aid available to college-bound students," Zander said. "The students also learned how to take advantage of the College Application Month."

Featured speakers included Carol Henderson, UD vice provost for diversity, and Steve Godowsky, Delaware secretary of education.

Damien Burke of the Stand by Me organization discussed common mistakes students make when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and Juliet Murawski of the Delaware Higher Education Office discussed "Scholarships You Cannot Miss: The Delaware Scholarship Compendium."

Tatiana Poladko, executive director of TeenSHARP, informed students on how to maximize Delaware's College Application Month, which runs from Oct. 17 through Nov. 18.

Conference partners included UD Admissions and TeenSHARP, while partners delivering content included the Delaware Department of Education, UD Financial Services, Stand By Me, the College Board and Delaware State University.

Zander noted that UD Admissions actively develops and delivers programs to promote college access and college success, including the College Readiness Scholars Institute, a two-week summer program for underserved and underrepresented Delaware high school students.

Working with community-based organizations, UD Admissions plans to expand its Conquering College Admissions program, Zander said.

"We plan to create a similar conference this spring for middle school students," Zander said. "The goal will be to promote a college-going culture for young students."