Early College Access Conference

Upward Bound and SMU’s Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development welcome 400 Dallas County students and their parents on Saturday, March 1, to participate in the Early College Access Conference, a full-day campus workshop focusing on the “how-to’s” of getting to college.

Geared to informing low-income families about the potential of higher education for their children, the Early College Access Conference will feature sessions on school preparation, grades, transitioning from middle school to high school, creating a high school resume, and the value of community service. By partnering with Kaplan, a leading company in test preparation, the conference will offer participants guidance on studying for the PSAT and SAT tests for college admission

Since parents are key to their children’s success, the conference also will highlight what parents can do to keep their children motivated.

The conference will take place at McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m., and continuing with break-out sessions throughout the day at Dallas and Hyer Halls. Both lunch and dinner are included, and the conference ends with a concert performed by various choirs.

Due to an overwhelming response to the conference, admission is now closed. Originally intended to accommodate 200 students, Upward Bound expanded the participation.

The Early College Access Conference is funded by the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation.