Staff Writer
Twenty-two students from Caribou High School were recently accepted to the University of Maine at Presque Isle through an Early Decision Day held at the school on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Andrew Dyer
An Early Decision Day was held at Caribou High School on Thursday, Nov. 8, giving students a chance to receive early acceptance to the University of Maine at Presque Isle. In all 22 Caribou High School students were accepted to the university during the event.
The program allows students to attain early acceptance to the university, and opportunities to receive grants and scholarships. Students taking part in the program also receive opportunities to visit the local university tagging along with Caribou alumni. This gives students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the school and achieve better success in their post secondary educational career.
UMPI has been taking part in this program at Caribou High School as well as Presque Isle and Houlton high schools for the past five years. Last year the program was expanded to include all Aroostook County high schools.
Caribou High School is uniquely involved in this program through the work of the transition center, which has created a special partnership with UMPI through the partnership for college success program.
The transition center has a number of specific objectives to attain the goal of supporting college access and success for underserved students. These objectives include: creating ongoing collaboration between Caribou High School and UMPI faculty to line up curriculum and the overall culture of the two schools. This will make the transition for students easier, as they should be more prepared for the university scholastically as well as socially. The program also includes ways to help students to achieve a certain level of success to aid them at the university.
UMPI takes part in this program to personally reach out to students, to show them that they are more than just a number to them.
“This gives students a chance to give us a second look. We like to show students that they’re not another number with us. We show them that we want a personal relationship with them by coming to their schools to meet them face to face,” said Mike Michaud representative for UMPI at the recent Early Decision Day at Caribou High School.
“We want to really take care of Aroostook County students, because we couldn’t survive without them,” added Michaud.
“This program is definitely a positive for UMPI and for Caribou students, and will be for years to come,” said Michaud.
Students who took part in the Early Decision Day needed to complete several items in advance to take part in the event. Students needed to complete an application, attain one letter of recommendation, get their transcript, write a college essay and get a record of their first quarter grades. With all of this in hand students met with Michaud at the high school, where lunch had been provided for them. UMPI provided pizza for the students enjoyment as they completed the process to get their applications approved.
Students who would still like to apply for early decision, have not missed their opportunity.
“Any student can apply at any time. There’ll be no one turned away,” said Michaud.
Interested students should contact their guidance counselor or Jenn Quinlan at the high school.
