College application assistance, FAFSA guidance, scholarship searches, community college enrollment, and visits from college admissions counselors.
2 Hours
15–30 Participants
College & HBCU Focus
FAFSA Guidance Included
Module 07 · AMB Training
Higher Education & College Readiness
Helping AMB participants navigate college applications, FAFSA, scholarships, HBCUs, community college, and trade school pathways — with real guidance and real next steps.
College Application
4-year, 2-year, HBCU, trade school
FAFSA & Aid
Free money, grants, and financial aid
Scholarships
Search strategies & community scholarships
Why This Workshop Matters
Education Is the Great Equalizer
A postsecondary credential — degree, certificate, or trade license — is the single most reliable predictor of economic mobility for underserved youth.
Lifetime Earnings — Bachelor's degree holders earn on average $1 million more over their lifetime than high school graduates. Associate degrees and trade certificates add $300–500K.
Access Barrier — Most AMB participants are first-generation college students. No one in their family has navigated FAFSA, college applications, or financial aid before. We bridge that gap.
Free Money Exists — The average community college in the U.S. costs under $4,000 per year. With FAFSA Pell Grants ($7,395 max per year), many low-income students can attend for free.
Our Role — AMB closes the information gap. We sit with participants and complete FAFSA together, submit applications together, and apply for scholarships together.
All Pathways Are Valid
4 Postsecondary Pathways
College is not just a 4-year university. Every pathway has value. Match the participant to the right fit for their goals.
4-Year University
Bachelor's degree — 4 years, broadest career options, HBCU emphasis
Community College
2-year associate degree — often free for low-income students, transfer pathway to 4-year
Guide participants through an intentional college search — not just "go to the closest school" but finding the best fit for their goals and finances.
Search Tools
BigFuture (College Board)bigfuture.collegeboard.org — Free college search by major, location, size, cost, and acceptance rate
College Scorecardcollegescorecard.ed.gov — Federal database showing graduation rates, average earnings after graduation, and net cost by income level
HBCU ListWhite House HBCU list — 107 HBCUs nationally. Strong community, Black faculty representation, and dedicated support for first-gen students.
Key Questions
What do you want to study?Help participants identify 2–3 potential majors or career areas. Undecided is fine — but having a direction helps narrow the search.
How far from home?Distance from family and community is a real factor. Don't dismiss staying close as a lesser choice.
What's the net cost?Use College Scorecard net cost by family income. The sticker price is almost never what low-income students actually pay.
Step 2 · FAFSA Completion
The FAFSA Unlocks Everything
FAFSA is the key to all federal financial aid — Pell Grants, work-study, and subsidized loans. It's free to complete and opens October 1 for the following year.
What is FAFSA?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Must be completed every year. Takes 30–60 minutes. Available at studentaid.gov. Required for all federal grants and most scholarships.
Pell Grant
Up to $7,395 per year for low-income students. This is FREE money — not a loan. Most AMB participants qualify. File early to get maximum award.
What You Need
FSA ID (studentaid.gov/fsa-id), Social Security Number, tax return info (IRS Data Retrieval Tool pulls this automatically), and list of schools to receive the FAFSA.
FAFSA Workshop Format
Have participants bring devices and tax info (or parent's tax info). Sit side by side and complete it together. Target 3–5 FAFSAs completed per session.
Independent vs Dependent
If 24+, emancipated, veteran, or have dependents — participant may file as independent. This can significantly increase aid eligibility.
State Aid
Many states have additional grants beyond federal FAFSA. Some require a separate state application. Know your state's program and deadline.
Step 3 · Scholarships
Finding & Winning Scholarships
Billions of dollars in scholarships go unclaimed each year because students don't apply. AMB participants can win — with the right strategy.
Search Resources
Fastweb.comLargest free scholarship database. Create a profile and get matched to scholarships based on demographics, location, and interests.
Scholarships.comOver 1.5 million scholarships. Search by state, ethnicity, first-generation status, and field of study.
Local ScholarshipsCommunity foundations, church scholarships, AMB alumni scholarships, local businesses. These have fewer applicants and higher win rates. Start local.
Application Strategy
Apply to ManyTreat scholarships like a job: apply to 10–20 per month. Small scholarships ($500–$1,000) add up fast and have less competition.
The Essay FormulaMost scholarship essays follow this format: 1) Who you are. 2) What you've overcome. 3) What you want to do. 4) How this scholarship helps you get there. Practice this formula.
Avoid ScamsNo legitimate scholarship ever charges an application fee. If asked to pay, it's a scam. Report it.
HBCU Spotlight
Historically Black Colleges & Universities
107 HBCUs across the United States. Home to some of America's greatest leaders. A transformative college experience for Black students — academically, culturally, and socially.
Academic Excellence — HBCUs produce 25% of all African American STEM graduates and 40% of Black engineers who earn PhDs. The academic preparation is world-class.
Community & Culture — At an HBCU, you're not a minority. Faculty who look like you, peer networks that support you, and a cultural environment built for your success.
Cost — Many HBCUs have lower average net costs than predominantly white institutions, especially for first-gen, low-income students. FAFSA + institutional aid often covers most costs.
Notable HBCUs — Spelman, Morehouse, Howard, Hampton, FAMU, Tuskegee, Grambling, NC A&T, Morgan State, Prairie View A&M. Encourage campus visits — real or virtual.
Facilitation Tip — Invite an HBCU admissions counselor as a guest presenter. Many HBCU reps actively seek to visit community programs serving underrepresented youth.
Hands-On Workshop · 1:00–2:00
Apply Together, Right Now
The most powerful part of this workshop is not a lecture — it's sitting next to a participant and completing a real application together. Action creates momentum.
Device Ready
Every participant needs a phone, tablet, or laptop. Have a hotspot if needed. Don't let technology be the barrier.
Apply to Community College
Most community college apps are free and take 20 minutes. This is the fastest win. Complete at least one application per participant today.
Start FAFSA
Create FSA ID together at studentaid.gov. Even if FAFSA isn't finished today, having an FSA ID is progress.
Save 3 Scholarships
Each participant finds and bookmarks 3 scholarships they qualify for before leaving. Set a deadline to apply within 2 weeks.
Follow-Up & Resources
From Application to Enrollment
The workshop doesn't end when the session does. Support participants through every step until they are enrolled and funded.
Admissions Counselor Visit
Invite local community college and HBCU reps — they come free and participants love it
FAFSA Completion Check
At each session, ask: who hasn't finished their FAFSA yet? Finish it together on the spot.
Scholarship Accountability
Track who has applied to how many scholarships. Set a group goal — 10 per month per participant.
Case Management
Log each participant's application status, FAFSA completion, and enrollment outcome in AMB case management
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College ReadinessFAFSAScholarshipsHBCURequired for facilitators
What You'll Cover
Why education changes lifetime earnings
4 valid postsecondary pathways
College search strategy & tools
FAFSA step by step
Scholarship search & essay strategy
HBCU education & applications
Session Timer
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Current Segment
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Facilitated By
AMB Chapter Director or College Access Coach Association of Midnight Basketball Education Component · MBL Program™
Scholarship website list: Fastweb, Scholarships.com, local community foundation
HBCU information packet with 5–10 schools relevant to your region
Guest speaker (HBCU admissions rep or college access counselor) confirmed if applicable
Session Segments — Step-by-Step
1
Opening — Why Education Matters
0:00–0:20
Open with an honest conversation about money and opportunity. Participants respond to real numbers, not vague promises.
Ask: "How much do you think you need to earn to live comfortably in this city?" Take 3–5 answers.
Show the median earnings by education level. Make it concrete.
Explain: "College doesn't have to cost what you think. Many of you can go for free or close to it."
Normalize first-generation status: "No one in my family went to college either. That's why we're here."
Facilitator Tip: If you or your co-facilitator attended college — or know someone who did — share that story briefly. Personal narratives from trusted adults change beliefs more than statistics alone.
2
College Search & Pathways
0:20–0:45
Distribute the 4-pathway comparison handout. Spend 3 minutes on each pathway.
Emphasize: community college is not a lesser choice — it's often the smartest financial decision.
Demo BigFuture or College Scorecard live on a projector or device.
Each participant identifies 2–3 schools they want to learn more about.
HBCU segment: show the HBCU list. Ask who has heard of or visited an HBCU.
3
FAFSA Deep Dive
0:45–1:15
FAFSA is the most important 30 minutes in a young person's financial future. Treat this segment with urgency.
Participants who have tax info: go to studentaid.gov and create FSA ID together
Walk through each section of FAFSA with the group — 1 section at a time on the projector
Use IRS Data Retrieval Tool — it auto-fills tax information and reduces errors
Target: 3–5 completed FAFSAs per session. Even starting is progress.
For participants without tax info: schedule a dedicated follow-up date to finish FAFSA together
4
Scholarship Workshop & Applications
1:15–1:45
Open Fastweb.com together. Each participant creates a profile in 10 minutes.
Show participants their scholarship match results — personalize the search in real time.
Each participant bookmarks 3 scholarships they will apply to within 2 weeks.
Cover the scholarship essay formula: Who → Overcame → Goal → How This Helps
Warn about scholarship scams: if it costs money to apply, it's a scam.
5
Action Steps & Next Session
1:45–2:00
Every participant leaves with: 2–3 schools identified, FSA ID created, 3 scholarships bookmarked
Set a group accountability goal for next session: who will apply to their community college before then?
Log all progress in AMB case management: applications started, FAFSAs completed, schools identified
Book an admissions counselor visit for next session — call a local community college today
College Access Partners
Build relationships with these partners before the workshop. They want to reach your participants and will provide free resources, counselors, and guest presentations.
Local Community College
Call the admissions office and ask for an outreach counselor. They will come to your program, provide free applications, and walk participants through enrollment on the spot.
HBCU Admissions Offices
Most HBCUs have active outreach programs targeting underrepresented youth. Email the admissions office and ask for a virtual or in-person visit. They want you.
TRIO Programs
Federally funded TRIO/Talent Search programs provide free college access support — FAFSA help, tutoring, campus visits — for first-gen, low-income students. Find yours at ed.gov/trio.
AMB Case Management
Track each participant's application status, FAFSA completion date, schools applied to, scholarships applied for, and enrollment outcome. This data drives grant applications.
Module 07 Complete
Ready to open doors?
Return to all training modules or log education outcomes in case management.