University President Sells 8th Graders on College Attendance
By: William Seay
Updated: March 23, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) The eighth graders at Truman Middle School filled the gymnasium to listen to Tim Wolfe give his best sales pitch on why they should go to college.
Wolfe is the president of the University of Missouri System, which includes MU-Columbia, UMKC, and a few other state universities.
"Most of the middle schoolers I've talked to are interested in "How can I make more money?". But one of the things that scares them is they don't they have enough money short-term to afford a college education. I'm trying to dispel those rumors and making it more clear that there are financial aid options," Wolfe said.
His visit to all of St. Joseph's middle schools Friday was part of his Show Me Value tour, which takes him to middle schools across the state.
Truman Middle School Principal Sandy Steggal says eighth grade is not too early to start talking about college.
"You have to graduate from high school. So what are your plans after that? What degrees do you want to pursue? What do you want to do after high school?" she said.
The principal was impressed when her students asked specific questions about majors, classes and professions in which they're interested.
One boy asked about dental school, another about fire science.
President Wolfe answered that there are quality programs at several MU System institution.
"All of them were specific. That means they're thinking about what they want to do after high school, which is a great thing for students to do," Principal Steggal said.
Then there was Katie, and eighth grader who personally asked Wolfe if she could go to law school right out of high school.
"I said, no, you have four years of undergrad, then there's this test called the LSAT that you have to pass or do well enough on to get admitted to law school," Wolfe said. "I don't think I burst her bubble, but I certainly informed her on what her plans are. It was great. I was a great question."
Truman's school counselor, Sarah Dudeck, was excited to hear such pointed questions about the children thinking about their personal career paths.
"That way they can take classes in high school that gear them towards the college track and what career path they want to take. I think that's great. It wasn't necessarily like that when I was in high school," she said.
The counselor was also eager to share that this year, all the teachers at Truman have a display on the wall outside their classrooms that shows their education history and college degrees.
"It's awesome for them to see that pride in where you went to school, pride in your education; to help them get excited for going to college," Dudeck said.
These kids are getting excited for college when they still have more than four years of school to go.
Wolfe is the president of the University of Missouri System, which includes MU-Columbia, UMKC, and a few other state universities.
"Most of the middle schoolers I've talked to are interested in "How can I make more money?". But one of the things that scares them is they don't they have enough money short-term to afford a college education. I'm trying to dispel those rumors and making it more clear that there are financial aid options," Wolfe said.
His visit to all of St. Joseph's middle schools Friday was part of his Show Me Value tour, which takes him to middle schools across the state.
Truman Middle School Principal Sandy Steggal says eighth grade is not too early to start talking about college.
"You have to graduate from high school. So what are your plans after that? What degrees do you want to pursue? What do you want to do after high school?" she said.
The principal was impressed when her students asked specific questions about majors, classes and professions in which they're interested.
One boy asked about dental school, another about fire science.
President Wolfe answered that there are quality programs at several MU System institution.
"All of them were specific. That means they're thinking about what they want to do after high school, which is a great thing for students to do," Principal Steggal said.
Then there was Katie, and eighth grader who personally asked Wolfe if she could go to law school right out of high school.
"I said, no, you have four years of undergrad, then there's this test called the LSAT that you have to pass or do well enough on to get admitted to law school," Wolfe said. "I don't think I burst her bubble, but I certainly informed her on what her plans are. It was great. I was a great question."
Truman's school counselor, Sarah Dudeck, was excited to hear such pointed questions about the children thinking about their personal career paths.
"That way they can take classes in high school that gear them towards the college track and what career path they want to take. I think that's great. It wasn't necessarily like that when I was in high school," she said.
The counselor was also eager to share that this year, all the teachers at Truman have a display on the wall outside their classrooms that shows their education history and college degrees.
"It's awesome for them to see that pride in where you went to school, pride in your education; to help them get excited for going to college," Dudeck said.
These kids are getting excited for college when they still have more than four years of school to go.
