FAFSA. SAT. TSI.

These are just a few of the acronyms that make a senior’s last year of high school a confusing and daunting experience to get through and make it to college.

It’s a race to the finish line and along the way some seniors get off track without guidance from counselors and helpful experts. As part of an effort to help seniors through this experience, the College and Career Center has started a new non-credit College Readiness course that students can sign-up for if they have an off period in their schedule.

Austin Partners in Education (APIE) is the organization that started the College Readiness program at Akins. It helps students who are close to being college ready, but need some assistance to make it across the finish
line.

Sarah Simmons, College and Career Center adviser, is excited about having APIE helping out the seniors and getting them prepared for college. Amber Ahmed, a recent University of Texas graduate, teaches the class at Akins.

“She’s doing what I wish I could do with every student,” Simmons said.

APIE has been helping Akins students with the college transition for several years, but this is the first year that the class has been offered regularly over an extended period of time. Simmons said there was a lot of work that went into providing the class, including securing financial support.

“The transition from high school to college is often challenging, especially for first generation college students,” Ahmed
said. “So, if you know someone who could benefit from a small, unconventional class with some of the greatest people they’ll ever meet, send them to the CCC to talk to Mrs. Simmons.”

Ahmed covers many topics in the course, including — but not limited to — how to write proper essays, how to study and how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

“This class allows students to understand, start, and complete their college applications process, which can be tedious and sometimes overwhelming,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed shared advice with students who are thinking about going to college.

“Don’t go in with preconceived notions about what you think you might not like because once you try it, you might love it,” Ahmed said.