Navigating College as a Care Experienced Student: A Comprehensive Guide

For students with care experience, the path to and through college can present unique challenges and opportunities. Understanding the resources available and how to access them is crucial for a successful and fulfilling higher education journey. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of care status in the context of college, outlining the definition of care experience, available support systems, financial aid options, and strategies for navigating college life.

Defining Care Experience

What does it mean to be care experienced? Being care experienced signifies that an individual has spent time living in various forms of care, including:

Living with foster carers under local authority care.
Residing in residential care, such as a children’s home.
Being looked after at home under a supervision order.
Living in kinship care with relatives or friends, either formally (e.g., a special guardianship order) or informally without local authority support.

The term 'care leaver' is also commonly used.

Support Systems for Care Experienced Students

A wide array of support is available for care experienced students in higher education, managed by both local authorities and the university or college. This support aims to address potential challenges, facilitate a smooth transition to university life, and ensure equitable opportunities for academic success.

Types of Support Offered

Universities and colleges offer various forms of support, including:

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Financial Assistance: Bursaries, grants, and waivers to help cover tuition and living expenses.
Accommodation Support: Free or discounted accommodation, year-round accommodation (including holiday periods), guaranteed rooms in university accommodation for the duration of the course, waiver of guarantor requirements, and reduced or waived deposits.
Practical Assistance: Starter packs with essential equipment like bedding and vouchers.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Services: Counseling, support groups, and mental health resources.
Dedicated Support Staff: Student support teams to answer questions and provide guidance.

Accessing Support

To find out what support a particular university or college offers, students can:

Contact the student support team directly: This is highly recommended, as each institution offers different support. Student services can answer questions and provide specific information.
Check the NNECL Quality Mark for Care Leavers: This mark is awarded to institutions that provide an inclusive environment and support care experienced students.

It is strongly recommended to contact the university or college as early as possible to discuss individual circumstances and make an informed decision.

Financial Aid and Bursaries

Care experienced students may be eligible for additional financial assistance beyond standard student loans.

Higher Education Bursary (England and Wales): A non-repayable bursary available through the local authority.
Care Experienced Student Bursary (Scotland): A £9,000 non-repayable bursary, with an optional student loan of £2,400.

It’s important to remember that student loan repayments typically don't begin until after graduation and when earnings exceed a certain threshold.

Sharing Information About Care Experience

Students can share information about their care background in their UCAS application. This helps universities and colleges connect them with the right support. Selecting "yes" to the question about having been in care in the 'Diversity and inclusion' section allows for consideration under contextual admissions.

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The information shared is treated sensitively and is used to arrange appropriate support. While it's a personal choice, some students include their care experience in their personal statement if they feel it's relevant.

Overcoming Challenges and Thriving in College

Settling into college involves making friends and navigating a new environment. Universities and colleges welcome students from diverse backgrounds, and there are often clubs and societies for like-minded individuals, including groups for students from care backgrounds.

Graduates from care backgrounds are just as likely to achieve a first or upper second degree as students who are not care experienced, and their career routes are similar.

External Organizations and Resources

Several organizations provide lifelong support and guidance for people who have been in care:

Become: Offers information about the rights of care leavers and a free advice line.
NNECL (National Network for the Education of Care Leavers): A charity dedicated to supporting care experienced students.
The Rees Foundation: Offers lifelong support and guidance, with support workers trained in mental health first aid.
The Who Cares? Trust: Provides various forms of support, including job vacancies, apprenticeships, and discounts.
EaCES Handbook: A practical guide written by and for care experienced and estranged students.

Extracurricular Activities and College Admissions

Extracurricular activities play a significant role in college admissions, allowing colleges and universities to gain a better understanding of a student outside the classroom. These activities demonstrate a student's ability to juggle multiple commitments and showcase their passions, leadership skills, and dedication.

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What Qualifies as an Extracurricular?

Generally, anything done routinely outside of the classroom and not for academic credit counts as an extracurricular. This includes organized clubs, sports, personal projects, and other activities that demonstrate dedication and meaningful growth.

Balancing Breadth and Depth

When preparing for college admissions, it’s important to balance extracurricular activities between breadth and depth. Focusing on a few activities allows for deeper commitment and success, showcasing different attributes as a student.

Tiered System of Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities can be categorized into tiers based on their impressiveness to colleges:

Tier 1: Rare activities demonstrating exceptional achievement or leadership, such as national recognition in athletics or music, attendance at distinguished summer programs, or starting regional/national organizations.
Tier 2: Activities showing high levels of achievement and leadership, such as holding a leadership position in a well-respected club or achieving all-state selection in sports or music.
Tier 3: Activities involving minor leadership positions in clubs or earning distinctions in sports.
Tier 4: Common activities such as general membership in clubs, participation in sports, or general volunteerism.

Strategic Planning by Year

Freshman Year: Explore multiple clubs across different fields of interest.
Sophomore Year: Narrow the focus to activities most meaningful to the student.
Junior Year: Seek out leadership positions in chosen activities.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program

The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program supports the participation of low-income parents in postsecondary education through campus-based child care services.

Program Overview

Purpose: To support low-income student parents in postsecondary education by providing campus-based child care services.
Eligibility: Institutions of higher education that awarded a total of $250,000 or more of Federal Pell Grant funds during FY 2022 to students enrolled at the institution.
Activities Supported: Establishing or supporting campus-based child care programs, providing direct child care services or contracting for services, and offering before- and/or after-school services.
Grant Duration: CCAMPIS grants are made for four-year grant award cycles.

Financial Details

Average Annual Grant Amount: The FY 2022 average annual grant award amount was $273,221.
Maximum Award Amount: The maximum annual award amount in the FY 2023 competition is $500,000 or the amount equivalent to the product of $100 multiplied by the institution's total number of Pell Grant recipients in FY 2022, whichever amount is greater.
Cost Matching: There is no cost matching requirement for the CCAMPIS Program.

Reporting Requirements

All CCAMPIS grantees are required to submit an annual performance report documenting the persistence and degree attainment of their participants.

Additional Support Programs

Summer Bridge Program (SBP)

The Summer Bridge Program is designed to provide a comprehensive orientation and transition experience for first-generation college students from limited-income families (eligible for Pell Grants).

Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE)

CARE provides extra support to EOPS students who are unmarried, parents of children under 14, heads of their households, and receiving TANF / CalWORKs benefits. This includes meal cards, regional retreats, and help with transportation and school supplies.

EOPS Policies and Procedures

EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) provides support to students facing economic and academic challenges. Key policies include:

Mandatory counseling appointments.
Priority registration.
Unit requirements.
Program alert status for non-compliance.
Book grant eligibility.

CARES Team

The CARES team is a campus-wide team responsible for initiating supportive measures for students who need additional support academically, emotionally, or psychologically, or who present a risk to the health and/or safety of the college or its members.

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