National College Application Month, 2014

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9203 of October 31, 2014

National College Application Month, 2014

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

With hard work and determination, a great education
should be within everyone's reach. At the heart of
America's promise is the belief that we all deserve an
equal opportunity to get ahead, and today more than
ever--as we face greater global competition in a
knowledge-based economy--a college degree is the surest
path to a stable, middle-class life. During National
College Application Month, we come together to
encourage all students to take control of their own
destiny by applying to continue their education beyond
high school and to let them know that no matter where
they come from or who they are--it does not matter if
they are the first in their family to apply to college
or if they have been told that they are simply not
college material--there is an opportunity for them.

This fall, high school seniors across our Nation are
making the decision to invest in their future by
earning a post-secondary degree or credential, and as
they navigate the college admissions process, my
Administration is dedicated to supporting them with the
tools and resources they need to succeed. To help more
families afford a college degree, we have expanded
grants, tax credits, and loans and invested in programs
that help students manage and reduce the burdens of
debt after they graduate. We created the College
Scorecard to make it easier for students and families
to compare colleges and find ones that are well-suited
to their needs. And to help students better understand
the costs of college and more easily compare aid
packages offered by different institutions, we
developed the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet. To access
these and other resources--including College Navigator
and a tool that helps determine the net price of any
given college--Americans can go to www.WhiteHouse.gov/ReachHigher ReachHigher.

Applying to college is hard work, but it is only the
beginning of a journey that requires persistence and
focus. A college degree unlocks pathways to
opportunity; it prepares today's students for the jobs
of the future and is a requirement for the educated
workforce and informed citizenry our country needs to
create growth, bolster our economy, and strengthen our
democracy. That is why as a Nation, we must lift up our
students, help them achieve their greatest potential,
and work together toward an important goal: to lead the
world in college completion.

This month, we celebrate the limitless possibility
within every child. We honor the teachers, school
counselors, and parents who help students apply to
college. We recognize the institutions that are taking
steps to ensure they reach the best and brightest
students, regardless of their background, and all those
who ensure the next generation is prepared for success,
including businesses who open their doors to interns
and the alumni, foundations, and faith-based
organizations that provide scholarships. Let us remind
all students that it is never too early to start
planning for their future or reaching for their dreams.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 2014 as
National College Application Month. I call upon public
officials, educators,

parents, students, and all Americans to observe this
month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and
programs designed to encourage students to make plans
for and apply to college.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
ninth.