Middle School Recruitment

Middle School Recruitment

 

Recruitment for new 7th grade cohort typically takes place during the Fall semester. Pre-Collegiate program details and application requirements are shared at information sessions each fall. Pre-Collegiate works with district partners to set up school specific information sessions. Students and their families are strongly encouraged to attend an information session before applying to the Pre-Collegiate Development Program so that all understand the elements of Pre-Collegiate's middle school programming and can determine whether the program may be a good fit.

NOTE: In Fall 2021, all recruitment information sessions will be offered remotely via Zoom and some will be offered directly at school sites. Information session dates, times and locations will be posted on this website as they are confirmed. 

Who are UCCS Pre-Collegiate Middle School students?
Pre-Collegiate students come with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Pre-Collegiate generally recruits first-generation and/or military dependent students who are motivated to develop leadership skills and prepare students for high school and eventually post-secondary options.

Application Materials

Complete New Student Application Includes:

  • Completed Application – The application should be completed after attending an information session.
  • Personal Essay - Students will upload their essay in the electronic application directly. Essays should be between 250 and 500 words (1-2 pages). Please be sure to submit work that is of the same quality you would turn in at school, meaning that you should edit your essay to look for typos, and to check for proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation before submitting.
    • Prompt: Discuss how an event or person has changed the way you think and act.
  • Grade Report - Students will upload grade reports in the electronic application directly. We will accept official transcripts, unofficial transcripts, or a screenshot of learning management systems (ex: Power School, Infinite Campus, Schoology, etc.) The grade report must show the student's name and the date of the report.
  • One recommendation from a Teacher – The teacher must teach one of the following content areas: English/Literature, Math, Science, or Social Studies. Students must share the link with their recommending teacher.

Applications for the Pre-Collegiate Development Program closed on November 29, 2021. Decisions will be made by December 14 and notifications will be sent out via email. Questions? Contact Pre-Collegiate by phone or email. The Pre-Collegiate team will be out of the office from December 23 to January 4

Pre-Collegiate Middle School Program Application

Pre-Collegiate Middle School Recommendation Form

Frequently Asked Questions

When does recruitment happen?

Pre-Collegiate's middle school recruitment generally takes place August through September for 7th grade students.

How can I apply for the Pre-Collegiate Development Program’s Middle School Program?

All students should attend an information session prior to applying. In addition to sharing more information about our program, we will outline application steps and due dates at information sessions. Interested students will then need to complete an application, write a personal essay, share a current grade report, and get one recommendation from a core content teacher to apply to UCCS Pre-Collegiate.

How do I find out about recruitment information sessions?

UCCS Pre-Collegiate Middle School works with district partners to set up some school specific information sessions for the following schools: 

Can 8th graders still apply to the program?

There are occasionally opportunities for 8th graders to apply to be admitted to the program, but this will depend on space availability in cohorts. Interested 8th graders can apply to the program using the link above, but acceptance will be dependent upon available spaces in the 8th grade cohort. If you have further questions or would like more information about other opportunities that may be available to you, email pcdp@uccs.edu. 

What is the application deadline?

Applications are generally due at the end of October. This year’s recruitment deadline is 10/31/2021.  

 

Who is a first-generation student?

There are several definitions of what it means to be a first-generation college student. UCCS Pre-Collegiate defines a first-generation student as a student whose parent(s) or guardian(s) have not graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from a college or university in the United States.

What does UCCS Pre-Collegiate consider a military dependent?

Pre-Collegiate defines a military dependent as a student who has had a parent or guardian who has been active or reserve duty in the military within the past 10 years.

I completed an application to the middle school program on-time and submitted it! When can I expect to hear back from Pre-Collegiate about whether I have been accepted to the program?

Applications are generally due at the end of October. Pre-Collegiate reviews student applications in November, and notifies all applicants—whether accepted, denied, or waitlisted—of their status with the program in December. 

I’ve been accepted to Pre-Collegiate's middle school program! What’s next?

Accepted students will participate in an Orientation and their first workshop in January of the Spring semester. During mandatory Orientation students will receive the Program Expectations Handbook and an overview for their participation in the program.

What is a letter of recommendation?

A letter of recommendation is a letter written by someone who can recommend an individual's work or academic performance. You will need letters of recommendation when you apply to jobs, college, and summer programs. This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to request one from a teacher at your school!
    
Applicants are required to submit at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher in one of the following content areas: English/Literature, Math, Science, or Social Studies. 
    
Applicants are responsible for sharing the recommendation form link below with the teacher who can speak to your skills, performance, and habits at school. 
    
It is recommended that you give your recommender at least two weeks' notice before the application deadline to complete the form. 
    
Need help drafting an email to your teacher? Not sure how to request a letter of recommendation? See the example below:


Dear _________,

I am in the process of applying to the UCCS Pre-Collegiate Development Program at UCCS. I am applying to this program because _________. I am writing to ask if you would be willing to complete a recommendation for my application? I chose you as a recommender because _________.

If you are willing to support me in this way, the recommendation form can be found at this link: _________. My completed application is due _________. If you could please complete the recommendation form before this due date, I would greatly appreciate it.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions that may help you in completing this recommendation. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

_________