Yes, You Can Go To College!

Dear Friend,

In today's economy, higher education and life-long learning have become essential for success. However, the costs of higher education have become unbearable for some, and burdensome for all. According to a recently released study by the U.S. Department of Education, paying for college is a greater burden for New Yorkers than residents of any other state.

As a result of the rising costs, some high school students either do not see a college degree as a possibility, or turn their backs on higher education altogether because they do not understand the long-term benefit to their lives. We must change this. No student in New York should forego a college education just because they or their family think they cannot afford it.

Therefore, I am very pleased to bring you this informational booklet about some of New York State's very creative financial aid and academic support opportunity programs, including HEOP, EOP, SEEK, College Discovery and C-STEP. Each of these programs were designed to help young adults from low- and moderate-income families not just get into and afford college, but succeed academically and socially once they are there. All have proven highly successful in creating upward socio-economic mobility for tens of thousands of students across New York State.

We hope you find this information useful, and that you or someone you know may benefit from these programs. Please share this information with your family, friends, and colleagues, as well as school administrators, teachers, and counselors who can help us put this information to good use.

Regards,

Thomas K. Duane

State Senator, 29th District