Webinars
We regularly host Webinars about the college-going process. Click here to see upcoming and past ACAC Webinars.
Upcoming Webinars
Why Host a College Application Event: Insights from ACAC 2025 School of Excellence Awardees
Each year, the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) works with every state and the District of Columbia to host college application events in high schools and community organizations. Our goal is simple: ensure every student gets the support they need to apply to college.
This past school year, ACAC honored 26 high schools as School of Excellence awardees for their demonstrated commitment to student success and for serving as exemplary models for their state’s college application campaign.
Now you can learn from the best!
We’re bringing together three School of Excellence recipients in a special webinar to share the strategies they deployed during the 2025-26 application season to ensure they reached students who needed support navigating the complex college application and admissions process.
Join us on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at noon ET for a webinar where you’ll learn:
- The importance of hosting a college application event.
- Innovative ways to reach students.
- Strategies to remove barriers that prevent students from applying to a postsecondary institution.
Register Now: ACT Webinar | Why Host a College Application Event
Increasing College Application Completion with ACAC
Boost your school’s college-going culture by leveraging proven strategies from the American College Application Campaign. This session provides a practical roadmap for planning application events, engaging families, and building schoolwide momentum. Lisa Sommer King will share adaptable best practices and real-world examples to help you streamline the application journey for every student.
Attendees will learn to:
- Implement ACAC strategies to increase application completion rates.
- Plan and execute effective college application events.
- Engage students and families effectively throughout the application process.
Presenter:
Lisa Sommer King has worked for the American College Application Campaign since 2016 as senior communications specialist and was named director in 2020. Prior to joining the Campaign, King served local, state, and national nonprofits and education institutions through her communications consultancy, including the National College Attainment Network. Lisa holds a master’s degree in strategic communication from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s from Central Michigan University.
Register Now: ACT Webinar | Summer Counselor Webinar Series
ACT School Counselor Summer Webinar Series
As fall planning approaches, your schedule is demanding. Join the ACT Counselor Outreach Team for a four-part webinar series designed to translate complex data into stronger advising conversations and schoolwide impact.
Register for one or all four webinars. Join the sessions that fit your needs. All session times are in Eastern Time. If you are unable to attend “live,” a recording of the sessions will be sent to all registrants.
- 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Understanding the ACT: Foundations and Tools for Student Success
- 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. — Strengthening Counselor–Administrator Collaboration for Student Success
- 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. — Increasing College Application Completion with ACAC
- 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. — Supporting First-Generation and Underserved Students
- Clear frameworks for understanding ACT test structure and scoring
- Practical strategies to support first-generation and underserved students
- Approaches to increasing college application completion
- Strategies for strengthening collaboration between counselors and school leaders
Who Should Attend?
This webinar series is ideal for:
- Middle and high school counselors
- College and career advisors
- Counseling directors
- Counseling team
Option 2: Virtual Personal Essay Boot Camp
Calling all high school juniors – Class of 2027!
ACT’s American College Application Campaign is excited to partner with College Essay Guy this spring and summer to offer a free workshop to help students get started on their college personal statement.
During this workshop, you’ll:
- Learn what makes a strong personal statement.
- Discover ways to find meaningful essay topics and stories.
- Start brainstorming ideas you can turn into a full draft later.
We’re excited for you to participate and get a strong start on your essay – whether for your college applications, scholarship applications, or job applications!
REGISTER NOW: ACT Webinar | Free Personal Statement Boot Camp for Students with College Essay Guy
Two options – same great content! You only need to attend one.
Option 1
Date: Thursday, May 28
Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
Duration: 90 minutes
Option 2
Date: Tuesday, June 16
Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
Duration: 90 minutes
About College Essay Guy:
Founder Ethan Sawyer wrote the bestselling guide College Essay Essentials.
His resources are widely used by counselors and students nationwide.
His website includes hundreds of free college application guides and tools.
He also hosts a popular college admissions podcast!
Past Webinars
What is Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disability?
https://site.act.org/think-college-inclusive-postsecondary
Join ACT and the experts from Think College for an inspiring session to discover how to unlock postsecondary opportunities for students with disabilities.
Over the past two decades, advocacy efforts and improvements to the Higher Education Act have expanded access to more than 300 inclusive college programs nationwide. This webinar explores what inclusive higher education looks like in practice and the critical role counselors play in helping students identify the right program, access financial aid and other funding sources, and prepare for college success beginning in K–12. Think College staff will demonstrate the Think College program database and share evidence of the meaningful outcomes achieved by students with intellectual disability who pursue a college education.
Together, we’ll explore practical strategies, share success stories, and highlight resources that empower educators to create inclusive pathways to college and beyond.
What to Expect
The session blends informative content with practical strategies and interactive elements, including:
- Live polls
- Q&A segments
Join us on Wednesday, February 18, at noon ET to:
- Support student exploration: Help students with disabilities explore postsecondary options, identify programs that fit their needs, and access financial aid and funding resources.
- Build hands-on experience: Use the Think College program database to locate and evaluate inclusive higher education opportunities.
- Advocate with confidence: Leverage success stories and outcome data to champion inclusive college pathways and support student success starting in K–12.
Why Host a College Application Event: Insights from ACAC 2023 School of Excellence Awardees
Join us on Friday, Aug. 23, for an insightful webinar where you’ll discover:
- The importance of hosting a college application event.
- Innovative methods to engage and reach students.
- Effective ways to remove barriers that prevent students from applying to a postsecondary institution.
How to Use the Participatory Research Model to advance education equity, advocacy, and success.
As part of ACT’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning invites leaders, researchers, and practitioners to share knowledge and insights regarding the intersection of education, workforce, and equity through the ACT’s Equity Speakers Series. This year, we are pleased to invite Rhonda Broussard, founder and CEO of Beloved Community and author of “One Good Question: How Countries Prepare Youth To Lead,” along with Samarah Bentley, a student at Louisiana State University, to share insights on the power and promise of participatory research design.