Prospective college students continually note that the waiting period between applying to a school and receiving an admission decision is one of the more stressful parts of the college experience. Recognizing this, Campus Compact for New Hampshire launched Instant Admissions, events that happen twice a year designed to streamline the application process and foster college readiness among its students.

The latest Instant Admissions event, held in mid-February at Lisbon Regional High School, brought together juniors and seniors from four high schools across the state, all of whom are actively engaged in a college access program facilitated by Campus Compact for New Hampshire (CCNH). Students had the opportunity to meet representatives from over fifteen of CCNH’s colleges and career partners to discuss their post-graduation plans.

Seniors had the unique chance to receive on-the-spot admission decisions from twelve college and university partners, who recorded having over 150 admissions conversations during the two-hour event. Will, a senior from Manchester West High School, described his Instant Admissions experience as a success, having been accepted into three colleges.

A highlight of the day was the palpable excitement that filled the room, marked by the sound of a celebratory horn and applause with each student’s acceptance.

“Seeing the looks on students’ faces when they were accepted into a college was the best part,” shared a high school staff member who attended the event. “It also helped students, especially first-generation students, realize that applying to college can be easy, not scary.”

For students like Madison from Lisbon Regional High School, the convenience of hosting Instant Admissions at their school made it significantly easier to engage with college representatives.

“I’ve only been on two college tours so far,” Madison said. “Both tours were through GEAR UP NH, so having this event happen in my school made connecting with colleges easier than touring individual schools.”

Instant Admissions also served as a platform for seniors who had already secured college acceptances to deepen their connections with potential schools. Lia, a senior from Lisbon Regional, had the opportunity to discuss their anticipated major and explore options to customize their program at schools they had already been accepted to, like Plymouth State University and Keene State College.

“I was able to ask Keene about my major in history education and what options they have for customizing my program of study with minors or double majors.” shared Lia, who plans to major in history education but has an interest in pursuing theatre, too.

Beyond admissions discussions, the event featured a Scholarshipaton, where students could apply for over $600,000 in scholarships from a curated list of scholarships they were qualified for. Interactive stations about writing a college essay, creating a resume, and how to manage stress were included in the event, along with FAFSA Q&A from the financial aid experts at Granite Edvance.

The event’s success was underscored by the participation of CCNH’s colleges and university partners, which included four-year institutions like Plymouth State University, Keene State College, New England College, Colby Sawyer College, Saint Anselm College, Rivier University, Franklin Pierce University, and Southern New Hampshire University. Several partners from the Community College System of New Hampshire also attended, including White Mountains Community College, Nashua Community College, NHTI – Concord’s Community College, and Lakes Region Community College.

Tyler Brown, an Admissions Representative from Lakes Region Community College, reflected positively on the students’ preparation and engagement, highlighting the event’s effectiveness in facilitating meaningful interactions between students and institutions.

By continuing to streamline the college application process and provide immediate pathways to higher education through events like Instant Admissions, CCNH looks forward to empowering more students to pursue their academic aspirations with confidence—and ease.