Interested in City Colleges? School offers virtual information sessions next week — and chance to win free laptops

City Colleges of Chicago is partnering with Chicago Public Schools to offer a week of virtual panels, raffles with prizes and other events to help students better understand their options for a post-secondary education.

The events, which begin Monday and continue through Friday, will feature discussions from City Colleges faculty and current students, virtual challenges that allow students to explore course offerings and information about various ways to receive financial assistance.

The financial aid sessions include information about the Star Scholarship program, that offers free tuition and books to all CPS graduates with a 3.0 grade point average who score a 17 or higher on the ACT or perform similarly on other college admissions tests.

“We don’t want students to pause their college searches even though so many other things in life are on hold,” said City Colleges Chancellor Juan Salgado said in a statement. “We want to help them get the information they need to make informed decisions, and for a lot of students across the City, the best choice is an affordable, high-quality City Colleges education.”

The virtual challenges for students “that will stretch their skills, knowledge, and talents” will also allow students to enter into raffles to win laptops and iPads, according to City Colleges.

While the week of informational sessions is geared toward CPS students, some sessions dedicated to community members will also be open to the general public.

Some highlights of the programing includes:

For students:

• Presentations about applying for financial aid, admissions, transferring in sessions Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.;

• a panel discussion with current city colleges students at 10 a.m. Wednesday;

• and a Virtual College Day that allows students an opportunity to learn more about the seven colleges in depth on Friday.

For parents:

• a panel discussion with City Colleges parents at 10 a.m. Thursday;

• and presentations about applying for financial aid, admissions and transferring at 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

More information about the programs can be found online at www.ccc.edu/virtualweek.

The deadline to apply to City Colleges for the summer session is May 20, while for the fall semester the deadline is August 20. The fall deadline for many four-year colleges is next Friday, May 1.