CollegeMapper Invited To Present At “Education Datapalooza” White House Event

Oct. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- CollegeMapper, a Seattle based college admissions website built by a high school teacher and guidance counselor, has been invited to present at a conference at the White House on Tuesday, October 9. The event, “Education Datapalooza,” showcases how free government education data is so vital to the success of American students.

Datapalooza is part of a new initiative by the Department of Education (DOE) to use technology and data to increase innovation in higher education access. CollegeMapper is one of 15 companies that has been invited to present at the afternoon session of the event. The morning will include presentations by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, as well as other DOE officials.

CollegeMapper is a free college admissions web-based software that helps high school students navigate every aspect of the college admissions process starting as early as 8th grade. The company uses Higher Ed data in numerous ways, including allowing students to search for and compare colleges, to view their chances of admission at each school, and to calculate the probable cost of attending each institution.

In upcoming months, CollegeMapper plans to use the free government data to expand what the tool offers high school students, parents and counselors.

“Our goals are aligned,” said CollegeMapper CEO, Susanna Cerasuolo, M.Ed. “This initiative is working to give students and parents the information they need to make well-informed decisions about higher education. CollegeMapper.com guides families to organize and understand this data in an easy to use format, and assists guidance counselors in advising students.”  

The Department of Education hopes that working with social entrepreneurs and innovators like CollegeMapper will bring new products and services to the American people to help students make informed decisions about their educations.

CollegeMapper has been helping high school students and parents nationwide and overseas since its launch last year. Cerasuolo, a first generation college graduate, works with high schools, the Boys and Girls Club, colleges and universities, and the College Success Foundation to help all students attend college.