College + Career Counseling
The College + Career Access Team
The Venture College and Career Access Department believes every student should have support regarding what comes after high school, whether that be entering the workforce, attending college, starting their own business, or pursuing the certifications necessary to help them achieve their goals. We begin the counseling process early on in our students’ high school careers not only to get to know our students and families on a personal level, but help them explore options and understand what opportunities are available to them after graduation.
We have counselors dedicated to serving students throughout their time in high school as well as our alumni counselors who follow our Venture students after graduation. We teach seminar classes, provide graduation planning, and prioritize hands-on support for both the college and financial aid application processes. In addition to this individualized approach, we offer personalized meetings with students, family programming, financial aid and scholarship counseling, test prep, PSEO navigation and coordination. After graduation, we offer alumni support for our graduates in many forms; from help navigating orientation and registration, to social-emotional support throughout the college transition, to assistance with course and major selection, to academic preparedness workshops. For our students not enrolled in college, our alumni counselors support career and workforce planning (resume writing, interviews, etc.), advise students who start academic programs later in life, and help with navigating the transfer process.
As a team, our mission is to provide comprehensive support, education, and assistance to all students and families in the Venture Community!
Ms. Emily Owens
Director of College/Career Counseling + Alumni Support
eowens@ventureacademies.org
(612) 432–5883
Mr. Nate Dixon
College + Alumni Support Counselor
ndixon@ventureacademies.org
(612) 414–8317
Information For Admissions Representatives
Sign up for Venture visits
Venture is using Scoir to schedule college rep visits during the academic year! This service is free to colleges and it allows reps to plan in a map view, see the availability of multiple high schools at a time, create virtual visits, and sync with your personal calendars. Our availability will be updated at the beginning of and throughout each school year. Feel free to create your own Scoir account to schedule visits and meet this year’s graduating class.
Application materials are sent via Scoir
The Venture College Counseling Team is using Scoir to send application-related documents. Colleges, it's free to sign up to electronically receive our students’ application materials. Sign up with Scoir to get started.
To send mail/promotional materials to Venture:
Venture Academy
ATTN: College Counseling Office
315 27th Ave SE
Minneapolis MN 55414
Fax: (612) 294–6737
Highlights
Of Venture Academy’s first three graduating classes 90% were accepted to a college or university. Overall, 70% of Venture Graduates are enrolled in a two-year or four-year college program, and 30% of our alumni chose to enter the workforce following graduation.
Venture Awards
Is the total amount of scholarships and grants awarded from the colleges & universities where Venture Graduates are enrolling.
$2,642,736
85%
FAFSA/MN Dream Act completion
Rate for all three graduating classes
62%
of Enrolled Venture Alumni Accepted Full Rides
to college with no out-of-pocket costs per year, after federal loans and work-study.
$1,564
Average annual out-of-pocket cost
for enrolled Venture graduates, after federal loans and work-study.
Colleges and Universities Venture graduates are attending include:
Albion College
Augsburg University
Bates College
Barry University
Beloit College
Carleton College
College of Saint Benedict
Denison University
Dougherty Family College at St. Thomas University
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamline University
Macalester College
Minerva Schools
Minneapolis College
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Normandale Community College
Pitzer College
Saint Catherine’s University
Saint Cloud State
Saint Mary’s University
St. Olaf College
Saint Paul College
Trinity College
University of Minnesota: Duluth
University of Minnesota: Twin Cities