Applying to college can be a daunting task for any student. But for those who may be the first in their families to attend college, lack access to a trusted guidance counselor, or who worry about their family’s ability to pay for their education, the process can prove especially challenging.

A new, free online course, “How to Apply to College,” which launches on Monday, Feb. 13, aims to break down the process into accessible steps, from selecting a school to transitioning to college life. Offered on the Coursera platform through a partnership between Penn Admissions and the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Steppingstone Scholars, Inc., a primary goal of the course is to grow the pool of college applicants from underrepresented communities.

“There are really two things we want to achieve,” says Eric Furda, dean of admissions at Penn and one of the lead instructors in the course. “One is inspiration, trying to motivate students to make it through the application process. And the other is instruction, giving them some of the tools they need to do it, and then succeed once they arrive at college.”

Motivation to create such a course came from President Amy Gutmann’s original Penn Compact and Penn Compact 2020, from guidance counselors visiting campus who sought practical tools for their students, from Provost Vincent Price, who encouraged Furda to consider offering a college admissions course, from a previous Coursera offering taught by Penn’s Erick Hyde that targeted international students, and from the documentary “First Generation,” which follows the paths of four high school students hoping to become the first in their families to attend college.

“The biggest takeaway for me from that film was that there is an information gap when it comes to the college application process,” Furda says.

To help address that gap, Furda partnered with Sean Vereen to develop the course. Vereen is a Penn alumnus and president of Steppingstone Scholars, an organization that works with underserved students in Philadelphia starting in grade school to prepare them to succeed in college.

The video-based course is structured as a six-week offering, though its lessons can be accessed on demand. Furda and Vereen walk participants through lessons in everything from finding a good fit, to crafting a personal essay, to navigating the nitty gritty of financial aid applications. Current Penn students and Steppingstone Scholars offer additional insights. The course includes quizzes, discussion forums, opportunities for peer review, and access to resources from partners, including the College Board and Raise.me.

“I'm excited about the potential of what this class can do,” Furda says.

Register for “How to Apply to College” on the Coursera website.

Members of the Penn community with college-bound high school students who are interested in receiving additional assistance with the college process can also access information through sessions hosted by the Division of Human Resources. A workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 14, will explain how to navigate the financial aid process and how to take advantage of Penn’s tuition benefits. Another workshop on Thursday, Feb. 16, will feature staff from Penn’s undergraduate admissions office, who will give parents of high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors insight into how high school transcripts, course selection, and performance may influence college admissions.

These free workshops are for benefits-eligible faculty and staff, and offer helpful information whether or not a student plans to apply to Penn.