Smart List: 30 Orgs Boosting College Access & Success
Share
Getting Smart is acknowledging people and organizations making a difference with a series of back to school top 10 lists. We tried to fit them all into August, but a few of our spotlights of about 500 people and organizations are running into September. They’re not in order and are not exhaustive but are definitely the people we appreciate.
Today we’re recognizing 30 organizations building college awareness, preparation and completion.
College Awareness & Success
- College Success Foundation: supports and scholarships, DC & WA
- ConnectEDU: supporting pathways from school to college to career
- Big Future: college planning from College Board
- Envictus: college and career awareness system
- National College Transition Network: supports college transitions programs
- Choose Your Future: from Chicago Public Schools
- National Association for College Admission Counseling: 13,000 counselors
- Gear Up: Department of Education’s early awareness program
- College Navigator: from the Department of Education
- Beyond 12: academic and social supports for college completion
- uAspire: financial aid advice
- Families in Schools: helps families explore college options
- Complete College America: work with states to boost college completion
- The Bottom Line: college access and success
- Princeton Review: find the best school
College Access
- College Summit: turning 180 high schools into college and career launchpads,
- National College Advising Corps: placing college advisors in high school Chapel Hill
- The Opportunity Network: career awareness, college advising, NYC
- The Posse Foundation: leadership development & college access, 9 cities
- OneGoal: 3-year college prep program in Chicago & Houston
- iMentor: mentors promoting high school and college graduation
- College Forward: advising and test prep, Houston
- Genesys Works: internships and college prep, 4 cities
- Juma Ventures: youth development and college preparation
- 10,000 Degrees: awareness, access, giving back
- College Track: support from middle school through college
- College Spring: helping low income students prep for and apply to college
- College Possible: 2 year coaching on college access
- Summer Search: mentoring, advising, and supporting college success
- Strive for College Collaborative: mentors help students make best college choices
There are hundreds of groups boosting college access. Who would you add?
Getting Smart Staff
The Getting Smart Staff believes in learning out loud and always being an advocate for things that we are excited about. As a result, we write a lot. Do you have a story we should cover? Email [email protected]
Nana Dagadu
Hi there,
Thank you for allowing the opportunity to add to this list of wonderful organizations. I see that all those mentioned here are truly doing great work but I think your list is not complete without a mention of Let's Get Ready (http://www.letsgetready.org/), which is a non-profit that produces real results in getting low-income high school students to college. LGR's model of using college students as "coaches" truly provides a system of mentoring and support through SAT prep, life & study skills, financial aid advice and even college visits so that the HS students receive a complete package of college preparedness. This provides not only access but also genuine interest and desire for college and builds lasting relationships, which you don't always find in every program of this nature. I had the distinct honor of being involved in LGR as a student, a coach, and a site director (getting to plan out and run one site for a summer) and I continue to be involved with LGR in any way that I can. I highly recommend the organization and hope you will consider adding it to the list so that more low-income students get exposed to the great opportunities I had when I was a high school sophomore and junior.
Thanks,
Nana
Johnathan L. Nieves
Please consider adding Let's Get Ready! Let's Get Ready is a non-profit organization aimed at assisting low-income students matriculate to college. It offers students free SAT preparation, college application support and a atmosphere conducive to success. Greater than 92% of students in the Let's Get Ready program go on to enroll in college. As an alumni of and volunteer for Let's Get Ready who has graduated college and in the process of interviewing for medical schools, I can attest to the transformative experience the program offers its students. To learn more about Let's Get Ready's success, please visit: http://www.letsgetready.org/Our-Model-and-Impact/Results/.
Chris Soto
College Visions (Providence, RI)
Bottom Line (Boston, Worcester, NYC)
Higher Edge (New London, CT)
Hannah Smythe
Hi there,
I am impressed with the caliber of the work done by the organizations above, but I believe that the list will remain incomplete without the inclusion of the Alexander Hamilton Friends Association (AHFA). This nonprofit works to identify high school juniors, who, like the young Alexander Hamilton, demonstrate leadership abilities, academic excellence, a passion for public service, and financial need. Throughout each Hamilton Scholar's junior and senior years of high school, AHFA's admissions and financial aid experts provide students with individualized assistance in navigating their college search. The organization continues to support Hamilton Scholars throughout college, via ongoing leadership development training, a fully-funded trip to complete an international service project, and a program that connects students with paid internships in their fields of interest. Throughout the program, Hamilton Scholars also build an invaluable peer support network. As a 2009 Hamilton Scholar, I can testify firsthand to the impact AHFA has had in helping me grow as a leader, and in assisting me in developing an academic and career path that inspires me. I encourage all motivated, low-income students to further explore the program (check out hamiltonfriends.org).
Warmly,
Hannah
Hannah Smythe
Hi there,
I am impressed with the caliber of the work done by the organizations above, but I believe that the list will remain incomplete without the inclusion of the Alexander Hamilton Friends Association (AHFA). This nonprofit works to identify high school juniors, who, like the young Alexander Hamilton, demonstrate leadership abilities, academic excellence, a passion for public service, and financial need. Throughout each Hamilton Scholar's junior and senior years of high school, AHFA's admissions and financial aid experts offer individual assistance in navigating their college search. The organization continues to support each Hamilton Scholar throughout college, via ongoing leadership development training, a fully-funded trip to complete an international service project, and a program that connects students with paid internships in their fields of interest. Throughout the program, Hamilton Scholars also build an invaluable peer support network. As a Hamilton Scholar alumna, I can testify firsthand to AHFA’s impact in helping me grow as a leader, and in helping me develop an academic and career path that inspires me. I would encourage page moderators and all motivated, low-income students to further explore the program (you can check it out at hamiltonfriends.org).
Best,
Hannah
John Fees
This is a terrific list. Please contribute your suggestions and join the discussion on Leadership for Student Success & Higher Education at this LinkedIn Group.
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=5187932&trk=groups_management_submission_queue-h-logo
Steven Rothberg
Please consider for CollegeRecruiter.com for inclusion on this great list.
Kristen Barber
Act Six is an urban leadership scholarship initiative program under Pursue Scholars for Chicago (http://pursuescholars.org) which provides full tuition full need scholarships to various universities and provides training for high school seniors to be fully prepared to transition to college, as well as ongoing support through to graduation from college. The Chicago initiative is provide a full tuition full need scholarship to Taylor University in Upland Indiana.
Since 2002, Act Six has selected and trained 656 scholars from seven cities in 76 cadres for 11 partner colleges. They represent the very best emerging urban and community leaders that these communities have to offer. While 90% of scholars come from low-income households or are the first in their family to go to college, they are defying the odds with graduation rates of more than 80%.
TWY
Reality Changers (San Diego, CA)
www.realitychangers.org
Kate Flannery
Capital Partners for Education in Washington, DC!
Keith Landis
Please add to your list.
Thank you!
Stephen
I would recommend TeenSHARP.
I believe they are in New Jersey & Delaware.
Also, I have not seen many college access programs in Delaware, can you help with that?
Tara Smith
I work for a non profit called College For Every Student (CFES). Over the last 25 years, we have been committed to helping K-12 students in BOTH rural and urban communities become better prepared for college and career. We would love to be included on your list of other wonderful non profits with a shared goal of helping our students around the country!