College Application Support Program

Navigating college applications can be stressful and overwhelming, and not every student’s path looks the same. Our program is designed to provide personalized, comprehensive support to high school seniors in Chicago.

What We Do

Our mentors travel to partnering Chicago high schools every two weeks to provide high school seniors with complete college application support.

Our Services

We offer detailed presentations and personal workshops covering all crucial application topics:

• Personal Statements: Crafting compelling and unique essays.
• FAFSA: Navigating financial aid forms and understanding the process.
• School Selection: Identifying colleges that align with students’ goals.
• Scholarships: Finding and applying for financial opportunities.
• Financial Literacy: Teaching essential money management skills for college.

Our Approach

• Mentee to Mentor Ratio: 3:1 – ensuring personalized attention and support.
• Ongoing Support: Mentees and mentors remain in contact via email throughout the school semester, providing weekly support, including essay feedback.

Our Goal

We aim to help students choose a college where they will fit, succeed, and graduate in four years. With our personalized support, student mentees can develop their unique college goals, address their personal needs, and utilize their strengths as college applicants.

College Retention and Success Program

College can be a challenging transition, and students often face pivotal challenges and adjustments in their first two years. Many crucial resources go unnoticed, leading to a higher risk of dropping out.

The Challenge

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC):

• Roughly 25% of first-year college students don’t return for their second year at any school.
• About 35% don’t return to the same school.
• More than 39 million Americans have “some college, no credential,” a number that rose by 3.1 million from 2019 to 2022.
• As of June 2022, only about 62% of college students graduated within six years.

Our Solution

To combat these challenges, our program pairs each student mentee with a mentor from a similar academic field for their entire first two years of college.

Mentorship Approach

• Regular Meetings: Mentees and mentors meet consistently throughout each school semester to develop academic goals, explore resources, and build a supportive community.
• Resource Exploration: Mentors guide mentees in taking full advantage of campus resources and gaining access to valuable career-building events.

Our Goal

We aim to connect students with the resources and support they need to overcome obstacles and succeed in their college journey. With two years of continued mentorship, student mentees can confidently navigate the newest chapter of their lives and stay on track to graduate.

Career-Development Opportunities

Our program is committed to connecting student mentees with valuable opportunities that enhance their professional development and career readiness.

Exclusive Access

• Networking Events & Workshops: Student mentees receive access to exclusive events and workshops with professionals from various fields, providing them with valuable insights and connections.
• Weekly Newsletters: Mentees receive weekly newsletters filled with useful resources, including highlights of local programs, community events, and opportunities for outside scholarships.

Future Scholarship Initiative

We are actively working to establish a $20,000 Scholarship, exclusive to students in our programs, to further support their educational and professional journeys.

Our Goal

Our goal is to connect students with opportunities for pre-professional guidance and career development, ensuring they are well-prepared to enter the workforce with confidence.