College Access & Success
Student Leadership Network’s college access programs are a critical first step towards closing what is commonly referred to as the income-based “degree divide,” but the work does not end there. Our college success programs address additional roadblocks on the road through college to ensure our students have the support and resources to succeed in college and go on to lead successful lives. Every year, our college access model is currently being implemented at 50 schools nationwide, impacting nearly 80,000 students.
Core Pillars
College Matters
At Student Leadership Network, we know college matters as a critical lever to multigenerational prosperity. We know how to get students to their best-fit college and prepare them to succeed there. Our programs create a college-going culture in under-resourced high schools and put students on a path to college. We help students gain access to and succeed in college by focusing on four core areas:
Early College Awareness
Access to our CollegeBound Initiative directors of college counseling as early as 6th or 9th grade.
Family Engagement
Educating and connecting with parents to build a strong support network for our students.
Financial Literacy
Comprehensive financial aid counseling and planning with students and their families.
Experiential Learning
Opportunities to participate in pre-college trips, summer programs, and scholarships to familiarize students with college life.
CollegeBound Initiative Model
Our college access and success model supports students in grades 6-12 on their post-secondary journey to leadership. We create college-bound cultures in schools to increase college enrollment and completion. Dedicated, full-time, school-based counselors provide hands-on support to build early college and career awareness. Our coaching and consulting services have brought our proven college access and success model to an increasing number of partners within and outside of NYC.
CollegeBound Initiative
The CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) program at our partner schools empowers young women and men to realize their higher education and career potential by placing full-time directors of college counseling (DCCs) in high-need public schools. CBI’s DCCs maximize students’ college awareness, access, and financial aid awards. CBI students graduating from our partner high schools achieve four-year college degrees at a significantly higher rate than their national peers.
We combine intimate knowledge of our students and trusted connections with a diverse network of colleges, enabling us to optimize college placement and maximize financial aid. Our comprehensive approach creates a culture of success in each of our partner high schools. And the results are clear – we have decades of demonstrated success in increasing the college enrollment and attainment rate for students from underserved communities.
For CBI students, the question is not if but where they will go to college.
Additionally, our alumni benefit from support from our College Persistence services to aid with the transition from high school to college and to get them across the college graduation stage. CBI combats college attrition by accessing, and partnering our graduates with, support programs at various colleges (e.g., NYS Opportunity Programs, CUNY ASAP, Bottom Line, Posse Scholars, etc.). The financial aid, structure, and support that these programs offer ensures our students have a smooth transition to and through college.
Early College and Career Awareness Activities
- coordinate college trips and fairs
- college awareness lessons and workshops
- connect students to alumni enrolled in college
Complete College Application Support
- assist students with registering/preparing for the PSAT and SAT exams
- one-on-one assistance with college selection
- help students hone their interview skills
- assist seniors in writing essays, recommendation letters, and resumes
- offer parent education and outreach
Enrollment and Financial Aid Support
- comprehensive financial aid counseling
- FAFSA application support
- one-on-one meetings with families
Experiential Learning Opportunities
- Overnight trips to partner colleges
- CollegeBound Summer Institute at St. Thomas Aquinas College
- Pre-college summer programs and scholarships
Alumni Support
- Connect current students to college-enrolled alumni
- Support graduates during summer months to support their transition to college
- Work closely with several partner colleges (e.g., Gettysburg College and University of Rochester) to increase students’ preparation for, access to, and enrollment in a college that supports their success
District Services
In partnership with district and school leaders, we transform college-going culture, beginning in middle school, to ensure all students are on the path for post-secondary success. Our experts build sustainable systems, codify best practices, and measure progress.
Consulting Services
We support schools, students, and educators to drive social progress through higher education and career planning including:
- Student Workshop Series: Eight workshops designed to inspire and prepare students from any grade for the college exploration process.
- Senior Bootcamp: Four sessions to support the graduating high school class in completing key college access milestones including CUNY, SUNY, and financial aid applications.
- College Trip Support: Organizing and coordinating college/university trips – a key experiential activity to prepare students for their post-secondary journey.
- Counselor Coaching: Hands-on and tailored training to strengthen the knowledge and skills of dedicated school counselors and build capacity for sustainable college and career related access work.
Expanding College Access Program to Buffalo School District
We are supporting the 34,000 students served by Buffalo Public School District in making their dreams of going to college a reality through a series of college access services.
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