June 1, 2021 College Planning News

The data is in and the decisions have been made for our Class of 2021. Pictured above are the final college choices for our high school seniors, for whom we had a great send off at our final cohort session of the 2020-21 school year. As we celebrate our students’ journey into the next phase of their lives, and congratulate them on their amazing achievements during enormous challenges and disruptions in learning and school related activities, in a year that was unlike any other.

Our 38 graduating seniors were offered:

• Admission to over 500 colleges and universities including 8 of the top 10 research universities in the United States
• Offered over $5 million in institutional and private scholarships
• Offered 16 full scholarships (42.1%), over 20 times the national average of 2%
• Ava Bingham was offered admission to the highly selective Nursing Program at Clemson University
• Blaine Haddis was selected as a High Point University Presidential Scholar
• Chandler Stevenson was selected as a GE – Reagan Foundation Scholar
• Faith Kumi was selected as a University of Chicago Odyssey Scholar and as a Ron Brown Scholar
• Haley Hardway was selected as a South Carolina Teaching Fellow
• Jada Foote was selected as a North Carolina A&T Cheatham-White Scholar
• Jaylon Oduro was selected as a University of Chicago Odyssey Scholar
• Joanne Lioe (High School Junior) was selected as QuestBridge Scholar
• Jordan Freeman was offered admission to the highly selective University of South California – School of Cinematic Arts
• Khalil Felder was selected as an Xavier University of Louisiana Presidential Scholar
• Samuel Patterson, III (College Senior) was selected as a University of Oxford – Rhodes Scholar
• Sydnee Brothers was selected as a North Carolina A&T Dowdy Scholar
• Whitney Williams (College Student) 5-member Spelman College team won the $1 million Goldman Sachs Market Madness Competition

Click here to download a copy of the Class of 2021 Senior Recognition Program.

Click here to download the Senior Recognition PowerPoint Presentation.

Summer Intern Opportunity

Sydney Soskin, a member of our 2020 Pinellas County Schools Cohort, Discussion Group Leader, and University of Chicago student, will serve as our 2021 College and High School Intern Program Coordinator.

Students interested in serving as a College Planning Cohort Intern for one or more of our summer college planning boot camps should email: cpc@collegeplanningcohort.com

College Planning Boot Camps

We will host 5 summer college planning boot camps for middle school and high school students. Each boot camp will provide grade-level appropriate guidance in developing a comprehensive college-bound plan. Click onto the boot camp for the registration link.

June 7 – 10 (9:00 am – 1:00 pm): 4-day all-virtual boot camp for High School Seniors. Click here to register… Recommended for any rising high school senior who did not participate in our junior-year program.

June 14 – 18 (8:30 am – 2:30 pm): 5-day in-person boot camp for McKinney-Vento rising 9th graders in Judson ISD (TX). Contact Sylvia Greenwood (sgreenwood@judsonisd.org). Limited to 40 students. This boot camp is only opened to Judson ISD students.

June 21 – 25 (8:30 am – 2:30 pm): 5-day in-person boot camp for Military Connected rising 9th graders in Judson ISD (TX). Contact Sylvia Greenwood (sgreenwood@judsonisd.org). Limited to 40 students. This boot camp is only opened to Judson ISD students.

July 12 – 15 (9:00 am – 1:00 pm): 4-day all-virtual boot camp for High School Students in Grades 9 – 12. Click here to register… Any high school student may register. The registration fee for students in Florence School District 3 and Pinellas County Schools is waived.

July 19 – 22 (9:00 am – 1:00 pm): 4-day all-virtual boot camp for Middle School Students in Grades 7 – 8. Click here to register… Any middle school student may register. The registration fee for students in Florence School District 3 and Pinellas County Schools is waived.

2021-22 High School Senior Classroom

Our 2021-22 High School Senior Classroom opens today. While we will not host our first monthly cohort meeting until the second Saturday in September, however, we will be reviewing student work, communicating via email, and meeting with students and parents, via virtual sessions, as needed. Registered students will have the option of attending our June 7 – 10 high school senior boot camp where they can finalize their college application and scholarship plans and will have complimentary access to our June/July Essay Writing Workshops.

New students: click here to register…; Returning students: click here to register… (Note: Registration fees for Pinellas County Schools and Florence School District 3 students are paid for by the school district.)

Essay Writing Workshop Series

With the huge increase in applications to selective colleges, now, more than ever, a student’s essays can be the difference between being offered admission and receiving a rejection letter! We are excited to introduce a 4-part Essay Writing Workshop series, developed and presented by Mychal-David Wynn, a certified college counselor and graduate of Amherst College (BA English). The sessions are not part of our normal program and require a separate registration and are opened to all students. (Note: Registration fees for Pinellas County Schools and Florence School District 3 students are paid for by the school district.)

The 4-part series will be presented from 9:00 am – Noon, during each Saturday in June (5, 12, 19, and 26). The 4-part series will be repeated in July (10, 17, 24, and 31). The goal is for participating students to emerge from the sessions with a fully edited Common Application Essay, supplemental essay, or scholarship essay.

Topics will cover:

• Choosing the ‘right’ Common Application Essay Prompt
• Effectively responding to multi-question writing prompts
• Finding your voice
• Expressing your truth
• Telling your story
• Making connections between your body of work, recommenders, and the college’s mission/vision

Students will have their essays fully reviewed and edited. Click here to purchase your registration or Email cpc@collegeplanningcohort.com to reserve your space. Space is Limited.

Join a Cohort

ASA Guide Kappa League Mentoring Program: Contact Doug Lucas: dlucasjr@aol.com. Note: ASA Guide Right rising seniors, must confirm their intentions to continue in our program with Mr. Lucas and attend the boot camp for high school seniors prior to being enrolled into the 2021-22 High School Senior Classroom.

Atlanta-area and National Cohort: Contact Mychal-David Wynn: mdwynn@accessandequity.org

Pinellas County Schools: Contact Dr. Lewis Brinson, Minority Achievement Officer: brinsonle@pcsb.org

Florence County School District 3: Contact Ms. Kendra Wilson, Guidance Counselor: kwilson@fsd3.org

Click here to learn more about our cohorts and other programs…