Despite the many challenges of the COVID-19 interrupted 2020-21 school year, all students in the 2021 Senior Cohort were offered admission to college and nearly 50% will enter college on a full scholarship, over 20 times the national average of 2%. We have not only spent the summer supporting rising high school students through boot camps in Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, but have developed multiple programs to support student success and students’ college-bound aspirations for the 2021-22 school year.
College Cohort (Grades 9 – 12)
Full-year College Planning Cohort (Grades 9 – 12): Planning is defined as: An orderly or step-by-step conception or proposal for accomplishing an objective; A proposed or intended course of action;or A systematic arrangement of elements or important parts.
College planning is not something that a student does in addition to school, but is a step-by-step approach to maximizing the available opportunities in each student’s school and school district. Each grade-level cohort is guided through a comprehensive 7-year middle-through-high school curriculum; and supported by high school and college interns; school counselors; parents; and college advisers. Students become part of a conversational community of students with similar college/career aspirations from throughout the country. Students participate in monthly grade-level discussions through which they explore their gifts, talents, personality, and interests; engage in self-reflection; set goals; select classes and activities; pursue leadership opportunities; research colleges and scholarships; hear from college admissions and financial aid officers; and are exposed to the success stories of students from similar socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds—all focused on developing the exceptional body of work needed to qualify for admission to top colleges and being awarded competitive scholarships.
Our 2021-22 College Cohort Classroom opens on September 1 and all-virtual monthly sessions begin on Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 10:00 am – Noon. Following a large group presentation, students engage in grade-level discussion groups (i.e., cohorts) focused on 9 monthly topics (grades 9 – 11). The cohort of high school seniors will be guided in meeting monthly deadlines; completing the FAFSA; choosing admission cycles; writing essays; submitting applications; reviewing financial aid award letters; finalizing college enrollment decisions; and pursuing the best college and scholarship opportunities.
Join a Cohort
In addition to our many college partners, we are excited to continue our partnerships with the Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter (ASA) of the Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.; Florence School District 3 (SC); Judson ISD (TX); and Pinellas County Schools (FL). If your fraternity, sorority, faith- or community-based organization would like to partner with us, please email: mychalwynn@accessandequity.org.
