Newsletter: June 1, 2020

Start Your Engines

We are excited to open our 12-month High School Senior Online Classroom today. The comprehensive 2020/21 High School Senior curriculum provides guidance from the end of students’ junior year of high school through finalizing their May 1, 2021, college enrollment decisions. The curriculum covers every aspect of the college admission and financial aid processes such as college and scholarship match, branding, identifying recommenders, essay writing, packaging applications, completing the FAFSA and CSS Profile, choosing admission cycles, applying for financial aid, responding to document requests, understanding financial aid award letters, and applying for scholarships—all focused on avoiding or minimizing student loan debt. Cohort students from our school district and community partners, who completed the 2019/20 High School Junior Classroom, have the opportunity to transition into our high school senior classroom where they will begin working on essays and writing responses for their well researched list of colleges and scholarships. Students who were unable to complete the assignments have another opportunity to do so during the summer college planning boot camp for high school students. 

We Appreciate Our Partners

We are excited about continuing our school district partnerships with Florence County School District 3 (SC); Guilford County Schools (NC); and Pinellas County Schools (FL). We are also excited about the opportunity to continue supporting our faith- and community-based partnerships with the Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., ASA Guide Right; Ghana United Christian Church (GA); Turner Chapel AME Church Education Ministry (GA); and the World Victory International Christian Center (NC).

Please share this newsletter with faith- and community-based organizations in your community who may wish to partner with us to expand college and scholarship opportunities for students and families throughout the country. Despite the educational uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been in continuous contact with our college partners and disseminating information to students regarding campus openings, Fly-in Programs, and colleges that will be test optional in 2021. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook.

Back by Popular Demand! FREE Virtual Summer Boot Camp Preview Session
Click here to register…
Saturday, June 6 – Boot Camp Preview
10:30 am: Online session opens/advanced registration required
11:00 am: Student Speakers: Sydney Soskin (University of Chicago); Damian Lee (Northeastern University)

Monthly Live Virtual Session for High School Seniors
(Only opened to registered students)
Saturday, June 13, 2020
9:30 am: Online session opens/advanced registration required
10:00 am – 10:30 am: Presentation
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Small Group Discussions
11:30 am – Noon: Open Mic Questions and Answers

Guilford County Schools
3-day Virtual Summer College Planning Boot Camp for Rising High School Juniors 
Tuesday, June 16 – Thursday, June 18, 2020
8:30 am: Online session opens/advanced registration required
9:00 am – 2:00 pm: Rotating schedule of presentation; independent work; discussion

4-day Virtual Summer College Planning Boot Camp for High School Students (Grades 9-12)
(Advanced Registration Required)
Monday, June 22 – Thursday, June 25, 2020
8:30 am: Online session opens/advanced registration required
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Rotating schedule of presentation; independent work; discussion

Grades 9 – 10: High school freshmen and sophomores will be engaged in an intensive set of activities through which they will explore their gifts and talents; personality type; careers; develop an academic résumé; develop an initial college list; and set school-year goals across such areas as academics, leadership, and service.

Grade 11: High school juniors will be engaged in an intensive set of activities through which they will set goals during their critical junior year of high school in a manner aligned with their college/career aspirations. Students will explore college admission during the age of COVID-19 and the critical steps they must take during their junior year to become a competitive candidate for being offered admission to top colleges.

Grade 12: High school seniors will be engaged in an intensive set of activities to finalize college lists, identify scholarship opportunities, and begin writing essays within the context of college choice and financial need.

Middle School Students

Jump start your school year from the comfort of your home during a 4-day virtual summer college planning boot camp (Grades 7 – 8). Join the many middle school boot camp participants who are continuing to achieve the goals set during the boot camp and who are now academically accomplished high school juniors and seniors with tremendous college and scholarship opportunities. We are excited to welcome back our Pinellas County Schools 2019 middle school boot camp participants.

4-day Virtual Summer College Planning Boot Camp for Middle School Students (Grades 7-8) 
(Advanced Registration Required)
Monday, July 6 – Thursday, July 9, 2020
8:30 am: Online session opens/advanced registration required
9:00 am – 2:00 pm: Rotating schedule of presentation; independent work; discussion
During the first session: We will have student speakers, Mallory; Briston; and Adriana from Northwest High School in Jackson, Michigan who will share their boot camp experiences, “What The Summer Middle School Boot Camp Did For Me!” 

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

Nationally Recognized | 2020 Magna Award First Place Winner | National School Boards Association
2020 Full Scholarships: Appalachian State; Benedict; Bowdoin; Carleton; Claflin; Johnson & Wales; North Carolina A&T; North Carolina Central; Tuskegee; UNC – Pembroke; University of Chicago; Wake Forest; and Williams