How It Works

At a glance

How does Strive for College work? Here’s what a typical chapter looks like:

An executive leadership team starts the process of founding and implementing a chapter. They attain official student organization status, build partnerships with other students groups and service programs, and develop a relationship with a local school or school district.

The leadership team recruits undergraduate students to serve as mentors and college counselors.

Each chapter works with the local high school to find motivated, low-income students who want to attend college.

For a total of at least 32 hours over the course of at least 16 sessions, mentors head to the local school - or bring high school students to their campus - to guide students through the college admissions and application process, using our comprehensive curriculum and online database.

Students gain not only information and resources but also invaluable, long-lasting relationships with older student role models. Over time, this positive energy and growing reputation creates a college-bound culture in the schools we serve.

Details

MENTORS - Having just been through the process themselves, college students are uniquely suited to serve as college mentors and role models for low-income students. Undergraduate mentors know the contemporary admissions process, what worked for them and what did not, how to prepare and how to succeed. Working directly with a student mentor and role model provides resources and motivation in a way that produces incredible results.

CURRICULUM - Our comprehensive curriculum covers the entire college process, from the SAT to the personal essay to financial aid and scholarships. Beginning in the spring of a students’ junior year, mentors provide more than 32 hours of counseling while guiding students through the admissions process with the goal of enrollment in a four-year university or college. Each chapter uses our expansive curriculum, designed with the support of the education non-profit QuestBridge and with advice and guidance from top education and college experts from across the country.

CHAPTERS - Our model operates through a chapter system, allowing student leaders at campuses large and small to bring the program to their schools. Founders establish a chapter and integrate the program into university life as an official student group or program. Each chapter builds relationships and partnerships with school districts and/or local education non-profits, and tailors the program to meet the needs and environment of the community it serves.

ONLINE - Strive is currently developing an online website and database that will allow chapter directors and mentors to track student progress, deliver content and connect students with scholarship opportunities and universities searching for a talented, diverse student population.

NATIONAL - Strive’s network of chapters is directed and managed by a national office, the Strive for College Collaborative, that oversees implementation, development, expansion, operations and fundraising.