Admission Possible, the nonprofit organization providing college preparatory programming to low-income high school students for free, is recruiting now through mid-April for sophomores interested in obtaining a college education.
Applications are being accepted from eligible sophomores by Admission Possible staff at each of the program’s Greater Twin Cities partner high schools. Students in attendance at other high schools may contact Admission Possible headquarters at 651-917-3525 or [email protected] to apply.
“Student recruitment is one of our most exciting times of the year,” said Admission Possible’s student recruitment coordinator, Chris Mitchell. “Our AmeriCorps members are creating a buzz across the Twin Cities and getting sophomores excited about the prospect of going to college. They may not even believe it yet, but in two years they could be stepping onto campus.”
Historically, 98 percent of participating students have earned admission to college; 94 percent have gone on to enroll and nearly 80 percent of those students are still working toward their college degree or have already graduated. The program currently serves 1,400 low-income juniors and seniors in the Greater Twin Cities.
Senior Nasro Barre, who attends the public charter school Ubah Medical Academy, credits her Admission Possible coach for the large number of college applications she sent in this year – a total of 14. Barre has received 13 acceptance letters. When asked what she would tell a sophomore wondering whether or not to take part in the program, she doesn’t hesitate. “I would say, ‘Why are you even asking? Of course you should join Admission Possible.’”
Admission Possible students commit to two after-school sessions a week during their junior and senior years of high school. Students join a small learning group and are assigned one Admission Possible college coach who works with them in small groups and individually for each year of the program. During these two years, students are provided free ACT/SAT test preparation, intensive guidance in preparing college applications, help in obtaining financial aid and guidance in the transition to college.
Three requirements for entry into the Admission Possible program are: 1) income eligibility – a student’s family income is at or below the median household income for the state; 2) a student is a high school sophomore on track to be a junior in 2010-11; and 3) a student is willing to commit to after-school sessions, and Saturday ACT practice exams, college campus visits and community service outings over the two years. Additionally, students admitted to the program typically have a GPA of 2.0 or higher and a solid record of school attendance.
Approximately 750 sophomores across the Twin Cities will be notified of admittance to the program by late April and will begin Admission Possible after-school programming in the fall of the 2010-11 school year at one of these partner schools: Arlington, Central, Como Park, Harding, Highland Park, Humboldt and Johnson high schools in St. Paul; Patrick Henry, Roosevelt and Edison high schools in Minneapolis; Armstrong and Cooper high schools in Robbinsdale; St. Louis Park High School; Columbia Heights High School; Coon Rapids High School; and charter schools Higher Ground Academy, Ubah Medical Academy, and Community of Peace Academy.
Students, parents and other caring adults interested in learning more about the program or wishing to refer a student may visit the Admission Possible office at a partner high school, call 651-917-3525 or visit the organization’s website www.AdmissionPossible.org/Student_Recruitment.
