Meet Taisha
Taisha is a senior at Norfolk County Agricultural High School. She loves working with animals at school and wants to continue doing so in college and in her career. She’s looking to get into a pre-veterinary program.
Before meeting with Iolando, the Crossroads College Success Coordinator, Taisha was confused and nervous about the college application process. “Before this meeting, I was really hesitant about applying to college as a whole. Now I feel more confident in myself, and in my ability to hit send.”
In just an hour and a half, Iolando helped Taisha create her resume, learn how to apply for financial aid and focus the list of colleges she’s applying to (including: URI, Cazenovia College, UNH, Tufts University, UMASS Amherst, Eckerd College, BSU, UMASS Lowell and Becker College). And it won’t stop there. Iolando will work with Taisha through the selection process and help her prepare for the transition into her new school.
Starting November 1, 2016, Crossroads launched a two-month crowdfunding campaign to raise $58,000 and kick-start our new College Success Initiative.
What is the College Success Initiative?
This new one-to-one college planning initiative will ensure that each of our 58 seniors receives the comprehensive individualized planning they need to find post-secondary success.
Over the next 12 months, Iolando will have 232 one-on-one working meetings with our 58 seniors. That’s four meetings per teen. (All of the planning, support and resources that go into one of these meetings end up costing about $250 per meeting. That’s $1,000 per teen. Hence our $58,000 goal). In these working meetings, teens will make college and career choices that will set them up for success, learn what to do once they get their acceptance letters and prepare for what to expect when they step on campus as an enrolled student.
Why is the College Success Initiative necessary?
For many low-income teens, the traditional path to college success is flawed. They can follow all the rules, stretch themselves with extracurriculars and community service, meet every application deadline, nail their in-person interview and earn a coveted spot in an incoming freshman class.
But getting into college isn’t the same as getting there, staying there and getting through. After all of that work, statistics prove that most likely, they won’t earn a degree and are left straddled with debt that hasn’t provided the extra earning potential that comes with a bachelor’s degree.
Why is this happening?
Many low-income teens don’t always have the individualized support they need to make informed choices from the start. The kind of support guidance counselors can no longer provide due to enormous caseloads and minimal resources.
This is where Crossroads comes in.
Instead of a caseload of 1:450 like many guidance counselors face, Iolando has a caseload of 1:58. That means he will spend focused, high-impact time with teens and parents to ensure each teen has a plan for success and the support they need along the way.
Here’s What You Can Do to Help:
Make a gift now! Help us meet our goal and make sure all teens have the tools and support they need to succeed.
Become a College Champ: Set up your own fundraising page and fundraise on our behalf! Click here or email development@crossroadsma.org to find out more.