College Access Plan Leads a Free College Applications Workshop for PUSD Seniors and Their Families

College Access Plan (CAP) (www.collegeaccessplan.org), a Pasadena non-profit organization that provides comprehensive college readiness programs for Pasadena high schools, has teamed up with PUSD’s PasadenaLEARNs after school program and The Caltech Y to provide a free college applications workshop at 6:00 p.m. on October 29, 2014, at Caltech (Winnett, 2nd floor) for graduating high school seniors and their families.

For the third year, the CAP and LEARNs collaboration ensures students at four PUSD high schools have drop-in, comprehensive college success support after school. This partnership has provided individualized advisement, including applications tools, SAT preparation, long-term goal setting, and financial aid access, to over 1,000 students. By teaming up with The Caltech Y, which provides low-cost tutoring to public school 8th to 12th graders who struggle in math or science, CAP and LEARNs can address the questions families and students have as they work through the college applications process in a beautiful university campus environment! California public college applications are due on November 30th, with private school deadlines looming soon after.

Maria Toliver, Grant Manager for LEARNs, says, “The Parent/Student Applications Workshop at CalTech will be a monumental event! It will provide an opportunity for students and parents to acquire more information about the college application process and be introduced to a prestigious university in Pasadena.”

The workshop will be led by CAP’s founder and Executive Director, Mo Hyman, who is thrilled by this opportunity. She says, “Because our on-campus programs occur right after school, we have too few chances to meet with the families of our students, and we know that they have questions and concerns about the applications process: How do we choose which schools are right for our senior? How will colleges evaluate my student? How much will college cost? An opportunity to involve them in the conversation alongside their students really allows us to holistically serve our seniors and ensure they are armed with all the information they need during this stressful season.”

The workshop will provide general information about the college applications process to 4-year public and private colleges as well as community colleges and will respond to questions families have as they wade through applications, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and more. Families will also learn about other after school programs that are available on their students’ PUSD school campuses and around the community.

About College Access Plan

College Access Plan is a 501c3 nonprofit that prepares underserved students to succeed in college. Through partnerships with PUSD, Pasadena LEARNs, Washington Middle School, and other local agencies, CAP provides drop-in college advisement and topic-specific workshops at four PUSD high schools as well as at Washington Middle School. CAP’s programs are open to all students who aspire to Dream Bigger about their futures. To learn more about CAP’s programs or apply to become a volunteer, visit: www.collegeaccessplan.org

About PasadenaLEARNs

The after school and summer school programs of PasadenaLEARNs offer engaging enrichment, leadership, and learning opportunities for K-12 students in the Pasadena Unified School District. Activities complement the school day, and include homework help, leadership, visual and performing arts classes, structured recreation, academic enrichment activities, and literacy development. To learn more, visit http://www.pusd.us/pages/PasadenaUSD

About Caltech Y

The Caltech Y Rise Program is a low-cost after school math- and science-focused tutoring program that serves public school students between grades 8 and 12, who are struggling in math or science. Students are supported by Caltech undergraduates and attend two days a week. The program is designed to help students gain greater competency in math foundations, improve skills in math and science and prepare students for college-level math and science.

The Rise program is now accepting applications for the 2014-15 academic year. Priority will be given to PUSD students who apply before December 1st, and a limited number of scholarships are available. For more info visit: https://caltechy.org/programs_services/tutoring/