Program Features
The major services and resulting products are:
- Assisting with college identification.
- Assisting with completion and submission of college applications (this does not include financial assistance with application fees).
- Assisting with completion and submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
- Identifying and ranking of financial aid/scholarship opportunities.
- Assisting with completion and submission of several highly ranked scholarship opportunities.
- Providing printed copies of all materials and an electronic copy on a compact disc.
- Assisting with assessing financial aid package offers.
- Matching students with liaisons for the duration of college tenure to help ensure graduation and career placement.
Selection Criteria
- Must be referred by district or agency partners (not open to the public).
- Prepared academically to handle college-level coursework.
- Minimum 3.25 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- Eligible for federal financial aid.
- Low-income (eligible for Free and Reduced Meals).
Demographics
- Age: Upon entry, high school students in the middle of their junior year and entering their senior year, through the end of high school. Students are served through the end of college.
- Academic Criteria: High-achieving students with QPAs of 3.25 or higher (honor roll = 3.25 to 3.74 QPA, and high honor roll 3.75 QPA and above).
- Location: Southwestern Pennsylvania, with growth opportunities.
- Income Level: Low-income youth are the target population. The exact definition is based on household income below 185% of the poverty level (which is the reduced lunch threshold).