Scholars take part in a series of workshops designed to guide a student through every step of the college admissions process. The current list of workshops includes: college essays, college list-building, UC and Common Application data entry, financial aid, and QuestBridge.
Without professional guidance, students commonly miss key application deadlines and misunderstand important application requirements. We have designed a system that tracks each Scholar’s individual requirements and progress, and ensures that nothing is overlooked. Additionally, all of our Scholars have overcome remarkable odds and have incredible stories to tell in their college essays.
Mission Scholars enroll in a highly-intensive SAT course, as well as receive extensive one-on-one test-prep tutoring.
Coveted summer programs are typically only available to students with financial resources. Thanks to a partnership with UCSB, our Scholars have access to UCSB’s Research Mentorship and Summer Research Academy Programs (programs that cost $4,500 and $2,100, respectively).
We expose our Scholars to a breadth of college opportunities they otherwise would not have been aware of. Some examples include fully funded “fly-in” programs at universities across the country, program-sponsored college visits, one-on-one communication with admissions officers, attendance at college fairs and college-sponsored events, and finally, exposure to out-of-state college options.
Through our partnership with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, we make sure that Scholars have access to eligible merit-based aid and school-specific scholarships in addition to individualized one-on-one financial aid advising, which adds a unique dimension to the financial aid process.
To ensure academic success in their freshman year of college, our Scholars take part in a college study-skills workshop during the spring of their senior year. Furthermore, once this Scholar enrolls in college, he or she will receive ongoing support from Mission Scholars to ensure retention.
Only 1 in 9 first-generation students actually graduates from college. Mission Scholars emphasizes college success in addition to college admission. While we work hard to help each Scholar gain admission to the best possible colleges, we also believe that they must be prepared to thrive academically and socially once admitted. As a result, we have assembled a group of college coaches to advocate for and guide students throughout all 4 years of college.
Through a series of targeted workshops, our Scholars will understand how best to prepare for financial freedom post-college, how to make college affordable, how to create personal budgets, how scholarships impact budgeting, and other key topics related to financial wellness.
A four-year professional development program that advises each Scholar as they successfully prepare for their career during college.
