 |
College Forward is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization college access program that provides free college access services to motivated economically-disadvantaged Central Texas students. Participating students receive one-on-one support through every aspect of the college application and financial aid process from the beginning of their junior year in high school until they earn a four-year college degree.
How do students qualify for College Forward?
Junior students attending selected high schools in the Austin area who want to earn four-year college degrees are invited to apply to the College Forward program if they are in the top 60% of their high school class and either qualify for the National School Lunch Program or would be the first in their families to graduate from college. The College Forward application process includes the completion of a questionnaire, a personal interview, short essay, two recommendations, and signed parent consent forms. Completed applications, submitted by the deadline, are reviewed by College Forward staff members, who determine which applicants are most likely to benefit from the program.
How much does it cost to be in the program?
College Forward services are provided free of charge to our students and families.
Which schools does College Forward serve?
Our program currently assists students at the following high schools in Central Texas:
- Connally High School
- Crockett High School
- Del Valle High School
- Georgetown High School
- Jack C. Hays High School
- Lehman High School
- Lyndon B Johnson High School
- Manor High School
- Ross S. Sterling High School
- Stony Point High School
- Travis High School
- Manor New Tech High School
Our program also serves students in the Greater Houston area at these schools:
- Eisenhower High School
- Robert E. Lee High School
What if I attend a school that College Forward does not yet serve?
We will consider working with individual students on a limited basis if they meet our admission criteria and are highly motivated to attend a four-year college. Please contact info@collegeforward.org for more information
Who are the College Coaches and College Persistence Coaches?
College Forward Coaches are college graduates serving at College Forward as full-time AmeriCorps members. Our Coaches undergo a comprehensive training program before they are assigned to work with a group of College Forward students. College Coaches (CC) work with students in the High School Program and College Persistence Coaches (CPC) support our students enrolled in the Persistence Program throughout their college experience. |
 |
|
“Coaches take relationships a step further than just class—they expect more from us, push us, and make us more productive and motivated.”
-Hays High School Student |
|
|
 |
|
What is required of the students who participate in the program?
Accepted students are required to attend after-school classes twice a week (or the equivalent: 4 hours per week), and perform 40 total hours of community service during their junior and senior year (20 hours each year). They will also be required to meet additional milestones their coach sets for them, such as registering for and taking the ACT and SAT both years. Seniors must apply for six colleges and universities by October 31st.
Parents and/or guardians are encouraged to participate as much as possible with their student’s involvement at College Forward. In particular, we invite them to attend College/Universidad 101 during their student's junior year and College/Universidad 201 during their student’s senior year.
College Forward students who begin the program at the beginning of their junior year receive consistent support until they receive their bachelor’s degree. After graduating from high school, they will transition into our College Persistence program where they will be assigned to a CPC who will assist them with registering for classes, coordinating housing, receiving financial aid, and will act as a mentor for them throughout college.
This sounds like a lot of work! Why should a student apply for this program?
Each year, the college application process grows more complicated, while college tuition continues to increase and college student success statistics decline at a higher rate. College Forward helps guide students and families through this complicated process.
| Our goal is to give students the highest possible chance of long-term success by mentoring them carefully through the whole process, from initial decisions about college choices through the attainment of a baccalaureate degree. Each of our students receives about 420 hours of college preparatory coaching during the last two years of high school, and another 80 hours over four or five years of college |
|
|
“If I hadn’t joined this program, I wouldn’t be accepted right now, wouldn’t be this much ahead, [and] would be rushing too much.”
-Hays High School student |
|
|
|
|
How will this affect a student's other responsibilities and commitments?
Motivated students find a way to fit College Forward classes into their schedules. College Coaches often give students the option of meeting with them one-on-one during designated times outside of class. If a student is truly committed to the program, College Forward Coaches will work with that student to be flexible.
|
|
