Almost eight months into the pandemic, our Baltimore City scholars continue to demonstrate their resilience.
All of our high school students and most of our college students are learning remotely. During this extraordinarily challenging time, many students have taken on additional hours at part-time or full-time jobs to support themselves and their families.
The digital divide is real; many students struggle with inadequate access to technology and the internet.
Nevertheless, Baltimore's students are persevering. Over the summer, hundreds of rising 9th and 12th graders and their families participated in CollegeBound's Virtual 9th Grade Success Seminar and Rising Senior Seminar.
This fall, our 16 college access program specialists (CAPS) are working with students remotely, as well as arranging virtual college tours and visits with college representatives. Our CAPS are also helping students submit college applications and navigate
the complexities of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our College Success Team is in frequent touch – via text message, phone call, and Zoom – with the 837 Baltimore City Schools graduates receiving CollegeBound scholarships.
In an effort to find a silver lining in this virtual world, we have partnered with local businesses and graduate schools to create "CareerBound: CollegeBound's Virtual Career Series,"
weekly one-hour Zoom sessions for CollegeBound scholars and alumni to learn about local job and internship opportunities. Each Thursday, an area employer or graduate school will lead a session, sharing entry-level job openings and internship opportunities,
company benefits and mission, and their personal experiences in their professional careers. CollegeBound alumni and other area nonprofits who serve Baltimore City Schools' graduates have also been invited to participate. Participating employers include
Travelers Companies, Inc., Johns Hopkins University, M&T Bank, Mercy Hospital, Teach for America, and many more.
It is an understatement to say that now is a challenging time to be a high school senior or college adviser. Nevertheless, the Baltimore City Schools Class of 2021, CollegeBound CAPS, teachers, and school counselors have demonstrated remarkable creativity
and grit in adapting to the current all-virtual setting.
Our CAPS have worked with teachers – particularly English teachers – across the city to offer virtual group advising sessions to students. CollegeBound CAPS and supervisors are doing Zoom "FAFSA Blitz" sessions to help several students at a time with
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Using Zoom shared screens and breakout rooms, our team is making the most of technology to reach as many students as possible.
Additionally, our CAPS are spending several hours a day doing individual virtual advising sessions. One silver lining of the remote setting is that CAPS have more one-on-time time with students (without interruption in a crowded office). Many CAPS have
shared that after an individual session, a student who thought college was out of reach is now applying.
The college success team continues to provide holistic scholar support for Baltimore City Schools' graduates in college. The fall semester looks different for many of our students. Some students are attending classes in person, while others are learning
fully online or through a hybrid format. One constant is the team's unwavering dedication to understanding every scholar's situation and adjusting support accordingly.
The College Completion Program provides intensive case management coupled with financial aid from CollegeBound's need-based Last Dollar Grant (up to $3,000 annually for up to six years in college).
Scholars may face adversity and need to stop out of college, but they don't lose the support of the college success team. Advisers continue to reach out, stay connected, and check in with scholars to see how their lives are progressing.
This spring, advisers were able to facilitate the return to college of two scholars. Our team assisted with letters and appeals that led to the financial aid needed to re-enroll. We are proud to share that both scholars are currently enrolled as full-time
students.
Our organization’s emergency fund remains a welcome support for many of our college scholars who face unbudgeted expenses that threaten their ability to remain on track academically. To date, our emergency fund has provided 58 individual awards to cover
unexpected food, technology, and housing costs.
The weeks and months ahead will undoubtedly bring additional hurdles for our college scholars to conquer. One thing is certain: CollegeBound's resources will be there to help.
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