Mission & Goals
Collegiate Candidates (CC) is a college access program geared to assist underrepresented high school seniors in accessing and transitioning into post-secondary options (mainly higher education) by equipping them with the knowledge and resources necessary for making a smooth transition.
On average, each year the program supports and invites thirty (30) student participants. These students are primarily first-generation, college bound, male students of color who are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The organization is fully staffed by volunteers who work under the direction of Collegiate Candidates personnel and professional school counselors. Through CC, each student receives individualized, college-related attention.
Collegiate Candidates believes that all students should have equal access to higher education. The organization is committed to the goal that every Collegiate Candidates participant will:
- Have exposure to higher education
- Understand the process of applying to a college or university
- Apply, be accepted, and enroll into a college or university
- Successfully matriculate through a college or university
Our Model
The Collegiate Candidates program works by first forming undergraduate student organizations or chapters at colleges and universities. In turn, and under the direction of professional school counselors, the college students implement the program by forming relationships with local high schools in order to enroll greater numbers of high school students in the program.
Collegiate Candidates is set up in two phases and occurs every two weeks during school hours at a designated high school. Phase I of the program focuses on assisting students with the college identification and application process. This assistance happens through a series of workshops covering topics such as general admission requirements, financial aid, SAT/ACT preparation, and writing college admissions essays.
A unique feature of Collegiate Candidates—and the program’s most important feature—is that the high school participants have the opportunity to acquire and complete (with assistance) actual college applications during the program’s hours.
Phase II of the program focuses on college transition issues such as exploring academic majors of study, getting involved in student organizations, and identifying support services for students on college campuses. A local college tour—complete with classroom visits, residence hall tours, and undergraduate-led student discussion panels—is also organized to provide an overview of the “college experience” for CC participants.
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