Bridges to College Program

1. Bridges to College Program Join JVS’s Bridges to College program!

2. Welcome & Introductions • Share your name with the group. • Where are you from? • Why are you interested in the Bridges to College program?

3. Student Testimonial • “I firmly believe that Bridges to College is the best program to help people be successful in college, and later on, be confident in life.” • -Yamileth

4. Required Documents • 2 Forms of MA Residency • (MA license; MA ID; Utilities Bill; Renting Lease or Housing Document) • A Proof of US Residency • (Birth Certificate; US Passport; Green Card; Resident Visa) • High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Assessment (ORIGINAL COPY) • Must be translated in English (resources will be provided at the time of your interview; college transcript if already attended a college-level program) • 1 Proof of Income • 2013 W2 Tax Forms for all family members (spouse, parent or guardian) • 2013 Tax Returns • Pay stub for current employment • Proof of child support also accepted • Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) or welfare letter also accepted • Resume (If available) • College Transcript (If available) *Failure to provide these original documents may delay your acceptance. These documents are used for college admissions and financial aid applications.

5. Bridges to College Program Days and Times • Morning Classes (General Studies) • Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Coaching Group Class meets once a week • 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM • Individual Coaching Appointments • Each student will meet his or her Academic Coach for a 30-45 minute individual meeting approximately every two to three weeks. • Students should expect to have about 5-6 hours of homework per week, including work assigned in class by instructors and self-study computer software. • Tutoring schedule will also be available or required once program starts.

6. Student Commitment Bridges to College is FREE for students, but costs our sponsors $9,000 per student. MINIMUM Attendance Requirements • 90% Attendance for classes, workshops, events and individual appointments. • 90% On time to all classes! • 90% Completion of all Assigned Homework (including self-study). • Being a Bridges to College student is a BIG commitment! You MUST have your work schedule, child care, and family responsibilities in order so you can come to class every day for the 23-week program!

7. General Studies Pathway Bridges to College has a partnership with Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) which includes FREE classes: • English 095 • Learning Community Seminar BHCC students pay $846 for these classes. Bridges to College students get them for FREE– $0!!!! Students who successfully complete the program and the classes will be able to enroll into a college level English course and will NOT have to take the English college placement test! • 2 FREE • Classes!

8. Academic Classes • Academic Support • Eng 095 • Prepare writing skills for college-level English • Learning Communities Class • Exercise your academic skills: • Critical thinking • Writing • Oral Comprehension • Explore relevant topics significant to a project • Interactive • Teamwork • Group discussions and tutoring

9. Academic Classes (continued) • Math • Concrete Examples • Real-world situationsillustrate math concepts • Arithmetic to Algebra • Ease Math Anxiety • Practice problem-solving skills

10. Academic Coaching Bridges to College Coaches work tirelessly to give students step-by-step personalized help with: • College Admissions Process • Class Registration and Scheduling • Financial Aid and Paying for College • Career Planning and Exploration • Diploma and Transcript Translations

11. Coaching at Bridges to College according to Current Students “They took the fear out of going to college.” “The coaching is literally the ‘bridge’ part of Bridges to College.” • “Our coach is critical to our future success. I wish I had this kind of coaching earlier on in life.”

12. Additional Advantages of Joining the Bridges to College Program We have helped over 300 individuals enroll into college! If you successfully complete the JVS program, you can expect: • Improved English and math skills necessary to successfully enter the program of your choice! • FREE tutoring and academic/career coaching. • Social, community building, networking and educational events. • Full tuition assistance for a first semester class, see staff for restrictions. • A $100 voucher toward textbooks your second semester of college. • Job search support in your final semester of college.

13. Social, Community Building, Networking and Educational Events • Orientation • FREE Tutoring • College Campus Tours • Guest Speakers • Cultural Sharing • Visit from JVS President & CEO • Program Graduation Reception • Special Alumni Events & Workshops • Resume Workshop • LinkedIn Workshop • Alumni Reunion

14. General Studies Pathway The Bridges to College program offers a FREE 23-week General Studies track at JVS. This pathway is ideal for students who are interested in Accounting, Healthcare, and Information Technology. JVS will provide FREE English, math, and academic readiness classes to students accepted into the General Studies pathway. • Includes Accounting, Healthcare, Information Technology and more

15. General Studies Pathway General Studies Pathway Facts: • More than 300 students have enrolled in college from the General Studies path. • College enrollment trends from the past six years: • Some Colleges Attended: Bunker Hill Community College Middlesex Community College Quincy College Roxbury Community College UMASS Boston • Certificate, Associate, or Bachelor Degree Programs: Accounting, Business, Computer Information Technology, Engineering, Lab Sciences, Education, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Communication, Marketing, Health Care, Clean Energy, and Social Services

16. STUDENT TESTIMONIAL “I will be the first in my family to graduate from college with the help from the JVS – Bridges to College program.”—Sandra

17. Things to Think About • Describe how you will make Bridges to College program a priority in your life? • What changes would you need to make to be successful in the program and in college? • How will your life improve when you successfully complete college?

18. Next Steps Today: • 20-minute writing sample • Complete the College Placement (CPT) Exams for English and Math • Learn if you are qualified for an interview or our English for Academic Success class. Future: • Complete the application and homework at home. • Schedule an interview for the Bridges to College Program • Return to JVS for your interview and bring your complete application, homework and ALL REQUIRED documents. • 3-4 weeks after your interview, you will learn your acceptance status.

19. Questions & Reminders • QUESTIONS • If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask them now. You can also contact: - Allison Nonko, anonko@jvs-boston.org and 617-399-3226 • - Brian Moore, bmoore@jvs-boston.org and 617-399-3244 • REMINDERS • Please arrive 15 minutes early for the interview. Interviews will be about 1 hour long. • Bring your completed application and all required documents to the interview. Bring a printed copy of your completed homework. • Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/bridgestocollege