College Bound

College Bound, a nonprofit organization, is committed to preparing public and public-charter school students in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area for higher education. Its mission is to equip these students with the necessary skills and support to enter college, earn a degree, and achieve their personal and professional goals. College Bound employs a multifaceted approach to accomplish this mission, which includes providing academic mentoring, writing workshops, SAT preparation, college tours, and career exploration opportunities.

The academic mentoring program pairs over 200 students in 8th-12th grade with college-educated professionals who act as their mentors. These pairs meet weekly for two hours during the school year at seven community-based sites, and also participate in monthly activities outside of the site to strengthen their mentoring relationship. College Bound also offers SAT preparation twice a year, providing access to a low-cost 10-week test preparation course taught by industry professionals. Students who complete the SAT class are then enrolled in one-on-one SAT tutoring to address their individual needs, leading to average increases of 200-300 points on the SAT.

In addition to academic support, College Bound offers college tours, a college fair, and career night/exploration to expand students' awareness of higher education and its value. The fall tour is a one-day visit to two to three schools within a certain regional radius, while the spring tour is a four-day trip to eight to ten colleges and universities during spring break. The college fair, which takes place in the fall, is developed by students, parents, volunteers, and community leaders, and hosted by partners who attend, representing their alma maters. University representatives often offer on-site admissions or fee waivers to seniors. Career night, held annually for 10th-12th grade students, features roundtable discussions on career goals and opportunities that exist for them after college graduation.

To address students' interest in STEM options, College Bound offers remediation and enrichment three times a week through its "STEM in Your Hood" program. Monthly meetings with STEM professionals during "Meditech Tuesdays" provide insights on career opportunities in STEM. College Bound also offers scholarships to assist its students with funding their education, totaling over $266,000 for the Class of 2022. Scholarships range from $200 to $20,000.

Finally, College Bound's Virtual Mentoring Program (VMP) provides alumni access to services that students need to be successful as they matriculate through college. The program includes college coaching, college transition support, peer mentoring, scholarship information, and internships. Each freshman receives at least one campus visit, and more if needed, to increase college retention and graduation rates for students. College Bound's college graduation rates (4-year 60%; 6-year 81%) exceed the national average for all students and more than double those for the demographic it serves.