Blair Magnet High School

John Muir High School

Pasadena High School

To see where everyone is headed to college, see this earlier post!

College Access Plan Celebrates Its Top 100 Seniors!

Pasadena, CA – June 7, 2013 – Pasadena-based nonprofit College Access Plan (CAP) (www.collegeaccessplan.org) is pleased to celebrate the great success of its Top 100 graduates from John Muir, Pasadena, and Blair Magnet high schools. This year, 405 high school students participated in CAP’s one-to-one college advisement and small group workshop programs at these three schools, including over 250 seniors. Of these now-graduates, 100 showed exceptional dedication to achieving their big college dreams, choosing to take advantage of CAP’s drop-in, no commitment programs regularly and consistently throughout the school year.

Students like CAP’s program because there are no barriers to entry — those who have always dreamed of college as well as those who have a late-in-the-game “aha!” moment are welcome to participate. Students can drop in once with questions about a college application or about financial aid, or they can take advantage of the full range of CAP’s services, beginning in ninth grade with college and career exploration, developing effective communication skills, preparing and maintaining a résumé, and academic planning.

Miriam, a 2013 Blair graduate who will attend UCLA in the fall, says CAP “really puts the students first” and that “CAP introduced me to new colleges, majors, college programs and scholarships, making the college process much easier. Thanks to them I was able to achieve my goal of choosing the right major and school.”

This year’s Top 100 will attend impressive public and private colleges locally and across the country, including a number of community colleges like Pasadena City College, 13 different California State University campuses, seven University of California schools, California private colleges like University of LaVerne, Mills College, Southern California Institute of Architecture, and Chapman University, and out-of-state schools such as Clark Atlanta University, Oregon State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Smith College, and New York University. 85% of these students have selected to attend four-year schools. CAP will honor the ardent commitment of all Top 100 students by helping them to identify supportive services and providing them continued guidance through college graduation.

Next fall, CAP will extend its reach to Marshall Fundamental High School, providing college readiness services to the students at four PUSD high schools during the 2013-2014 school year.

This year, thanks to the growth of our programs into three high schools, we have 100 Top Students. Impressive, right? We think so. 100 seniors — despite homecoming and prom and graduation and myriad other distractions — chose to spend hours and hours of their precious time preparing for college. Our programs have no requirements; students can attend as much or as little as they choose. These students chose to become a meaningful and constant part of the CAP family, and we can’t wait to celebrate their future successes as we follow their progress through college and beyond.

Where They’re Headed

(List is still being updated, so check back for the most recent news!)

Blair High School Top 26:

Peter A. – California State University East Bay
Karina A. – University of La Verne
Noah A. – California State University Northridge
Julian B. – California State University Fullerton
Aniesha C. – Tuskegee University
Hugo E. – gap year
Miriam G. – University of California, Los Angeles
Justen H. – San Diego State University
Nigel H. – University of California, Riverside
George J. – San Diego State University
Irene K. – Clark Atlanta University
Sam L. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Elijah M. – California State University Northridge
Valeria M. -
Nancy M. – California State University Northridge
Sandra M. – California State University Los Angeles
Michelle M. – US Army
Kayla M. – Grand Canyon University
P.J. P. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Juan S. – California State University Northridge
Rebecca S. – Humboldt State University
Luz T. – California State University Northridge
Angelica V. – Smith College
De-Rick V. – California State University Los Angeles
Francesca Mia V. – University of California, Santa Cruz
Katelynn W. – Southern California Institute of Architecture

John Muir High School Top 38

Eden A. – Pasadena City College
Martin A. – California State University Northridge
Luis B. – California State University Los Angeles
Jorge C. – California State University Northridge
Raul C. – La Sierra University
Rene C. – Universal Technical Institute
Erendida C. – Pasadena City College
Marisa D. – University of California, Los Angeles
Rogelio F. – University of California Santa Cruz
Gabriel G. – California Polytechnic University Pomona
Erick G. – Pasadena City College
Paola H. – California State University Los Angeles
Jaleyah L. – University of California Santa Cruz
Shamiyah L. – California State University Monterey Bay
Deaja L. – University of Maryland, College Park
Celeste L. – Sacramento State University
Gabriela L. – Pasadena City College
Citlali M. – California State University Northridge
Randy M. – California State University Northridge
Fabiola M. – Pasadena City College
Kelly M. – California State University Northridge
Hector M. – California State University Los Angeles
Stephanie N. – San Francisco State University
Tyler P. – University of California, Irvine
Luis R. – Pasadena City College
Ana R. – Monterey Peninsula College
Jeremy R. – California State University Los Angeles
Diana R. – University of California Santa Cruz
Elcin R. – Pasadena City College
Denzel S. – California State University Monterey Bay
Maiya S. – California Polytechnic University Pomona
Dean T. – California State University Northridge
Gustavo V. – California State University Northridge
Melaysha W. – Fresno State University
Renae’ W. – Arizona State University
Allyson W. – San Francisco State University
Justine Y. – University of La Verne
Teresa Z.

Pasadena High School Top 36

Nathan A. – California Polytechnic University Pomona
Mary B. – California State University Northridge
Andrew B. – Pasadena City College
Amanda B. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Edgar B. – San Jose State University
Omar B. – California Polytechnic University Pomona
Kevin C. – University of California, Irvine
Pablo C. – University of California, Davis
Joaquin – California State University Channel Islands
Lucas C. – University of California, Santa Cruz
Dar’Tanyan E. – San Jose State University
Daniela G. – California Polytechnic University Pomona
Sadie G. – Chapman University
Ivett G. – Mount San Antonio College
Peter G. -
Maria G. – Pasadena City College
Natalie H. – California State University Northridge
Stephanie H. – California State University Northridge
Mariah H. – New York University
Lakeisha J. – California State University Long Beach
Jonathan J. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Virginia L. -
Courtney L. – University of California, Riverside
Ernesto N. – Oregon State University
Amy O. – University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yejin P. – Mills College
Marlene P. – California State University Los Angeles
Diana R. -
Matthew S. – University of California, Santa Cruz
Nina S. – Azusa Pacific University
Trinity S. – St. John’s University
Jessica S. – California State University Northridge
Claire T. – University of California, Santa Cruz
Xenia V. – Pasadena City College
Jada W. – California State University East Bay
Avo Y. – California Polytechnic University Pomona

This is a FULL-TIME national service position.

Service Description

College Access Plan’s (CAP) programs deliver holistic and personalized college readiness support to low-income and first generation college-going students, buttressing the activities of over-taxed and under-funded high schools by providing ongoing one-to-one college advisement and small group workshops on campus and at local organizations.

CAP’s primary project goals for this three-year Educational Program focused on college access and readiness are to 1) expand successful college readiness programs to four public high schools and to gain new community organization partners; 2) expand college readiness services to multiple middle schools and build program to provide “though college” support to CAP alumni; 3) build a sustainable, goal-oriented, and community-based volunteer program and develop human and monetary capital from local sources; and 4) increase the four-year college going rate by 10% and the overall college-going rate by 5% in our community in order to reduce poverty.

Summary of Position

The Outreach and Expansion VISTA will build on the current social networking and marketing components to promote CAP’s programs. He or she will also develop strategic relationships with colleges and universities in order to best support CAP alumni through college graduation. Working with partnering public schools, colleges, and nonprofit organizations, CAP’s VISTA will help to build on current relationships to identify needs-based practices in developing a sixth grade through college pipeline of support for the students of Pasadena.

Responsibilities of Outreach and Expansion VISTA:

• Develop interactive online tools for student use on CAP’s website and Facebook page
• Communication and relationship building with new program partners, college representatives, and community stakeholders
• Identify clear “through college” resources for students at various colleges
• Finalize development of a clear alumni tracking and support plan
• Manage and track partnerships and provide measurable outcomes;
• Provide records or written reports as required for grant compliance, and maintain proper records;
• Leverage community resources to solicit in-kind contributions of goods and services;
• Seek funding opportunities for programs as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required (minimum), preferably in the areas of in education, counseling, social work, public administration, communications or related field
• Experience working with youth, ages 12-22
• Knowledge of postsecondary education options, application procedures and admission requirements
• Strong and demonstrated writing abilities
• Strong face-to-face and telephone interpersonal skills
• Willingness to build relationships via networking and cold-calling
• Data management and evaluation knowledge
• Ability to complete specific outcomes on a timeline
• Working knowledge of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter
• Experience with basic operating systems and office software
• Well-developed organizational skills with a solid orientation to detail
• Creative, self-motivated, and outcomes-oriented
• Excellent research skills
• Must have own transportation
• Must complete background check through the Corporation for National and Community Service and a pre-service training
• Must complete Pasadena Unified School District background check, including Department of Justice clearance and TB test

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Spanish reading and speaking
• Experience with curriculum design
• Experience with database and/or design software (SalesForce, Photoshop, etc.)
• Experience working in disadvantaged population

Training Provided: On-the-job and pre-service training will be provided.

Salary, Benefits, and Americorps VISTA Details: Each VISTA will receive a $15,996 year/$615 biweekly living allowance, healthcare benefits, $550 Relocation stipend (if eligible), childcare assistance (if eligible), and a $5,550 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or $1,500 cash post-service stipend following successful completion of service, and more.

College Access Plan Receives Two Local Grants in Support of Growing Programs

Pasadena, CA – April 22, 2013 – College Access Plan (CAP), a Pasadena nonprofit organization, has received two $10,000 grants from prestigious Pasadena foundations: The Pasadena Community Foundation and Student Philanthropists Advancing Real Change (SPARC) (formerly the Pasadena Independent Schools Foundation).

The grant from The Pasadena Community Foundation, which is celebrating 60 years of working to “improve the lives of people in the greater Pasadena area” (http://www.pasadenacf.org/about_mission.aspx), is one of four awarded through this year’s Education Grants Initiative. This grant will support the addition of a new CAP staff member who will oversee programs at five PUSD schools next fall, including all four major high schools and Washington Middle School. The SPARC grant is in support of one-to-one college advisement and small group workshops provided by CAP to the students of John Muir High School. CAP’s relationship with Muir spans six years, and programs at this school have reached hundreds of students, including about 50% of the past four graduating classes.

“These local grants are fundamental to our plan to grow CAP’s reach in Pasadena over the next few years,” states Mo Hyman, CAP’s Executive Director. “We have plans to increase the breadth and depth of our services to PUSD students and graduates, but this will simply not be possible without the investment of local foundations, businesses, and individuals.”

This school year, CAP has provided individualized programs to nearly 500 students at four schools in the district. It is hope that with the generous support of these two institutions, CAP will expand its reach over the coming years to provide holistic, drop-in, individualized college readiness support to all Pasadena Unified high school and middle school students who wish to receive it. CAP’s programs assist students in completing college applications, provide SAT test prep, help students to navigate the complex college-selection process, assist students in identifying scholarships and other financial aid, guide students in writing effective personal statements, help students to build effective study and goal-setting skills and long-range plans, and more.

Alabama A&M
American University
Arizona State University
Azusa Pacific University
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal State Channel Islands
Cal State Chico
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Cal State East Bay
Cal State Fresno
Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Long Beach
Cal State Los Angeles
Cal State Monterey Bay
Cal State Northridge
Cal State San Bernardino
Cal State San Marcos
Clark Atlanta University
Drexel University
Evergreen State University
Humboldt State University
Iowa State University
Loyola Marymount University
Mills College
New York University
Oregon State University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sacramento State
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
Smith College
Sonoma State University
St. John’s University
Syracuse University
Tuskegee University
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
UCLA
University of La Verne
University of Wisconsin
University of Southern California
Western Oregon University
Seattle University

It’s been a really long, exciting, and exhausting march towards college. The good news is, you’re so so close. The slightly less good news is that there’s still a bit left to do. Don’t fret! You know we’re here to help.

FINANCIAL AID NEXT STEPS

1. The SAR Report: This report, which you have likely already received from the US Department of Education, indicates your EFC — your Expected Family Contribution. This is the amount that the government believes your family should pay for your college education this year. This number can change year-to-year depending upon your income and/or your parent(s)’s income. Your SAR also includes a list of the information you gave on your FAFSA. If any of this information is incorrect, you need to correct it on your FAFSA immediately. Just log in at fafsa.ed.gov.

***IF YOU HAVE NOT YET UPLOADED YOUR OWN AND/OR YOUR PARENTS’ TAX FORMS FOR 2012 TO FAFSA, YOU MUST DO THAT NOW. TODAY. GO.

2. The Award Letter from your colleges: This letter determines what financial aid you’ve received in the form of Federal and State grants (like a Pell Grant or a Cal Grant), how much Work Study you qualify for, what scholarships you qualify for through the college itself, how much you qualify for in federal Stafford loans, and additional funds for which you may qualify. EVERY AWARD LETTER LOOKS DIFFERENT, so this can be a bit confusing.

NOTE: You do not have to accept all of the loans and/or work study you are offered. You may have received scholarships from other sources that make up for some of the cost to you and your family, so you will need to recalculate your awards based on these external factors.

3. Getting More Aid: Look, this is not likely to happen for everyone; however, some students can illustrate that they have financial need that extends beyond the funding they’ve been given, and that, if they do not receive more aid, they will not be able to attend college. Most colleges have an appeals process through the financial aid office, so call your school’s financial aid department immediately if your family’s financial situation has recently changed (for example: a parent lost his/her job in December 2012). Generally, the colleges will want to see a lot of paperwork to back up your claim–you’ll need proof of unemployment or a new rental agreement or proof of whatever other expense your family claims has changed since completing the FAFSA.

4. Once you’ve chosen a school, search that school’s website for scholarships. Many colleges have scholarships available only to their students, but get on this FAST–these awards can be very competitive.

Of course, don’t forget to check right here for scholarships, as well.

5. Be mindful of the cut-off date to accept your financial aid awards – it will be noted on the award letter, and you must inform your school’s financial aid office of your plans prior to this date.

6. Continue your Search: look for local and regional scholarships and educate yourself on the types of financial aid you are considering. Want to know more about your Stafford Loans? Visit www.StaffordLoan.com

FINANCIAL AID TYPES:

Pell Grant: This is funding from the Federal Government that you do not have to pay back and can total in any amount up to $5,635.

Cal Grant: This is a grant from the State of California, and it comes in various amounts depending upon your GPA, financial need, and the college you plan to attend (must be located in California). Learn more about the Cal Grant A, B, and C here.

Work Study: This program makes it easier for you to get a great job on or off campus while you are in school, and the money you make can help you to pay your college costs. When you choose your college, the best course of action is to contact the financial aid or work study office immediately to learn more about job opportunities.

Stafford Loans: These are funds that you have to pay back, but the interest rates are low, and certain career tracks may even qualify you for loan forgiveness programs down the road. You always want to take your subsidized loan amount before dipping into unsubsidized loans. The best course of action regarding loans is research. You can make an appointment with your school’s financial aid counselor if you are confused or concerned about loans.

Perkins Loans: These are federal loans for students who illustrate exceptional financial need. These are the lowest interest loans for which you can qualify. If you are planning on taking out loans and are offered a Perkins Loan, you should take this loan first before any other offers.

Private loans: There are additional opportunities to receive loans for college through private banks and financial institutions. If your family is interested in pursuing loan options in addition to Stafford Loans, you may want to speak with Dora, Jessica, or Lina at CAP, your college counselor, or your college’s financial aid office to develop your college funding plan.

GENERAL COLLEGE NEXT STEPS

1. Take your placement tests. The deadline varies for each school, but some of them are coming up fast. Find out if you need an additional department exam, in science or the area of your major.

2. Activate your campus email account. An absolute must. In most cases, you can forward your e-mail to an off-campus account.

3. Confirm your Intent to Register. For many schools, this is due May 1st. If you do not file your intent in time, you will not be able to enroll in Fall classes.

4. Complete on-campus housing forms. If you wish to live in the dorms next year, you should do this ASAP. Some schools guarantee housing for freshmen, but others do not and may run out of space if you wait too long.

NOTE: Some colleges will require a housing deposit that may not be covered by financial aid. Be sure to plan ahead to pay these fees.

5. Pay your registration fees. For some schools, you must pay when you send your intent to register. For others, you pay when you register. Financial aid does not always cover this, so plan ahead.

6. Make an appointment for freshman advisement or orientation. Orientation is an all-day program, usually over the summer, that will introduce you to your college, provide useful information, and enable you to meet other members of the freshman class. It is also usually where you register for classes.

7. Browse the Schedule of Classes. Go into orientation or your first advising meeting with an idea of what you’d like to take, but know you won’t always get your first choice. Check to see what first year classes may be required by your chosen major. Talk to a counselor or adviser about which classes you should take.

8. Send your official high school transcripts in June, showing completion of your senior year’s final semester and verifying graduation date at the conclusion of your senior year. Some schools will not require that you send these, but many will. The best practice is to check your college portal or email account regularly — multiple times a week.

9. Make sure you have met the immunization requirement for measles, rubella and hepatitis B. If you attended a California public middle or high school, you have probably met the requirement.

Most of all, CAP is available to help you navigate this confusing process. Learn when we’re on campus after school at Muir, Blair and Pasadena high schools here.

But each of those students also had to handle some rejection. Some of them weren’t accepted by schools they thought they’d get into; some of them were rejected from their dream schools. Some of them now have to make a new plan. It can be hard to be all cheerleader-y about rejection sometimes.

But there are reasons and ways to cheer even in tough moments. Here are a few of them.

1. Take time to grieve. We get it. Rejection is always hard. So go through the process in style. Get yourself a treat (like ice cream or French fries or those frighteningly bright red Cheetos students love so much), listen to your favorite music, and take your time to move through the bad feelings.

Then see if you can move past the rejection and understand that going to college — any college — is a huge accomplishment that deserves celebration. The most important thing is not to compare yourself to your classmates or your older siblings or anyone else. You can make yourself crazy thinking of all the people you know, their SAT scores and grades, where your cousin goes to college, and whatever else. The truth is, few colleges accept students based solely upon numbers, and every year is completely different. You’re a unique person, and other students are, too. You all declare different majors and have different interests and different paths to follow. You don’t want colleges to just look at you as a number, so don’t do it to other people. Congratulate your classmates on their achievements, and try to move forward.

2. Appreciate the process. Applying to college is a huge step towards adulthood. Some students feel like all the hard work of applications and personal statements and letters of recommendation was a waste if they don’t get accepted to their dream schools; however, all this hard work is actually preparation for college and beyond. You need to be able to write about yourself effectively, to articulate your strengths and weaknesses, to realize your own accomplishments as unique and meaningful. You need to know how to ask for help and to ask other people to advocate for you. This is not an empty process with only one outcome. These are tools you can take with you to college, wherever you end up going.

3. Clear your mind and check your options. Grieving is good for you, but wallowing is not. Don’t forget about the schools you did get accepted to. Take the opportunity to get to know them better. Maybe they like you so much because you’re a good fit for their school. Every school — state schools and community colleges and private colleges — has unique classes and clubs and opportunities. Get to know your options a little better. You may find that a school suits you much better than you thought it would.

4. Come to CAP and finish the Plan. There’s still work to do, so let’s get moving. Visit CAP on your campus, look closely at your financial aid packages (they can be so confusing!), file your intent to register and pay your fees (most schools require these by May 1st), take your placement tests, sign up for orientation, and get ready to be a college student. After all, that’s what this whole process has been about, right?

Thanks to Fatty’s for hosting our awesome event!

Look! I won!

Supporter Larry tries to get in good with CAP Treasurer Kate

What will Muir English teacher Ms. McDonald win this year?

Long time supporter Martha won a CAP water bottle!

Board member Jodi made this awesome basket for a lucky winner. Who will it be?

Hey look! Eliana won Jodi’s basket!

Supporter Zoe, Mo, and Kathleen

If you missed out, no worries. Our wine event will return next year. Plus, you can support CAP every day of the year by clicking on the Big Green Donate button at the top if this page.

College Access Plan Teams Up to Provide No-Cost SAT Class to Juniors



Pasadena, CA – March 27, 2013 – College Access Plan (CAP) (www.collegeaccessplan.org), a Pasadena nonprofit organization, will partner with Pasadena LEARNS and Mustangs on the Move provide 120 juniors at John Muir High, Pasadena, and Blair high schools with a no-cost, eight-week SAT preparatory course. Students will participate in eight hours of formal instruction from Study Smart Tutors, an SAT Prep company that partners with nonprofits and schools to design courses tailored to a specific population of students, particularly those with historically low test scores. CAP’s staff will provide an additional eight hours of follow up instruction, including practice tests, study sessions, and course homework assistance.

The first sessions for this program will meet during the first week of April, and students will gather for two hours once a week for eight weeks. The goal of this program is to provide students with the strategies and practice that will help them to increase their score potential at schools where many students traditionally score below the national average in all three areas of the SAT Reasoning test. Over the past four years, only 30% of PUSD’s students have scored above average on this test versus 41% in Los Angeles County overall according to DataQuest.

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