Rising Seniors Launch Journeys to College at CollegeBound Summer Institute
Rising high school seniors were ready to kick off their college application season with our CollegeBound Summer Institute (CBSI)! Over 120 students and staff across Student Leadership Network’s partner schools came together for immersive learning experiences to prepare for their upcoming college applications and build peer connections across the network.
Our team was thrilled to return to St. Thomas Aquinas College with our NYC students. This summer also marked the inaugural CBSI hosted at SUNY Buffalo State University to guide our Buffalo-area students on their journeys to college.
Demystifying the College Application Process
The summer sessions provided an overview of the college application and financial aid processes, while offering a slice of life on a college campus. The informal settings also allowed students and staff to hold brave conversations about imposter syndrome and family expectations about college. One student commented on the welcoming spaces, “It’s okay to ask questions if you don’t know something—they are here to support!”
Workshop topics included:
- How Admissions Decisions are Made – roleplaying as college admissions officers to identify elements of a strong application
- Cultural Intelligence – increasing awareness of and appreciation for cultural differences through peer conversations about microaggressions and finding community on campus
- Imposter Syndrome/Hopes, Dreams, and Fears – naming and addressing concerns about life after high school, and pursuing dreams at a two-year or four-year college or career pathway
- College Essays – finding our inner voice and telling our story through essay writing support from our partners at Revision Learning
- Financial Aid – learning about FAFSA, New York State TAP, and other financial aid terms and applications
- Building College Lists – encouraging students to explore beyond what they know, and compile a college list to include “reach,” “match,” and “safety” schools
Expanding Community Networks in NYC
CBSI cultivated a community committed to helping each other succeed. Directors of college counseling facilitated team-building by intentionally grouping students from different schools for activities. The two-day commuter experience culminated in a friendly but fierce game of “CBSI Jeopardy,” allowing students to reinforce their knowledge and showcase their leadership styles. One student shared, “I am so happy that I had a chance to meet my teammates—they are great people and I do not feel as intimidated to enter my senior year.” Another student shared a quiet moment of self-reflection, “Learning about microaggressions made me realize that I need to reevaluate how I say things to others and how to get my questions or points across without possibly hurting someone’s feelings and culture.”
Coordinating an experience that balances learning, community building, and transportation logistics for students from 26 schools is no easy feat. Stephanie Narine, Associate Director of College Access and a CollegeBound Initiative alumna, said, “The program is so much more than just a college application boot camp. We have students who start the day a little apprehensive about what to expect as they enter an unfamiliar college campus with people they haven’t met before.” She observed, “By the end of the experience, not only are they broadening their knowledge about college and financial aid options, they also develop friendships across the larger network’s community, which is such a wonderful thing to witness. These skills and networks will serve them well for whatever paths they pursue in their futures.”
Building Community Connections in Buffalo
Expanding the impact of CBSI beyond New York City, the first-ever summer institute in Buffalo was a resounding success. Partnering with SUNY Buffalo State University, Student Leadership Network’s College Access Services team hosted a four-day commuter retreat for rising seniors. “Continuing our impact in Buffalo over the summer months, with new programs and experiences for our students, is one way we are modeling how college preparedness can be activated in different settings and times across the district,” said Omar Morris, Director of College Access Services. “We’re excited by the enthusiastic work of the staff and the response from students and school leaders. Our team looks forward to continuing to support learning opportunities for college and career success in Buffalo throughout the year.”
The College Access team’s Maria Jose Lascarro, Joseph Bradley, and Deidre Cole-Woodall curated curriculum and created activities to engage students from all six full-service high schools.
“We’re very proud of the students’ engagement and commitment to every single workshop presented to them, and the support and respect they showed one another,” said Maria, the Director of College Counseling at Riverside Academy. “Our biggest win was when students expressed how much they enjoyed being a part of it and how much they could accomplish in a short time. Not to forget that we also had a great time at Darien Lake to celebrate!”
About CollegeBound Summer Institute
Launched in 2007, CBSI is a foundational event for rising high school seniors as part of the CollegeBound Initiative. Historically an overnight college campus experience, CBSI returned post-pandemic as a commuter program in 2023 at St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) in Rockland County. This year, CBSI returned to STAC and also launched at SUNY Buffalo State University. Situating CBSI on college campuses allows our students to make a tangible connection between the college application process and their environments beyond the classroom. We are grateful for STAC and Buffalo State’s partnership and commitment to our students!
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