Back to School Resources for Student and Alumni Success
As the days of summer begin to wind down, our students are gearing up for back to school season! With the challenges and uncertainties of the past academic year, all of us are excited for the fresh start of a new school year. While the anticipation of going back to school can be exciting, it can also be an overwhelming time – especially for rising high school seniors who are navigating the college application process and for first-year college students transitioning to college life.
In order to help students and our alumni begin the new school year on a strong note, we’ve rounded up some helpful resources on how to apply to college and make the most of the college experience.
College Application Resources for SL Network Students
Before entering their senior year of high school, students who attend The Young Women’s Leadership Schools or one of our other CBI partner schools should have already had an opportunity to meet their director of college counseling (DCC). If you’re a high school student and you’re not sure who your DCC is (or if your school is part of our network), check out our CBI map.
Over the summer, CBI rising seniors were provided access to our virtual CollegeBound Summer Institute (CBSI), a self-paced, digital orientation that covered four core areas of the college application process: personal essays, financial aid, financial literacy, and building a college list. During the program, students received a weekly email newsletter from their director of college counseling containing links to a variety of videos, articles, and interactive tools to better understand and prepare for every step of filling out college applications.
Among the highlights of this year’s CBSI was the opportunity to team up with Phellix Rodriguez, owner of Phe Studios and SL Network Alumnus ‘09, who worked with our alumni in creating virtual “campus tours.” Phellix also interviewed participants about college life; our alumni gave amazing advice based on their experiences with time management, building relationships with faculty, getting involved on campus, and so much more. Check out this video of one of our Alumni Leaders, Christopher Rosario, explaining life as a college student at University of Rochester.
Are you a CBI student and missed CBSI? Be sure to check in with your DCC and visit our website to find CollegeBound Summer Institute 2021. (Note: You will need a password to access each week of content which you can find in the weekly CBSI email newsletters. If you are unable to locate these emails, ask your DCC for the password.)
Free College Application Resources For All
If you are a high school student and don’t have access to a college counselor, you can still apply and go to college! Our free CollegeBound Resources are available to help guide all students through some of the components of a successful college application process, including:
- Applying to college
- Applying for financial aid
- Choosing a college
These resources are free and available for all to use! Start exploring our CollegeBound Resources for handy templates, checklists, and videos.
Going To College: Collegiate Sendoff For SL Network Alumni
One thing that most first-year college students can agree on is that college is very different from high school! That can be a tough adjustment but our Alumni Engagement team is here to support our alumni in making a smooth and successful transition to life after high school.
This summer, the Alumni Engagement team published four digital magazines for a virtual Collegiate Sendoff experience. Each issue provides advice, tips, and activities to help first-year college students learn more about:
- Academic success
- Campus belonging
- Financial aid
- Health and wellness
Looking Ahead: New Ways For Alumni To Stay Connected
We encourage all SL Network alumni—regardless of education or professional level—to check out the Alumni Portal. This hub is a one-stop shop to learn about new internship and job opportunities, events, and stories from the alumni network! We are also looking forward to launching SLNetConnect, a new digital community just for our alumni. Make sure we have your updated contact information so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect and network with other SL Network alumni!
We are also looking forward to piloting our newest program, Bridge Through College, this fall. Based on the success of our Bridge To College program, this new peer mentoring program will be an opportunity for alumni who are in their third or fourth year of college to support other alumni who are new to college. The program will support our alumni who have gotten TO college and ensure they also make it THROUGH college. If you are an SL Network alumni and interested in getting involved as a peer mentor, please contact Pamela Jones, Director of Alumni Engagement.
As we all head together into the upcoming school year, we know there are still some questions and uncertainties but one thing we know for sure is that our network of students and alumni is relentless! We are here for our young people and cheering them on every step of the way.
