Celebrating CBI Impact!
Join us in celebrating our CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) Seniors and alumni as they get ready for the next chapter in their story!
Read on to learn about and hear from some of the incredible young people in our CBI network! Then, send a special edition CBI e-card to a young person in your life gearing up for the next step in their educational journey!
CBI CLASS OF 2023
Meet our CollegeBound Students
We are so proud of our CBI seniors for committing to the next step in their postsecondary lives! Whether they’ve decided to enroll in a SUNY, CUNY, HBCU or another private institution, or even a career program, CBI students have worked with their directors of college counseling (DCCs) to determine the best-fit decision for themselves and their families.
Joy decided on an HBCU
Central Park East High School
“I chose Howard University because of its pre-med opportunities, but most importantly, because it is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). I was sure that I would attend a historically black college, and being at a university surrounded by students who look just like me would always remind me of black excellence and greatness.
During my college application journey, I’m thankful my DCC was patient with me leading up to the time of my commitment. She reminded me to push through because the end result would be worth it. I’m truly thankful for her help. As I think about my future, I’m most excited about the experiences I’m going to encounter. I’m genuinely excited to be in a different space and setting to learn more about reaching my career goals for the future.”
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I Decided on a City University of New York (CUNY)! Aboubakar decided on Hunter College
During my college application journey, I’m thankful my DCC kept me in the loop and made sure I didn’t go off track. I choose Hunter College because it’s really affordable and I wanted to make the city my campus. As I think about my future, I’m nervous about the college workload and meeting new people.
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I Decided on a State University of New York (SUNY)! Sean decided on SUNY Geneseo
I chose SUNY Geneseo because I want to have a different environment than NYC and it had my major for Fashion. During my college application journey, I’m thankful my DCC supported me to understand the financial aid components. It was confusing, but I understand now! I am excited about college life. I am excited to see how it feels to be one my own and find out what I am passionate about. I am nervous about meeting new people and if they will be too different than who I am.
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I Decided on a Historically Black College and University (HBCU)! Janae decided on Hampton University
As I think about my future, I’m most excited about helping other kids that look exactly like me and pursuing a career in the Sports Industry. I chose Hampton University because I feel like it’s the college for me with my major of Sports Management; at this college I also feel like I will be able to perform to my highest potential. During my college application journey, I’m thankful to my DCC for helping make my college application process easier.
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I Decided on a Private Institution! Briana decided on Syracuse University
I chose Syracuse University because this university will help me through my academics and support me financially. As I think about my future, I’m most excited about meeting new people and creating new experiences. During my college application journey, I’m thankful for my DCC’s help through this hard process of applying and choosing which school to go to.
Victoria decided on Williams College
Instead of saying I chose Williams College, I think a better statement would be Williams College chose me. As a QuestBridge Match scholar, I was scooped up by Williams and I think it was a perfect fit because of its small size and academic rigor. At Williams, I will grow to be a very prepared and independent student who is set up for success in the future. During my college application journey, I’m thankful my DCC was great with communication and advice. Throughout the summer, I was advised on the number of colleges I should apply to (I was being excessive), scholarships to look into, and support with financial aid applications. As a first-generation student, this support was important to me and it helped me get into a great college.
Eileen decided on the University of Pennsylvania
I chose UPenn because it has a wide variety of courses, is a good distance from home, and is highly ranked for the major I am interested in (Biology). As I think about my future, I’m most excited about meeting new people, forming connections, and hopefully giving back to my community at some point. During my college application journey, I’m thankful for all the teachers who helped me figure things out and keep going after disappointing news.
Class of 2023 at a Glance
CBI ALUMNI
CollegeBound to College Grad!
Janna is a TYWLS Queens alumna from the Class of 2019.
She is graduating from Hunter College this spring as an Education and History double major.
She was recently awarded the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship and will get her Master of Philosophy in Education at the University of Cambridge.
“As a first-generation college student and Bangladeshi woman, I have never forgotten how much of a privilege education has been. I come from a region of Bangladesh where female education and disability education have long been stigmatized. That is why I am focused on ways to intersect policy, K-12 education, and higher education in order to increase educational opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds like myself. I am so grateful that throughout my time at TYWLS and Hunter, I explored and deepened my commitment to education. I am the first person in Hunter College history to earn the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship, a prestigious full-ride scholarship to the University of Cambridge. At the University of Cambridge, I will receive my MPhil in Education from the Knowledge, Power, and Politics program to research how inclusive curricula work for immigrants on a global educational level. Being a Gates-Cambridge scholar will mobilize me with resources to advance educational equity on a larger scale than my younger self would have ever imagined having access to.
Janna spent the day with Congresswoman Caroline Maloney, advocating for women’s rights in Washington, DC.
Janna and a friend on their TYWLS graduation day.
I am extremely committed to improving the lives of others through public policy and through education. For the last three years, I have been working in two crucial roles where I support first-generation students in making college accessible. I have been working with the Student Leadership Network as a Peer Leader for first-year and second-year CUNY students, helping them matriculate into our wonderful community by providing them with personal advising support and hosting several community-building events. My work has aided in ensuring CUNY students are 1.5x more likely to graduate in 4 years with active community involvement.
Bridge Through College participants meet up at the SL Network central office with their peer leader, Janna.
In ten years, I hope to reduce the gap of females of color pursuing leadership roles in education. I believe that cultivating this pathway in my own life would pave the way for other young women. I see myself as the first person in my family to earn a PhD. I am aiming to utilize my phenomenal college success education from TYWLS of Queens, my teacher education degree from Hunter, and my Masters in Education degree from Cambridge and my future PhD in order to head into an educational leadership position. I hope to reach the hearts of as many first-generation students as possible and give back to immigrants on a local level in NYC.”
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Celebrate a Young Person in Your Life!
Send an e-card to an amazing student or graduate in your life!
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A Shoutout to our CBI Team
Our directors of college counseling (DCCs), college transition coaches (CTCs), college access team, and CBI support and executive staff have decades upon decades of experience with closing the “degree divide.” With their expertise and leadership, we impact approximately 26,000 students each year as they explore higher education and postsecondary opportunities – and realize their full potential. Learn more about our approach to College Access and Success.
