The Gateway to College program that will give high school dropouts or at-risk dropouts a second chance is ready to begin its application process and select the fall semester's 50 students.
Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and its funding partners, this educational scholarship will provide students with free tuition and books, but most important, an opportunity to turn their lives around.
"Only 13 colleges in America have this program, providing this campus with a rare opportunity," Nancy Cobb, director of the Gateway to College program for this campus, said.
The in-depth, four-day application process will provide the applicant a good look at the program that divides 50 students into two core learning communities of 25 students and lends the staff a bird's eye view of each candidate.
Exams in math, reading and writing will be part of the application.
"The applicant must be able to read at an eighth-grade level to enter the program," Cobb said.
Three essays will accompany the application requiring a candid self-exam, addressing the applicant's personal strengths and weaknesses.
"We want to know what have been the problems and challenges interfering with their education. Why would that be different now?" Cobb said.
The staff will be looking at the prospective student's plan to balance coursework, employment and personal life.
Cobb's experience with dropouts has given her an empathy and a nonjudgmental perspective: "I am learning that often dropouts have simply made a series of poor choices. Life came at them as life comes at all of us. They didn't have the coping skills to deal with that, and it became easier to not go to school than to go," Cobb said.
Cobb expects 200-250 students to apply and reiterates, "We are looking for qualities of good students. We want to know that they have decided to be committed."
The program's goal is for the student to obtain a high school diploma within two years as well as earn college credit toward an associate's degree at the same time.
The two core groups of 25 students will each have a resource specialist, who will act as a teamleader, in hopes to build a sense of community among the students.
Roland Garza has been hired as one of the resource specialists and interviews are being held this week for the second one.
Eligibility criteria
• Be between the ages of 16 and 20 • Have left high school before graduation or be at-risk of dropping out • Be behind in high school credits for your age and grade with fewer than 17 credits • Read at an 8th grade level • Live within one of the following school districts: Alamo Heights, Comal, Northside, North East and San Antonio
Applications can be obtained by calling 785-6327 or online:www.accd.edu/sac/gateway.
Upcoming
Information session: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday; Room 555 of Moody. Reservation required. Call 785-6327.
Evaluation Day 1: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday; Room 556 of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Evaluation Day 2: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday; Room 555 of Moody. Requires referral from information session. Interview: Times will vary. April 20; Room 700A of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Information Session: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 15; Room 555 of Moody. Reservation required. Call 785-6327.
Evaluation Day 1: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 16; Room 555 of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Evaluation Day 2: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 17; Room 555 of Moody. Requires referral from Information session.
Interview: Times will vary. May 18; Room 700A of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Information Session: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 22; Room 556 of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Evaluation Day 1: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 23; Room 556 of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Evaluation Day 2: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 24; Room 556 of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
Interview: Times will vary. May 25; Room 700A of Moody. Requires referral from information session.
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