We supported a collaboration between CollegeBound Initiative (CBI), a high-touch college guidance and access program that places highly-trained, full-time college counselors in partnering Title I New York City schools, and Story2, a program that teaches storytelling and essay writing with a primary focus on enhancing college application-related essays for high school students via its multi-pronged approach to delivery (direct service to students, professional development for English teachers and college counselors, and an online writing program with written feedback on students’ essays).
This partnership complements CBI’s already-existing comprehensive approach to college guidance by providing students served by CBI schools with the tools necessary to develop strong personal essays for college applications and scholarships, which will ultimately lead to better college match and matriculation outcomes for underserved youth. Since 2001, CBI has achieved a cumulative college enrollment rate of 89% with 74% of participants enrolling in four-year colleges.