College Programs

College Programs counsels Achievers Scholars and other students to consider applying for a four-year college that utilizes best practice strategies for retaining low-income students. College Programs provides Achievers Scholars information and assists in academic planning to create a pathway to a bachelor’s degree through on-site college workshops, campus visits, college mentoring coordination, assistance in navigating college, guidance and support, intrusive intervention for academically under-prepared students, and upper division support toward bachelor’s degree attainment.  

In collaboration with District of Columbia Public Schools and DC CAP, College Programs works to empower teachers, counselors, and principals to assist students/families with college access by providing the school personnel professional development, support for reorienting counseling functions, and better information about college choices. 

DC CSF College Programs has developed contractual agreements with colleges and universities to provide College Mentor Coordinators, mentors for the first two years of an Achievers Scholars college experience. College Mentor Coordinators are college sponsored staff who will be responsible for assisting Achievers Scholars on their campuses to seek out service supports, to help navigate the college campus and environment, and to encourage or sponsor participation in college orientation. In addition, the College Mentor Coordinators will recruit and train individuals who will serve as mentors during the first two years (freshman and sophomore years) of the Achievers Scholars college experience.

The Achievers Scholarship goal is to meet the student's full financial aid need and to eliminate or reduce the need for student loans. "Last in" scholarship awarding means each college and university enters into an agreement with DC CSF that the college will not reduce or eliminate any scholarship or grant funds that it is responsible for awarding (including federal, state, private and college funds) due to the Achievers Scholarship and/or the anticipation of the Achievers Scholarship by the DC CSF.