Photo By: College Possible

Why Is College Possible Important?

I chose to investigate College Possible because they aid low-income students by serving as peer coaches and navigating students through [the process of getting into] college while building a community with other students in order to build communities through commonalities. The hard reality is that financially struggling students will have a hard time navigating the complexities of college and will therefore retrogress by discontinuing their education and therefore escape poverty. College Possible is a non-profit organization that serves communities across the country and it is found here in Washington State. The utilization of services is prevalent at my old high school and it is still being used by students such as myself.

Image From: College Possible

History & Purpose

College Possible believes students should pursue a higher education without the being limited by their backgrounds and should instead be driven by intrinsic motivational factors. The mission of College Possible is to, “Close the degree divide and make college possible for students from low-income backgrounds through intensive curriculum of coaching and support.”

Whom Do They Serve?

Students who enroll in College Possible receive the opportunity to connect with a mentor which offers “academic preparation, financial planning and personal development.” Academic preparation relates to preparing for admissions tests, such as the SAT and ACT which are standardized tests widely used by college admissions. Financial planning relates to applying for financial aid (FAFSA) and scouting/applying for scholarships. Lastly, personal development relates to the limitless possibilities an individual has in growing as a scholar and by building relationships with others.

Ways To Improve

College Possible should focus on including a deeper dive into both the mentor and the mentee’s thought process that recurs when a mentor is facilitating a general meeting and the hardships students face in terms of financial inequality. Including different perspectives would allow viewers to be informed through empathy.

Accessibility

Information regarding College Possible was easily accessible through the variety of sections they provide on their website and can be found through a simple Google search, such as “College Possible people” in order to find information regarding individuals leading the organization. The website is very well designed and simple to navigate. There is a lot of information which can be found only a couple of clicks away!

Similar Organizations

Examples of other non-profit organizations offering similar support include:

The Northwest Education Access offers the opportunity to offer support (e.g. guidance, financial, connections, etc.) to (but is not limited to) low-income students who wish to further their education.

The College Success Foundation empowers low-income youth to pursue a higher education despite in order to succeed in life and to beat the educational inequity found in today’s time.

References:

College Possible. (2021b, September 2). College Possible. https://collegepossible.org/