College Possible Connects

Innovation in Low-Income Students'

College Success

Aileen Aragones, Program Manager

7.9.15

Introduction to College Possible

• College Possible helps promising,

low-income students become

college graduates.

• Pairs low-income students with

AmeriCorps coaches.

• Serve 18,000 students in six metropolitan areas

(Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Milwaukee, WI;

Omaha, NE; Portland, OR; Philadelphia, PA;

Chicago, IL.)

Introduction to College Possible

• Low-income students transition from high school

to college and persist through college at

significantly lower rates than their higher income

peers.

• Barriers to college:

• Absence of a guide

• Lack of prep for ACT/SAT

• Complexity of aid process

• Inadequate prep for the

college experience

Introduction to College Possible

• In partnership with high schools and colleges,

College Possible offers:

• AmeriCorps Coaching

• Intensive ACT/SAT Test Prep

• College Application and Financial Aid Assistance

• College Transition Guidance

• Support Through College

College Possible Results

• 20% average ACT/SAT increase.

• 98% of College Possible students earn admission

to college.

• Impact on 4-year college enrollment confirmed

by Harvard randomized controlled trial.

• Graduate at nearly ten times the rate of low-

income peers.

College Possible Connects

Specialized partnerships between College Possible

and colleges and universities that emphasize

exposure, recruitment and retention of low-

income students.

Partner colleges:

• Have demonstrated ability and commitment to

recruit and retain low-income students

• Develop a specialized plan to support and

expand current efforts.

• Campuses fit low-income students’ needs and

support them from acceptance to graduation.

College Possible Connects: Levels of Partnership

• Explore Partners: Offer a campus

visit to College Possible students,

receive exposure to new potential

applicants.

• Bridge Partners: Recruit College

Possible students and diversify

campus environment.

• Collaborate Partners: Partner with

College Possible to dedicate efforts

to retention and college graduation.

College Possible Connects Impact

College Possible student

retention/graduation rates

Sample 1*

4-Year

(Private)

Sample 2*

4-Year

(Private)

Sample 3

4-Year

(Public)

Sample 4

2-Year

(Comm. & Tech)

1st-Year Retention Rate

(Prior to Collaborate partnership) 63% 71% 78% N/A

1st-Year Retention Rate

(Since Collaborate partnership) 80% 77% 86% N/A

Increase in 1st-Year Retention Rate

for College Possible Students 17% 6% 12% N/A

Retained/Graduated

(Prior to Collaborate partnership) 48% 51% 56% 33%

Retained/Graduated

(Since Collaborate partnership) 67% 71% 78% 53%

Increase in Retention/Graduation

Rate for College Possible Students 19% 20% 22% 20%

Increased retention and graduation for College Possible

students attending wide variety of post-secondary institutions.

College Possible Connects Approach

• Institution-specific plans and collaboration:

• Campus tours, student panels and special events

• Ensures students have robust support networks on

campus, including Academic Advisors; Student

Support Services; 1st Gen Retention Specialist;

Financial Aid Counselors, etc.

• Utilization of past student data:

• Focus on transition and persistence success

• Close collaboration to improve results

Using Naviance for College Possible Connects

• Communication

• Mass email messages to students

and parents

• Sharing information of applicants

with colleges

• College Categories/Groups,

including:

• School selectivity

• Colleges that meet 100% financial

need

• Bridge programs

• College Possible Connects partners

Tracking Data for College Possible Connects

• Use Naviance’s scatterplot function for

prospective applications.

• Find patterns with student application

submissions and enrollment: gives College

Possible ability to provide additional context to

college partners regarding enrollment choices:

• Financial fit

• Social connection

• Home responsibilities

• Etc.

College Possible and Naviance

• Summer Enrichment Program List

• Pre-college programs from all College Possible

metropolitan areas.

• Success Planner Function

• Tracks completion of key benchmarks (Campus

Visit, College Fair, Summer Enrichment Application,

FAFSA Completion, Other College Possible Tasks)

• Scholarship List

• Project potential financial aid packages based on

previous students’ merit-based awards

• Helps inform students as they consider where to

apply

Questions?

CollegePossible.org