What is the YMCA College Club?

The YMCA College Club is an academic guidance program that helps young people reach their full potential by continuing their education beyond the high school level.
 

What is the age range of the participants?

Students enter the program in the seventh grade and continue all the way through college.
 

What kinds of students is the program designed for?

The YMCA College Club is designed for low-income academically-inclined students in the YMCA service area who would be the first in their families to graduate from college.
 

What sorts of activities are included in the program?

College Club activities include mentoring, academic and career counseling, tutoring, talks by adult role models, public speaking and confidence-building, leadership training, SAT preparation classes, visits to college campuses, college selection assistance, and college application and scholarship assistance.
 

Aren’t programs like the YMCA College Club already available?

Yes, there are some existing programs that are similar to the College Club. These include the U.S. Department of Education AVID and Upward Bound programs.
 

If similar programs already exist, why is the College Club needed?

Many interested students cannot participate in the existing programs because enrollment is limited or because they do not meet the admission requirements.
 

How is the YMCA College Club different from the existing programs?

The College Club activities are more comprehensive than the existing programs. Also, the College Club provides longer-term support that starts in grade seven and continues all the through college.
 

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