Page 2 - STRIDES MAGAZINE

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Dear GEAR UP Students and Families
I am pleased to welcome you back to school and to the GEAR UP program for another semester. Now is the time to refocus on the things that matter most: completing another year of your educational journey with the best possible grades and setting up your pathway into a good university.
Staying organized when tackling a long and involved process like applying for college is crucial, so create
a list of tasks to help you keep track of everything you need to do. The first thing on your list should be to take your SAT or ACT test. Another important item is compiling a list of colleges that is split into target schools, reach schools and safety schools. Approach the instructors that you think would say the most positive things about your work and ask them for letters of recommendation. You should also work with school staff, GEAR UP staff, or your parents to develop and edit an outstanding college essay.
Apply to every school that you are interested in, even if you are not sure you fit the requirements. There is value in being realistic about which schools you can reasonably get into, but do not undersell yourself. Finally, complete your FAFSA application in order to get the most effective financial aid possible for your family. You have overcome many obstacles on your journey to get to this point, so make the trials and tribulations you have been through count by setting up the most beneficial postsecondary experience for yourself.
GEAR UP staff will continue to provide programming to assist you in reaching this goal, including an SAT Prep course that sharpens your skills in preparing for the exam with subjects such as English Language Arts and Math, while providing test-taking strategies for you to utilize. GEAR UP also offers a STEM program which focuses on a bilingual science curriculum and hands-on projects with your fellow students. In this issue, you can read about both of these courses from the very students who are taking them.
Continue excelling in your classes, taking advantage of extracurricular opportunities, and pushing forward to the end of this school year!
Sincerely,
Professor Herminio Martínez, Ph.D.
Executive Director – The Bronx Institute
“The mission of The Bronx Institute at Lehman College is to enhance educational opportunity for K-20 students in The Bronx by promoting college readiness and academic enrichment through a series of unique programs. The Institute collaborates with cultural and scientific institutions, community groups, and
The Bronx
Institute Vision ”
educators throughout New York City, with the goal of improving educational outcomes for Bronx students and their families.
BRONX INSTITUTE AT LEHMAN COLLEGE GEAR UP PROGRAM
Professor Herminio Martínez, Ph.D. Executive Director Bruce Irushalmi Deputy Director
Martha Atencio Assistant Director Samantha Souvatzis Program Coordinator
Zuheily Cortez Administrative Assistant Nicholas Smith Editor
Alberto Méndez Designer
BRONX INSTITUTE GEAR UP OVERVIEW
New York State’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs initiative (New York State GEAR UP) is part of a nationwide effort funded by the United States Department of Education on behalf of students from low income communities to support them from sixth grade through high school as they prepare to enter college. The Bronx Institute’s New York State GEAR UP Program serves more than 500 students in a community with among the highest educational needs in the nation. Students from high need, predominantly Hispanic and African American Bronx high schools will be provided with support and assistance to achieve academic success and overcome barriers to college.
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A MAGAZINE OF THE BRONX INSTITUTE