Page 3 - Newsletter NYS GEAR UP Fall 2019

NYS GEAR UP NEWSLETTER
COLLEGE TRIPS
College Trips: In addition to college fairs, New York State GEAR UP students were given the chance to visit many college campuses throughout the State. The Bronx Institute organized these tours, which consisted of full tours of the campus and presentations to students about student life, culture, and academics. Additional information sessions covered the Educational Opportunity Program and tips and strategies for success in higher education.
The list of schools that welcomed our students is as follows:
• SUNY Purchase
• John Jay College of Criminal
Justice
• SUNY Albany
• SUNY New Paltz
• SUNY Oneonta
• Manhattanville College
• SUNY Cortland
• Lehman College
• Borough of Manhattan Community College
• Bronx Community College
Advisement/Counseling
This year’s NYSGU advisement curriculum focused on college readiness and SAT registration, as delivered by The Bronx Institute’s Academic College Readiness Coaches (ACRCs).
The bulk of the curriculum centered on financial aid and the college applications, introducing students to the rigors and complexities of the process. Students were shown how to complete their FAFSA Applications, as well as the various college applications, including the SUNY application, the
CUNY application, and the Common Application. ACRCs guided students through these procedures, assessed their work, and helped them complete their forms, with advisement offered in both one-on- one counseling sessions and in small groups. ACRCs also helped students research, develop, and finalize their own college lists based on personal factors and preferences, such as distance, the size of the school, the majors they are interested in, and the campus culture.
Cultural Activities
New York Botanical Garden: Students and their families were invited to attend the beloved Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden—one of The Bronx Institute’s preeminent partner organizations. Every year, the event showcases the Botanical Garden’s work in the form of lifelike model trains and hundreds of New York City landmarks, handcrafted from natural materials found at the Botanical Garden. Every year, the event reaffirms The Bronx Institute’s commitment to connecting the students of The Bronx with the unique cultural op- portunities New York City has to offer.