College Access & Support Programs that draw youth from throughout Chicago and/or the region

BOTTOM LINE - CHICAGO - SUPPORTS STUDENTS STARTING SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL
https://www.bottomline.org/content/chicago
From the web site: "Bottom Line helps low-income and first-generation-to-college students get to and through college. We are committed to building strong connections with our students, providing them with individual support, and ensuring they have the guidance needed to earn a college degree. We support students starting senior year of high school and continue throughout college for up to six years."

CHICAGO SCHOLARS
https://chicagoscholars.org/programs
From the web site: "The Chicago Scholars Program is designed to assist marginalized high school students overcome the barriers to their collegiate access and success. Going beyond traditional monetary solutions, the Chicago Scholars Program offers five years of best practice programming to get students into college, graduate in four years, and smoothly transition into good-fit careers or graduate study."

COLLEGE MENTORING EXPERIENCE
https://www.collegementoringexperience.org/about
From the web site: "?College Mentoring Experience is a Chicago non-profit organization that provides resources to help youth enter into college and graduate via college tours, scholarships, tutoring and mentorship; we prepare students with academic and soft skills needed to succeed in the 21st century academic and workplace environments. It is our belief that when students are supported; families and communities are impacted."

COMMON GROUND FOUNDATION - SUPPORTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
https://commongroundfoundation.org/
From the website: "Our programs encourage students to set a goal for their high school and college careers and we support the path they set for themselves. Our team of dedicated coaches and mentors work with our students in an individual and group setting. We believe that every child has the opportunity to succeed and lead given the proper resources." Students referred by schools on South and West side of Chicago.

DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
https://www.dmsf.org/our-programs.html
From the web site: "The mission of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund is to give high school scholarship assistance and educational support to Chicago students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. DMSF seeks to make a life-altering difference in the lives of its Scholars by providing them with the best opportunity to succeed in high school and college.

In addition to providing scholarships, DMSF offers a number of valuable programs which help our Scholars persist toward high school graduation and gain admission to colleges at which they can succeed. Our programs begin before our Scholars enter high school and last until they graduate. Mentors are role models with a special interest in the academic success and personal growth of Scholars. By becoming a mentor to a DMSF Scholar, an adult has a unique opportunity to help influence the life of one of tomorrow’s leaders."

EVANSTON SCHOLARS - A COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM
https://www.evanstonscholars.org/
From the web site: "Evanston Scholars is a non-profit organization that improves college access and success for a diverse group of ambitious Evanston students who are traditionally first-generation college entrants, low-income, and students of color, starting with the college admissions process and continuing through graduation. The comprehensive, six-year program offers workshops, mentors, ACT prep, and college counseling to support students with financial and/or academic needs."

HIGHSIGHT
https://www.highsight.org/
From the web site: "HighSight provides scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, leadership development, and college readiness programs that create new possibilities for Chicago high school students from low-income families. The HighSight experience empowers our scholars to excel in high school and graduate from four-year colleges across the country."

INROADS INC. - COLLEGE LINKS PROGRAM
https://inroads.org/#
From the web site: "INROADS' mission is to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership. INROADS College Links is the pre-college component to the INROADS Internship process. Students who participate with INROADS College Links are competitive candidates for INROADS Internship opportunities beginning in their high school senior year!"

LINK UNLIMITED
https://linkunlimited.org/
From the web site: "LINK Unlimited Scholars’ mission is to connect economically disadvantaged African American high school students with mentors, resources, and foundational skills required for success as they advance into, through, and beyond college."

MINDS MATTER - CHICAGO
https://mindsmatterchicago.org/about/
From the web site: "Minds Matter is a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform the lives of accomplished high school students from low-income families by broadening their dreams and preparing them for college success. Our goal is to equip underprivileged high school students with the tools to gain acceptance to a four-year university and navigate the financial aid process. We forge relationships with guidance counselors in various schools throughout Chicago, who recommend their top sophomores to attend our program. Those students who are interested enter a rigorous application process that includes a written personal statement and a phone interview. Each accepted student is then paired with 2 mentors who work together over the next 3 years. These mentors – college graduates and typically young Chicago executives – become role models to the students, and they often keep in touch for many years."

PARTNERSHIP TO EDUCATE & ADVANCE KIDS (PEAK)
https://www.peakchicago.org/
From the web site: "Since 1998, the Partnership to Educate and Advance Kids (PEAK) has worked aggressively to reduce the cycle of poverty and youth violence through a powerful combination of scholarship and the commitment of caring adult mentors for deserving high school youth. PEAK provides full high school scholarships for students to attend Holy Trinity High School. Scholars in the program also work one-on-one with an adult mentor."

PURSUE SCHOLARS - FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/pursuescholars/
https://www.pursuescholars.org/
From the website: "The problem that currently exists in urban higher education is that those who have a heart to build their communities aren’t properly resourced to receive the education and training they need to be sent back into their communities to create the impact they desire. This is where Pursue seeks to be a change-agent. Pursue Scholars not only identifies young leaders who have a heart for the community, resources them and provides extensive leadership training. Pursue positions them to lead on campus, so that when they return home, they have real-world experience and proven leadership to build the communities they love so dearly. In an effort to continue long-lasting relationships with local churches and parachurch organizations in Chicago, PURSUE Scholars seeks to facilitate a sense of community through partnering Life Coaches with a scholar. This is a way in which we help with a scholar’s discipleship process."

THE SCHULER SCHOLAR PROGRAM - COLLEGE CONNECTIONS MENTORING
https://www.schulerprogram.org
From the web site: "as of 8/2024 the program is not accepting applications for new students."   

THRIVE SCHOLARS - 
https://www.thrivescholars.org/
From the website: "We provide high-achieving students of color from economically under-resourced communities the opportunities they need to thrive at top colleges and in meaningful careers."