Mission

The mission of Pathways to College is to expand the pipeline to college in selected under-served communities by 1) creating a nationwide, networked community of high-achieving primarily minority children, 2) assisting these students, with their families, to become knowledgeable, attractive college applicants, matriculants, and successful graduates, 3) partnering with colleges, schools and communities for the ongoing and consistent encouragement and support of these aspiring and able children, and 4) by building on the examples our Scholars and teachers set, helping to foster and support a school-wide cultural change that emphasizes academic and career achievement.

Need

Developing leaders in under-represented populations remains a critical challenge in our society. A key way to address this challenge - and the challenge of overall school performance - is strengthening students’ ability to win admission to and succeed in the best possible colleges, given their interests and abilities.

History

Pathways to College first emerged as a program within A Better Chance (ABC) - this country’s oldest, only national and extraordinarily successful academic talent search/college access program for students of color. Pathways to College was created to provide for students attending targeted schools, and their families, critically needed coaching through the college application, selection and financial aid process.