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Return on Investment

Kristy Saldana (CPP '14, Trenton HS '14)

Our huge congratulations go to CPP scholar Kristy Saldana on being accepted - Early Decision - to Colgate University. Look at that smile! Kristy is a SEEDS success story, which starts for every one of our students with an intense admissions process.

Throughout the fall and early winter, the SEEDS staff fans out through New Jersey, searching for highly-motivated students with tremendous potential from Passaic and Bergen Counties in the north to Mercer and Monmouth Counties in the south. Our goal each year is to field classes of students for our Scholars, Young Scholars and College Preparatory Programs that have the intellectual drive paired with resilience and grit that will allow them to thrive during some 400 hours of SEEDS schooling on Saturdays and during the summers (nearly double that for CPP students).

It's for this reason that we spend significant effort in recruiting.

Our team has completed 76 school visits and 14 information

Assistant Dean of CPP, Anthony Jones, presents to potential CPP applicants in Trenton.

sessions since October, resulting in more than 1,500 requests for applications. Over the next few months, these efforts will continue and students will be able to submit applications through the end of February. Then begins the very difficult process of reviewing each application. We take a close look at students' short answers and written responses. We review report cards, test scores and teacher recommendations. We interview finalists and their families and administer a test of our own.

Last year, we received more than 650 applications for just over 150 spots in our Scholars' Summer Challenge and Young Scholars Programs. 

We know it's a big commitment for the students who are ultimately selected - and their families: months upon months of rigorous academic classes, test preparation, interview skills development, emotional awareness activities and cultural immersion. But it's worth it. Last year, 100% of our graduating students were placed in a selective school or college with enough financial aid to matriculate. By the time our students have finished their educations, they will have been awarded up to $350,000 in scholarships by their schools, and will have gained a top-notch education. That means every $1,000 invested in SEEDS leverages approximately $23,000 in scholarships for a student. What a return on investment!

Since the inception of SEEDS in 1992, 1,899 students have graduated from our three programs. During this holiday season, I want to thank you for all you have done to ensure that our students get the educations they want, the educations that do justice to their talent and ambition. Your support makes it all possible. 

Happy, healthy holidays to you and your family, and a marvelous 2014.

CPP juniors at Hood College.

John Starks with CPP scholars.

    

SEEDS Scholars and Young Scholars have spent the past several weeks finalizing their applications to selective schools across the country. 

In addition to work on their applications, students have been preparing for the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) and the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). Scholars and Young Scholars will take the SSAT on December 21, and Young Scholars will sit for the ISEE on January 4. 

Students have also been traveling to selective schools with their families. Having already been prepared by their mock interviews, students will meet with admissions representatives during these visits. 

SEEDS hosted four Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) Workshops last month for Scholars and Young Scholars families. Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to assist!

Upcoming Events

Scholars from SEEDS' three sites will have the opportunity to catch up with each other on January 4 at a special session of Scholars Academy Saturday, sponsored by the Coach Foundation. It's the first time that Scholars will be in class together since the completion of the Summer Challenge Program.

In late November, Guidance hosted two college trips for SEEDS' High School Scholars. The first trip brought 17 sophomores and juniors to visit three schools in Pennsylvania - Lafayette College, Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College.

Students visit Quinnipiac University.

On the second trip, 14 students visited three Connecticut institutions - Connecticut College, Quinnipiac University and Trinity College.

Guidance officers will host a financial aid workshop on January 4 to assist families in completing their college financial aid forms. For additional information on this workshop, please contact SEEDS' Dean of Guidance, Mai Le.

Over the next several weeks, students will have additional opportunities to participate in Guidance events. The first is the Annual Alumni Holiday Spectacular. The $10 ticket - available for purchase online - will cover students' dinner at Skylark on the Hudson. The event will be Friday, December 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

On January 27, Guidance will host a Summer Internship Resume Workshop. The workshop will focus on creating resumes and cover letters, as well as telephone etiquette. Students will learn how to search for volunteer and internship opportunities, including how to determine the appropriate contact to reach. After the workshop, scholars will be provided one-on-one assistance and advice on finding the right opportunity for them. For additional details on this workshop, please contact Guidance Officer Johulin Zuluaga.