Allendale College Readiness Program

The College Readiness Program offers high school students in Allendale county tailored support and resources throughout the college application process to help them prepare for, research, evaluate and ultimately select which college is right for them.

The anonymous donor who started the Allendale College Readiness Program at Coastal Community Foundation established College Readiness as an 18-month prerequisite program to help ensure students’ success leading up to, during and after college. Those who complete the College Readiness Program are eligible to apply for the Rev. Pinckney Scholars Program in the second semester of their senior years of high school.

About the program
At Coastal Community Foundation, our in-house college access specialists, provide personalized support and guidance to students and their families. Students are coached on preparing for ACT/SAT tests, writing college essays, seeking and obtaining financial aid and scholarships and filling out FAFSA forms. They are offered advice and counseling from college enrollment specialists and visit college campuses with their peers in the program. While it involves rigorous and consistent coaching, the program is designed with flexibility in mind to accommodate students’ activities, work and personal obligations.

The College Readiness Program incorporates four main areas of focus:

College entrance exam preparation

• Students take diagnostic ACT and SAT exams, decide on one test to study for, and receive test preparation.

College exposure and application

• Workshops and one-on-one meetings with the program instructor about college research, college tours, as well as information about and application to fly-ins and summer enrichment programs.
• Students research colleges and apply to at least five schools.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• We hold family workshops and provide individual assistance with FAFSA and other financial aid applications, as well as scholarship recommendations and assistance.

Career and Soft Skills Training

• Workshops and counseling regarding resume building, interview skills and etiquette, time management and study skills, and budgeting

We call our students Visionaries
Our Visionaries are encouraged to fearlessly pursue their dreams and embrace opportunities to serve others in their schools and communities.

Students accepted into the program are expected to:

• Be committed to attending and graduating from college.
• Be a good citizen at school and in the community.
• Be motivated, intellectually curious, and take advantage of opportunities.
• Keep appointments, meet deadlines, and be responsive to all staff communications.

For High School Counselors & Teachers
Through this program, we aim to support the work you do every day in your high schools to put bright students on the path to higher education. If you have students in mind who meet the following criteria, please encourage them or their parents to consider applying:

• Junior year of high school
• Permanent residents of Allendale County
• Students planning to attend a two-year or four-year college upon graduation
• Unweighted GPA of at least 2.5 and have taken a college-prep curriculum

We are especially interested in supporting students who are motivated, intellectually curious, and who take advantage of opportunities. If you have any questions, please email Angel Connell at angel@coastalcommunityfoundation.org.