SMART: College Visits for Highly Motivated Low-Income Youth

I support Mensch of the Month with this wonderful idea! The SMART Program looks like a great organization!

What a great cause!

I just saw this link on Facebook! This is such a great cause! Everyone should spread the word!

SMART provides highly motivated, financially-disadvantaged students with access to educational opportunities, personal experiences and social support services in order to foster academic excellence and community engagement!

WE CAN DO BETTER THAN 9TH PLACE!

What a great program and a super idea!

SMART totally deserves to win this money. It's really no contest. We have to mobilize! Does anyone have any ideas?!

Amazing opportunity that I'd like to see all SMART kids have access to!

SMART helps end poverty in the families of the young men and women who become SMART Scholars by enabling them to become the first in their family to attend college. How cool is that?

Thanks for voting... and please spread the word! 94% of SMART scholars will be first-generation college students. College tours are important, as they help our students make informed decisions about their education, and help our Scholars envision themselves as college students.

Outstanding! This is the type of inspirational experience that will elevate these young people to the goal of attending college. Go SMART!!

Excellent idea and good motivation for young students!!

Many of our Scholars come from communities that do not have a college culture--by going on a college tour, they are able to better see their own future, increasing motivation to be successful in high school and attend a four-year university. Furthermore, due to the economic realities of our Scholars’ families, many have not traveled outside of the area. The opportunity to go on a trip without parents and leave their comfort zone is extremely impactful, again helping our students visualize themselves leaving home and attending college. Finally, as SMART visits different types of schools, it will help our Scholars shape their college plans. They will see large and small campuses, as well as colleges in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The visits will give our Scholars opportunities to meet students at various campuses, and will help them to envision themselves as college students, and ask any pressing questions they may have. While many students think they know where they’d like to attend college, it's not until they get onto a campus that their preferences begin to take shape.