These are schools in Connecticut that have programs that give generous financial aid and/or provide academic support services for incoming freshmen.
Basic Information:
- Medium campus (12,000 students) located in New Britain, CT
- Small town setting, but near a major mall area.
What We Like:
- CONNACS Program
- Phoenix Program
What is the CONNACS Program?
- CONNACS is a free five-week summer transitional program that aims to boost retention rates for students who are among the first in their families to go to college, or who have a disability.
- During the summer, students take 2 or 3 classes, potentially for credit.
- Upon successful completion of the summer program, students enter the University and receive mentoring, one-on-one-tutoring, and attend workshops to ensure success in the first year.
What is the Phoenix Program?
- Like the CONNACS program, Phoenix seeks to boost retention and success in college for students who are among the first in their families to go to college, who are low-income, or who have a disability. Unlike CONNACS, the Phoenix Program occurs only in the fall semester.
- Students in this program receive additional advising and workshops on critical thinking, study skills, etc.
How to Apply to the CONNACS or Phoenix Program:
- Students should fill out the regular application for Central CT State, since the University identifies qualified students from the regular applicant pool. This means it’s good to apply early!
- You can also contact Leah Byrd at (860) 832-2299 or byrdles@ccsu.edu to express interest.
Basic Information:
- Highly selective small liberal arts college of about 1900 students
- Located in New London, CT (smaller city than Providence, but bigger that Warwick).
- Good public transit. Amtrak stop, Greyhound bus stop, commuter rail service.
- Near nice beaches and has a little more edge than the rest of the Shore Line area.
What We Like:
- Paid campus visits (willing to charter a bus if enough people are interested or to pay for train tickets if only a few are interested)
- Explore Weekend Program
What is Explore Weekend?
- The purpose of Explore is to bring talented, high achieving high school students from underrepresented groups- including those from low income backgrounds or first-generation college bound students- and those interested in issues of diversity to the campus to further “explore” Connecticut College during the fall of senior year.
- The Explore Weekend is designed to acquaint students with what a liberal arts college has to offer and more specifically, what Connecticut College has to offer in preparing students for success. This includes a campus tour, admission interview, overnight stay in the dorms, workshop on financial aid and applying to college, the chance to attend classes, and a final reception with college deans and faculty.
- Described as a “weekend of admissions workshops- a mini admissions boot camp.”
How Do I Participate in Explore Weekend?
- Fax or mail the completed one-page application, along with the assigned essay and your high school transcript, to Connecticut College. Application can be found at: http://www.conncoll.edu/admission/adm_explore.htm
- Fax: 860-439-4301 or Mailing Address: Connecticut College, Office of Admission, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT 06320
- You can also talk to Mitch Herz for more information. He can be reached at (860) 439-2280 or Mitch.Herz@conncollege.edu.
- Be sure to check the website for the application deadline- this program takes place in the fall of senior year of high school!
Basic Information:
- Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut, a small town (in Windham County, not far from UConn)
- Small to Medium sized campus of about 5,000 students
What We Like:
- STEP/CAP Program
What is STEP/CAP?
- STEP/CAP stands for Summer Transition at Eastern Program/Contract Admission Program.
- This program is geared toward first-generation college students who may need extra support at the beginning of college.
- Only 75-80 students are admitted to the program and often these students do not meet normal Eastern CT State admissions criteria.
- The program starts with a six-week intensive academic program (students are in class five days a week and commute home on the weekends). At the end of the summer family is invited to attend a graduation ceremony
- During a student’s freshman year, he/she signs an academic contract expecting a certain GPA, bi-monthly meetings with an advisor, and permission for the advisor to be in direct contact with the student’s parents.
- The program cost is $2500, but students eligible for financial aid may be able to have this fee waived.
- Transportation to and from the program, about 45 minutes by bus, cannot be provided.
How Do I Apply to STEP/CAP?
- Application includes a mandatory essay and an interview. Upon arriving on campus, participants are identified by on-campus offices and then invited for placement testing.
- Deadline to apply is the same as Eastern CT State application for admission deadline (May 1), but earlier is better.
- Contact Laquana Price, Assistant Director of Admissions and head of STEP/CAP, at (860) 465-5020
Basic Information:
- Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, the campus is small to medium sized with about 5,000 students.
- Fairfield is well connected- Amtrak, Commuter Rail, located on Boston Post Road (a big, well known street). Town is considered very nice.
- The school is a private Jesuit school.
What We Like:
- Project EXCEL
What is Project EXCEL?
- Project Excel is a long-term program for students who are among the first in their families to go to college, or who are from low-income backgrounds, or who have a registered disability, which offers to give academic support throughout the student’s time at Fairfield.
- Academic support includes tracking and workshops on topics such as study skills and study abroad.
- The program also offers supplemental grants/aid to some students who qualify (need based).
- EXCEL begins in July, with a 4-week summer component, consisting of 2 classes for credit. Students are provided housing during this time.
How Do I Apply to EXCEL?
- Students must fill out the regular application to Fairfield University, and once accepted, can either be referred to the program or apply.
- A four-page application to the program is sent out some time in April and should be returned by the end of May.
- For more information, contact Carrie Rivera at (203) 254-4000 or crivera@mail.fairfield.edu.
Basic Information:
- Medium to large campus of about 12,000 students located in New Haven, CT (slightly smaller city than Providence).
- Downtown New Haven is accessible from the campus and has access to buses and trains and a small airport.
What We Like:
- Summer Educational Opportunity Program (SEOP)
What is SEOP?
- SEOP is “a special program for students whose educational background has left them under-prepared in certain areas for the challenges of university life.”
- After completion of the summer session, which is aimed at allowing 50 students to brush up on their skills before the fall, students receive 4 college credits and are admitted to SCSU for the fall
- SEOP includes scholarship aid in the form of tuition waiver, textbooks, plus room and board from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon for the five weeks of the summer component.
- All students live on campus, attend classes, and explore campus life together.Resident advisors and peer counselors are always available to advise and counsel SEOP students and to implement a variety of enrichment activities, both academic and recreational. SEOP participants receive a number of academic advantages, including individualized academic counseling, small classes, and personal attention from faculty and staff.
How Do I Apply to SEOP?
- There is no separate application process- the program chooses students.
- For more information, and to express interest, contact Diane Rosner (Program Coordinator) at (203) 392-6812 or rosnerd1@southernct.edu by late February or early March.
- You can also visit the SEOP website at: http://www.southernct.edu/SEOP/
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