A Better Chance (ABC) places top middle and high school students of color in highly ranked independent day schools, boarding schools, and public schools. Students with at least a B+ average who are ranked in the top 10 percent of their class are eligible. Candidates must apply one year in advance.
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and its regional affiliates reach out to schools across the nation to identify accomplished artists and writers in grades 7 through 12. About 1000 students earn national awards, including more than $1.5 million dollars in scholarships. Student work is exhibited, published and presented to a national audience.
All Stars Project, Inc runs two 16-week programs for older students interested in leadership roles in the arts. Youth on Stage offers opportunities for students to create and perform in plays. The Production of Youth by Youth, also 16-weeks, shows students the world of producing culture through theater, television, museum, and other cultural events. There are behind the scenes visits and lectures, and a culminating project that produces a cultural forum and unpaid summer internships.
Children's Press Line produces journalistic stories created by students ages 8 to 18. Students act as a reporters and editors and learn to conduct research, interview, and edit.
Cooper-Hewitt's Lehman Scholars program for high school students in 11th and 12th grades introduces students to the fundamentals of design through hands on workshops and internships with design professionals. The program includes portfolio reviews, studio visits, and college visits to local and out-of-state schools. Juniors receive a stipend of $750 and seniors receive a stipend of $1,500. ____
ExploraVision encourages kids to create and explore a vision of future technology. Students work in small groups simulating research and development teams, along with a team coach and an optional mentor. Students compete in regional competitions and the top 24 teams go to a national competition. Prizes include up to $10,000 in savings bonds.
Free Arts NYC uses painting, dance, drama, writing, music, sculpture, photography, and other creative outlets to help children express themselves and gain confidence and self-esteem through Free Arts Days, Weekly Mentor Program, Parents and Children Together with Art (PACT), and Cultural Enrichment Opportunities.
Harlem Education Activities Fund (HEAF) offers intensive academic enrichment courses, test preparation and social and personal development activities for students after school, on Saturdays, and during the summer. The goal is to assist college-bound students from educationally and/or economically disadvantaged communities in developing intellectual and life skills. Programs are specific to middle school and high school aged students.
HarlemLive is award winning, critically acclaimed web magazine produced by teens from throughout New York City. It is a journalism, technology, and leadership program that teaches students ages 13 to 21 how to run an online newspaper. The publication includes news articles, investigative stories, opinion pieces, personal essays, poetry, photography and video documentaries. The students organize events, conduct workshops and sit on panels, increasing their networking and public speaking abilities.
Model New York City Council gives high school students the opportunity to step into the shoes of a New York City Councilperson and experience city government from the inside. During four intensive Saturday sessions, CUNY faculty mentors will guide students through the ins and outs of political representation, the legislative process and what it means to be an active member of city government. The students then put their knowledge and experience to use as they debate and vote on a piece of legislation during a "stated meeting" in the Council's actual chambers in City Hall. This is a College Now program, so students must first apply to College Now.
Monroe College Jumpstart allows high school juniors and seniors to earn three college credits for free. In a 15- week course, the students study with professors in a college setting and earn credits. Courses are offered in accounting, business, criminal justice, culinary arts, allied health professions, hotel and restaurant management, marketing, web design, and information technology. Students who complete the program are eligible for freshman scholarships if they choose to matriculate to Monroe for college, and the credits are transferable for students who go elsewhere.
Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) is a Saturday Discovery program that helps 9th to 12th graders in math, science, and technology. Students explore math, science and technology careers; visit college campuses; and prepare and present reports of scientific explorations. Many colleges and universities throughout the city and state host a STEP program, often with their own particular area of focus, and students apply separately to each program. STEP is funded by the New York State Department of Education, and parents are expected to attend at least four meetings during the year and are welcome to attend trips. The program begins in October and ends in May.
Teens Take the City is a program of the YMCA of Greater New York through which 500 teens from all backgrounds get involved in local government, civics, and politics. The program is partly supported by the New York City Council, and each council member can nominate five students to participate.
The American Museum for Natural History offers more than 40 free after-school courses for high school students. Topics range from space exploration to the microscopic world of DNA and include classes in biodiversity, earth science, anthropology, genetics, and astronomy. Each course lasts for a five-week session and classes, which are held once or twice a week, usually include a field trip. The museum also offers scholarships and other programs for New York City students.
The Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP) is a highly selective program for high school students with exceptional talent in math and science. Acceptance is based upon recommendations, grades, and a three-hour examination. Students attend Saturday morning classes at Columbia throughout the academic year. Instructors are math and science researchers at the university.
The CUNY Creative Arts Team (CAT) Youth Theatre creates original productions from the ideas of its young members. They aim to amplify the collective voice of the group while creating social and culturally relevant theatre of the highest possible standard.
The Development School for Youth introduces students to the worlds of finance, culture, communications and other leading industries through a series of 16 weekly workshops led by senior executives from some of New York City's leading corporations and law firms. Students, who must be at least 16, also learn public speaking, how to dress for success, and how to write a resume. All students who graduate from the program are placed in paid summer internships provided by sponsoring companies.
The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University houses two educational programs serving low-income and first generation college-bound students: Talent Search, is a career and college counseling program for students in 7th through 12th grade, and Upward Bound, is an intensive, year-round college preparatory program for high school students who have been underperforming. New applicants to Upward Bound must be in the 9th or 10th grade.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers students a program of free classes held after school and on weekends. Both middle school and high school students study original works of art with museum instructors. Seniors attending New York City high schools may apply for a paid Saturday internship. Interns work behind the scenes, meet members of the museum staff, and participate in gallery, studio, and museum learning projects.
The New York Botanical Garden's Explainer Program accepts middle and high school students between the ages of 13 and 17 who want to learn about plants, nature, and science and who enjoy the outdoors. The program offers the opportunity to learn about plants, develop new skills, and receive personal mentoring. Explainers also help younger children who visit the Everett Children's Adventure Garden.
The North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO) is modeled after similar Linguistics Olympiads held in Eastern Europe. In these events middle school and high school age students learn to solve linguistic problems from dozens of the world's languages. In solving the problems, students learn about the richness and diversity of language, while exercising natural logic and reasoning skills. No prior knowledge of particular languages or of linguistics is necessary.
The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits, and trains student leaders from public high schools to form multicultural teams called "posses." These teams are then prepared, through an eight-month pre-collegiate training program, for enrollment at top-tier universities and colleges nationwide. The Posse Program has placed 1,850 students into colleges and universities during the past two decades.
United Neighborhood Houses has a complete list of neighborhood houses and community centers in New York City, many of which offer college counseling.
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High School and College Prep
