Educational Talent Search

Patricia Wolfe, Director

“T” Building

Corner of Market & Broad

Lynn, MA

pwolfe@northshore.edu

781-477-2114

Program Overview:

Educational Talent Search is a program which identifies ad assists individuals in grades six through twelve who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and have the potential to succeed in higher education. Talent Search provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to the postsecondary school of their choice. The program also serves high school dropouts by encouraging them to reenter the educational system and complete their education. The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in the postsecondary education of their choice. This goal is met through one on one advising by advisors located in the guidance departments of Classical High School, English High School and Lynn Vocational Technical Institute.  Services include:

Ø      Information on post-secondary education                                                         

Ø      Admissions application assistance

Ø      Financial aid information and application assistance

Ø      Career exploration and advising,

Ø      SAT prep classes in Math and English twice a year

Ø      College Success Seminars (2 per year) for Talent Search students in which students earn 3 college credits. The course involves a mentoring component working with children involved in Project YES.

Ø      College campus visits (approximately 10 per year), arranging days in which students are taken to two universities, a public and a private, and are exposed to college life.

Ø      Tutoring for those having difficulty in Math and/or English

Educational Talent Search serves 600 youth in Lynn. Talent Search serves students who meet this criteria:

Ø      Low income and/or Parent(s) did not graduate from a four-year college or university

Ø      Enrolled in sixth through twelfth grade or a high school drop-out

Ø      Has the potential to graduate from high school and continue on to higher education

Ø      U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Best Practices:          

Ø      Partners with other community organizations, such as Girls Inc. or RAW Arts, and My Turn in order to expand the youth and parental audience Educational Talent Search reaches.

Ø      Collaboration with high school guidance counselors and staff.

Ø      Links graduating seniors to sources of support within the institution they will attend.

Ø      Links graduating seniors to EOC for future services and support.

Ø      Works with sister program EOC to reach out to parents who would like to pursue higher education.

Areas of college access it addresses:

Academic Readiness—Talent Search’s SAT Math and English prep tutoring and College Success Seminar help prepare students for academic success in higher education

Financial Readiness—Talent Search provides services in form completion and information on federal, state, and other aid sources, as well as financial aid counseling.

College Information Awareness—By provide information on post-secondary education and exposing students to college campuses, Talent Search, meets students’ needs in terms of being informed on college options and college life.

Career Awareness – Assessment of interests and correlation to careers and programs of study.  Utilize assessment inventories and MyRoad program to help students map their futures.