Navigating college admissions isn’t easy, especially if you don’t have much support at home or if you’re the first in your family to go to college.
That’s where Community-Based Organizations, also known as CBOs, can help.
CBOs come in lots of shapes and sizes, but there is a particular category of CBOs that focuses on college admissions. These organizations support students from different backgrounds through the college admissions process. They often have mentors who can guide your course selection, college list building, and application creation.
In this post, I’ll give you the rundown on CBOs and tell you how to find one you might be eligible for.
What is a CBO?
CBOs are nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving their communities. In the realm of college admissions, CBOs often operate within schools or partner with academic institutions to provide free educational resources for students.
They supplement the services provided by less-resourced high schools by giving students an extra support system through the process. Overall, CBOs can be a vital resource for many college applicants.
What kinds of CBOs are there?
There's a range of college-focused CBOs out there, and each kind caters to specific needs.
Organizations like College Possible and different kinds of TRIO programs can operate directly within high schools to bridge the gap between students, school counselors, and colleges.
Others collaborate closely with universities, like the University of Washington Upward Bound program, serving as a link between the college and high school environment.
Some CBOs go throughout the academic year, but some also offer intensive summer programs to help you develop certain skills, like research, over the summer.
Other CBOs even cater to particular disciplines. For example, the STEM Upward Bound program at the University of Washington is tailored to students with an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
