Dream4College Project

Every spring we partner with local schools to inspire first generation to college 4th & 5th Grade students and help them discover that college is a real life option for them after high school.  Click here to learn more about sponsoring one of our students ($35).   Dream4College includes:

1. A college field trip to engage students with a taste of college life (dorm visit, etc) and to hear experiences of current college students (including Latino role models who have overcome cultural and economic challenges in order to attend college). Parents may also attend.
2. A parent education workshop to inform parents about opportunities, and enlist parents to support their child’s academic preparation for college during middle school, to put them on a path for college.
3. A college T-shirt from their sponsor's alma mater to inspire a college-going mentality.
4. Classroom-based College & Career activities – Various classroom-based activities (e.g., a humorous bilingual chapter book, Wiley’s Way written by students about college life) or college research to foster interest and familiarity with college. Also, a Career Exploration exercise to help students discover new possibilities for their future.

2013 Dream4College Dates at Stanford University:

• May 7 - San Miguel Elementary & Gateway (Sunnyvale)
  
• May 13 - Castro Elementary (Mountain View)
• May 17 - Bishop Elementary (Sunnyvale)
• May 20 - Monta Loma Elementary (Mountain View)
  

Background – The Need
Our Dream for College Project inspires and educates “first generation to college” 4th & 5th grade students and their parents about the life opportunities higher education provides. Many low income and minority youth have no expectations of attending college because their parents and other family members did not have this opportunity, and because there is pressure to begin working immediately to help the family. Dream for College brings students, parents and educators together to change this mindset by creating a “college-going culture” at home and school as students transition to middle school and begin making decisions that will affect their eligibility for college. Research has shown that strong, positive parent and peer influences greatly increase the chance of college enrollment for low-income and minority youth. 

The U.S. Department of Education recommends that students begin planning for college by sixth grade. The reality for low-income students is that discussing college and creating high educational aspirations must start earlier.  Dream for College is an inspirational and educational program, for low income 5th grade students about to enter Junior High School where their decisions will impact whether or not they have a chance for college. It is designed to get “first generation to college” students and their parents thinking and talking about their academic futures.