Program

Personalized College Prep for Talented Low-Income Students

We focus exclusively on low-income students with strong academic records at participating high schools. Our students are eager—they’ve already jumped through many hoops to get this far in their high school careers.

The College Match Process

Get Accepted

  • Get a vision for college
  • Personalized counseling
  • SAT Prep
  • Tutoring as needed
  • Individual attention
  • College visits (up to 50)
  • Help with college applications
  • Help with writing essays
  • Regular contact with admissions offices to advocate for students

Get Funding

  • Help with financial aid applications
  • Help with scholarship applications
  • Help with other college expenses, like a laptop computer, supplies like linens or a warm winter jackets, airfare, when needed

Get Your Diploma

  • College Success Day program for students and parents
  • Ongoing check-ins throughout college
  • Support to help you make it through

Congratulations!

Our alumni believe so strongly in our services that they often return to help new students through the process.

Get Involved

How We Do It

Partnerships with High Schools

We have a selective screening process for schools and students.

  • We have 31 partner high schools – we only choose schools that are ready for us
  • School counselors identify high-achieving students during their first semester of junior year
  • Students apply to join College Match – we evaluate based on their application, essay, interview and income verification

Relationships with Colleges & Universities

Many college admissions officers know about College Match and have already seen our students thrive at their schools. Every year we personally contact every school that every student applies to and advocate on their behalf.

  • Phone calls and letters to every school; our recommendations are trusted and respected
  • Close relationships with key admissions staff in at least 50 colleges across the country
  • College Match is a pre-loaded, drop-down selection the Common Application when they ask students to identify a community organization that has worked with them

Side-by-Side with Students

College Match provides much more intensive one-on-one services than most other programs. We develop an individual strategy for each student.

Intensive College Prep Starting Junior Year of High School
  • All-expenses-paid college campus visits across the country
  • Access to small group intensive SAT preparation and 1:1 academic tutoring with teachers/independent contractors (not SAT factory instructors)
  • Additional one-on-one tutoring as needed
  • Intensive summer workshops to get ready for college applications
  • Continued SAT prep during 1st semester of senior year

 

 

Mentors Who Are Deeply Invested in Student Success

  • College counselors adopt a cohort of 10-20 students, side-by-side with students through the entire process from junior year preparations to senior year applications and beyond
  • Personal attention to help with all applications and essays, and the financial aid process
  • Individualized advice to help each student choose the best schools
  • Mentoring and counsel that continues informally through college, as desired

Participating High Schools

  • Alliance ESAT
  • Alliance Gertz-Ressler
  • Alliance Mohan
  • Alliance Ouchi
  • Alliance Stern MASS
  • Ánimo Inglewood
  • Ánimo Jackie Robinson
  • Ánimo Leadership
  • Ánimo Oscar de la Hoya
  • Bell
  • Bravo Medical Magnet
  • Camino Nuevo Dalzell Lance
  • Camino Nuevo Miramar
  • The Downtown Magnets
  • Eagle Rock
  • Environmental Charter High School
  • Franklin
  • Green Steam Academy
  • The International Studies
  • James A. Garfield
  • King Drew Magnet
  • LACES
  • Larchmont
  • Manual Arts
  • Mendez
  • NAVA College Prep
  • Santee
  • Steam Legacy
  • West Adams
  • Wilson
  • Verbum Dei
70%

70% of College Match graduates are admitted into a Top-25 college or university.


95%

95% of College Match graduates are admitted into a Top-50 college or university.

College Match could not exist without the generous and enthusiastic support of so many dedicated donors and volunteers.

If you would like to make a contribution to College Match, THANK YOU! No amount is too small, and all contributions are cherished.

You Can Help!

Donate Volunteer

"Wow! Congratulations. If there were a Nobel Prize for college admissions, you'd be a shoo-in."

– Edward B. Fiske Former Education Editor of The New York Times and Author of The Fiske Guide to Colleges

"You believed in us so much that we finally began believing in ourselves."

– Rosa Avila Yale, OB/GYN, Mercy Hospital & Medical Center Chicago

"College Match is one of the top college access programs in the country. You make a positive difference in the lives of a lot of deserving kids."

– David Borus Former Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Vassar College

"I went from Jordan High School [in Watts] to standing next to a member of the Supreme Court."

– Antonio Ingram Yale & Berkeley Law — Morrison & Foerster, Federal Judicial Clerkship, Government of Malawi

"Just spectacular. So many people we know are talk, talk, talking. You are doing. What a powerful impact you are having-changing the lives of so many young people. Just think where most of them would be were it not for you and your work."

– Arnie Miller Former Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office

"College Match is a network for students to connect with one another and strive for their dreams together."

– Rudy Torres Brown University

"It is clear that you are doing extremely important work to enable these young people to realize their potential. Nothing could be more important. Keep it going."

– Bill George Former CEO of Medtronic and the author of the best selling book, True North, which focuses on outstanding leadership

"I will be graduating from Columbia Law School and hope to make contributions to improving the wellbeing of low-income minority communities through looking at disparities in public health."

– Jennifer Anderson Columbia Law School

"Exceptionally impressive."

– Mel Levine Former United States Congressman

"College Match is doing the work that is so essential to youngsters with talent who need a staircase more than a step to reach their educational goals."

– Shirley M. Hufstedler Former U. S. Secretary of Education

"I want to commend you on the work you are doing with students in the Los Angeles area. It is work that is definitely needed."

– Mike Krzyzewski Head Basketball Coach at Duke University and U. S. Olympic Coach

"Your record is simply incredible. We watch with great admiration as College Match offers a pathway for so many young people to realize their potential. Your vision and record are truly inspirational."

– Bill Corr Former Deputy Secretary, Federal Dept. Of Health and Human Services