College & Career Services
College Services
With a dedicated staff of college advisors, CDI has developed a college culture that begins from a student’s first day at MC. We have found that students who are engaged in planning their futures while in high school, are more successful once they’ve graduated. CDI offers college workshops to students and family and provides advisement to make sure that each student gets information about college opportunities. We provide one-on-one support at every step of the college exploration process, from writing admissions essays, SAT-prep, college visits and help with applications. CDI support doesn’t end after graduation – we continue the relationship with our students once they have graduated through our Life Link Program.
Helping At-Risk Students go to College
In the past two years 72% of MC-CDI graduates were accepted to college. Our students are also well prepared for college once they get there – over 80% stay in college past freshmen year, a retention rate that is far greater than the national average for at-risk students. MC-CDI graduates have recently been accepted at: SUNY, CUNY, Brandeis, Mt. Holyoke College, Skidmore College, Syracuse University, Union College, Barnard College, NYU, University of Rochester, Macalester College, St. Lawrence University, Boston College, St. John’s University, Polytechnic University, Clarkson University and others.
We’re not just helping students get into college, we’re helping them afford it too. Our college team helps students apply for financial aid and scholarships to make attending college a reality. MC-CDI students received nearly $2 million in college scholarships and financial aid in 2010-2011. They have also received prestigious scholarships, including: The Gates Millennium Scholarship, The Posse Foundation Scholarship, The APISF Scholarship, The Albert Shanker College Scholarship, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship, and Scholarship Plus.
Career Services
The unemployment rate for young adults without a high school diploma is a staggering 33%. And for those with only a high school diploma, the unemployment rate is 22% compared to 9% for college graduates their age. Whether graduating students enter the workforce directly or choose to go to college first, all our students will be seeking employment in the not-too-distant future. CDI’s career advisors work closely with the college team and MC’s guidance counselors to help all students develop plans for life after graduation and meet their college and career goals.
Intensive Internships and Career Readiness and Exploration
We help hundreds of students each year through one-on-one career planning sessions and employment readiness workshops. In 2010-2011, CDI placed nearly 200 students in paid internships that integrated work experience with employment readiness training. Whenever possible, CDI even helps students secure their first jobs. These intensive internships are possible through our service provider and internship partners, such as Rockefeller University, The Cooper Union, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Solar One.
