Pre-College Institute Gets $3.6 Million

Graduating seniors from Castle Park High School with their Talent Search advisor, Fabian Escobedo.

The College of Education’s Pre-College Institute has recently received more than $3.6 million in federal grants to promote access to college and increase graduation rates of underserved students.

The Pre-College Institute will receive a Talent Search Mentoring grant of $240,000 each of the next five years, totaling $1.2 million. It will also get an Educational Talent Search of $487,680 a year through 2021. Both grants total $3,638,400 and are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education through its Higher Education Act of 1965.

“The faculty and staff are excited to receive a new and a continuation Talent Search grant,” said Dr. Cynthia Park, Director of the Pre-College Institute in the College of Education. “Our tutors and advisors are excited to continue their work at San Diego State and in selected low-income neighborhoods in San Diego County.”

This is the first year the Pre-College Institute has received the Talent Search Mentoring grant. The Institute has been getting the Educational Talent Search grant since 1991.

The two grants will be used to support the efforts of Talent Search Advising and Talent Search Service-learning staff and faculty at San Diego State University. Staff provides college advising and coaching to high school students. Also, trained SDSU undergraduate volunteers or work-study students provide in-class or after-school tutoring to students in five middle and eight high schools. The goal of high school advising and tutoring is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and attend and graduate from college.

Talent Search Advising also provides chaperoned visits to colleges and support in accessing scholarships and federal financial aid. Advisors work with students throughout high school to make sure they graduate on time, guide students through the college application process, help them fill out financial aid applications and to guide students after they are accepted to the college of their choice.

Talent Search Service-learning provides SDSU students as tutors in the math and science classrooms at the partner middle and high schools. Participating tutors receive college credit and early fieldwork experience.

Students wishing to be a part of the Pre-College Institute should email pathways@mail.sdsu.edu or call (619) 594-8626. All majors are welcome!