Our Story
For the last five decades, the Office of Special Programs-College Prep has helped more than 4000 low-income, academically challenged, and potential first-generation college students prepare for and complete high school and higher education.
Comments
In honor of National Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, we are highlighting different institutions' mental health resources. We know that access to mental health care is sometimes hard to come by for BIPOC communities. That is why it is important to know what tuition-covered resources are available on campus.
Looking to improve your SAT score and your chances of getting into your dream school? Well, look no further! The Office of Special Programs - College Prep provides many different resources and tools to prepare for the SAT. These resources and tools cut across all learning styles and needs. Swipe for more information!
A core activity of OSP programming is to provide college access tools and resources to high school students. However, the journey towards a successful postsecondary education requires an investment of additional time to complete individual research. Swipe to see how you can do this using College Access social media accounts.
Being a first generation and/or low-income college student comes with a unique set of challenges that can impact your ability to graduate in four years. However, many post-secondary institutions have recognized this and have made a commitment to provide resources and services that support these students. Swipe to see some of the options available at different institutions!
Ryan Wong, Class of 2021, has demonstrated great leadership as an OSP program participant. He will be attending Northwestern University this fall to study engineering.
He plans to explore the intersection between computer science and other S.T.E.M. fields and eventually pursue a career in software development or academic research.”
“The summer and winter institutes!”, were his favorite OSP activities.” I always enjoy working alongside some of my closest friends and learning from students from UChicago. It’s also really fun to relax and play video games, board games, and trivia at UChicago and FermiLab.”
Ryan confided “The most valuable lesson I’ve learned at OSP is to cherish the diverse interests and backgrounds that other students bring. Many of the students and people that I have met through OSP have offered new perspectives that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere in my life.”
His advice to incoming OSP students: “The only thing you are limited by is your desire to improve, so take advantage of all possible opportunities that the OSP has to offer, whether that be tutoring, Saturday Academy, or Summer Academy. The OSP team and their partners are more than willing and capable of supporting any academic passions that you may have.”
July is National Purposeful Parenting Month! We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge all of the parents and guardians that support and encourage their students to reach their fullest potential. You are appreciated!
This week's Instructor Spotlight is Nathan Brandford. This will be Nathan's second year teaching OSP classes. He consistently shows his enthusiam for engaging students and sharing diverse perspectives. Read his full story through the link in our bio.
🚨 Calling all students participating in Summer Academy 🚨From July 2-6, classes we will be suspended for the July 4th holiday. Enjoy your break, have fun, and be safe!
As we mentioned in prior posts, OSP created a Yearbook to highlight student achievements and program participation. This post will highlight students from the Class of 2022! Class of 2022, do you spot yourself?
Read our instructor spotlight on Isabela Scott. A new addition to the OSP Smart Start summer instructional staff and excited to hit the ground running. Instructional staff share a common goal; to help students learn practical strategies for answering questions. Isabella will focus attention and advise on math questions that often appear on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. Read the full story in the link in our bio!
Jacob Padilla, Class of 2021, was previously featured on our Instagram page highlighting his selection as a Posse full-ride scholarship recipient to DePauw University (). Jacob is not sure what major he will pursue. For now he’s leaning towards research in the field of biotechnology.
Reflecting on his favorite OSP activities, he talked about some that stand out in his memory: “I am honored to say I was a part of the Atlanta, West Coast, and East Coast college tours. They showed me that there are other viable options outside of the Midwest. I thoroughly enjoyed OSP's writing classes, as they have allowed me to improve my writing. I also am extremely grateful for the OSP Posse class, as it positioned me to earn the Scholarship to DePauw.”
🚨STUDENTS ATTENDING SUMMER ACADEMY🚨 Please check your email for Canvas notifications. You must accept them in order to gain access to the course online.