PROGRAMS | Postsecondary Pathways
Postsecondary Pathways
YDO delivers personalized, consistent, year-round advising to Lawrence high schoolers. Postsecondary Pathways is delivered in partnership with the Lawrence Public Schools. Embedded on the campus of Lawrence High School, YDO’s Pathways team provides juniors and seniors with expert education advising throughout the school year and summer.
ACCESS
The college process can be daunting, and most Pathways students are the first in their families to pursue a postsecondary degree. YDO offers guidance every step of the way: from building target college lists to writing essays, completing financial aid forms to submitting Early Decision applications, finding scholarships to appealing aid packages, liaising with college admissions decision makers to troubleshooting FAFSA forms, and building transfer plans from two- to four-year colleges to securing out-of-state medical insurance.
Pathways high school graduates are represented at 50+ institutions that are as diverse as they are, including:
| United States Air Force Brown University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Emory University Framingham State University Georgetown University Harvey Mudd College Job Corps Merrimack College Middlesex Community College Messina College Northeastern University | Northern Essex Community College Providence College National Aviation Academy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Simmons College Swarthmore CollegeTufts University University of Massachusetts University of Pennsylvania University of Southern California Wellesley College Westfield State University Yale University |
SUCCESS
We help students pursue postsecondary plans that are feasible and aligned with their goals. We spend a lot of time helping Pathways participants secure grants, scholarships, and other forms of aid that make obtaining a degree manageable, in the short and long term.
Every year, many students secure competitive local, regional, and national scholarships, including from the Posse Foundation and Questbridge programs, the Fidelity Scholars Program, Red Pine Scholars, and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Marian L. Heard Scholarship.
Getting into college is important, but persisting is critical. We remain a partner to students on campus, offering personalized assistance with a variety of needs, including financial aid negotiations, course selection, resident advisor applications, medical leave of absence coordination, resume development and interview prep, and fellowship applications.
“Seriously, I don’t know how anyone applies to college without this program.” – Pathways Grad, Merrimack College
“ I was worried I wouldn’t find a good fit for a school in time that was affordable, but Pathways helped find a perfect match for me within my budget.” – Pathways Grad, Framingham State University
“The whole team is like friends, academic advisors, counselors, mentors all in one! The help they offer you is specific to you and every aspect of your life.” – Pathways Grad, Carnegie Melon University