College Bound Program

Overview 

The College Bound program is designed to help high-need high schools students overcome the barriers to collegiate success.  Going beyond traditional financial aid, the College Bound program helps students get into college,  helps them graduate, and then helps them transition into successful careers. 

Selection

Selection for this competive scholarship comes in a student's junior year of high school.  Applications are due by March 3rd of the year in which the student is applying, and decisions are made by June.  The decision process includes a review of the application and a round of personal interviews for selected students.  To see if you are eligible, read the "FAQ - Am I Eligible?"

Phase One:

"Launch the Future" Plan - Senior Year of High School

After being selected, students officially enter the College Bound program the summer before their senior year of high school.  In July, all entering College Bound students go on a weekend retreat to a local college campus and prepare to begin the "Launch the Future"  plan designed by Scholarship Chicago for their senior year.  This program includes monthy workshops, a personal College Consultant mentor for each student, and numerous social networking events.  After completing this program, nearly all of our students are admitted to the college of their choice, often with excellent financial aid packages, and all are well prepared to make the transition to high education. To read more about the "Launch the Future" program, click here: Launch the Future

Phase Two:

Freshman and Sophmore Years of College

In their first two years of college our scholars are assigned with a peer mentor, have exclusive opportunities at summer internships, participate in career planning activities, and receive merit financial scholarship of $1,250 a year.   Students are required to keep in close contact with Scholarship Chicago, and all of our resources are available to help them ease the transition into college and make important decisions about their future.

Phase Three:

Junior and Senior Years of College

In their last two years of college our scholars still receive all of the same programming from their first two years, but the emphasis changes to career planning.  We strongly encourage students to apply for our exclusive summer internships and we offer a number of career networking events in order to help them land a job in the profession of their choice.

Alumni

We are constantly seeking to reconnect with our alumni.  If you were a former participant in the College Bound program please let us know by sending an email to chischolars@nuveen.com or using the Contact Us section of our site.