DHS College Prep Project

 

The Department of Homeless Services is committed to the educational success of students residing in shelter. The College Prep Project (CPP) was created to provide students with the tools and guidance they need to graduate high school, apply to college, and succeed upon arrival to campus. Over the course of an academic year, CPP makes accessing college preparation resources easier. Our project includes:

• Individualized guidance on essay writing, financial aid, scholarships, internships, and more
• College campus tours
• Assistance with the FAFSA application
• Trainings on diversity and healthy relationships
• Financial literacy instruction
• The Future Leaders Graduation Ceremony, where students who provide us with proof of college acceptance will be awarded a laptop

You can also download a brochure or a flyer. Check this space for upcoming CPP events and workshops. MetroCards and refreshments provided for all events.

RSVP is required for all events. Please include the event name and the student's name, email, and phone number.

Event	Description	Date	Time	RSVP
Healthy Relationships Workshop	What do we do if we witness domestic violence? And if we're the victims of it? Before heading off to college, the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence will teach us about dating violence and help us envision healthy relationships.	Wednesday, February 21, 2018	2:30 pm – 4 pm	Sign up for Healthy Relationships Workshop
Tour of NYU	NYU's urban campus in the heart of downtown Manhattan is home to an impressive educational institution. Join us to check it out.	Friday, February 23, 2018	2:30 pm – 4:30 pm	Sign up for Tour of NYU
Navigating Diversity	Beyond academics, college can be a challenging social space. NYU’s Center for Multicultural Educational Programming will guide us through a conversation about what diversity and inclusion mean at college.	Wednesday, February 28, 2018	4 pm – 6 pm	Sign up for Navigating Diversity
One-on-One Meetings	Have lingering questions not answered in a formal workshop setting? Sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a member of the CPP team.	Monday, March 5; Tuesday, March 6; and Wednesday, March 7, 2018	4 pm – 6 pm	Sign up for a 30-minute meeting
Financial Readiness Workshop	College can be expensive. Staff from Cents Ability will lead a two-part workshop on budgeting, and will offer tips on how to live affordably in a new, unfamiliar college environment.	Wednesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 14, 2018	4:30 pm – 7 pm	Sign up for Financial Readiness Workshop
Soup Kitchen Service Event	Help prepare and serve dinner to hundreds of New Yorkers at a soup kitchen that is a staple of the Greenwich Village community.	Saturday, March 10, 2018	10 am – 1 pm and 1 pm – 4 pm	Sign up for Soup Kitchen Service Event
Tour of Brooklyn College	While most CUNY campuses are urban, a few, like Brooklyn College, provide relaxing, picturesque green spaces. Join us to check it out, and learn about the academic programs the school offers.	Wednesday, April 4, 2018	2 pm – 3 pm	Sign up for Tour of Brooklyn College
Credible Messengers Panel	A panel of adults—experts of their own stories—share what their life challenges taught them about overcoming difficult circumstances.	TBD

View Previous Events

Documents Distributed During Past Events

• Career Readiness/Kickoff Workshop
  • 2017 HEOP EOP One-Pager
  • College Board Application Checklist
  • College Research Chart
  • College Wish List
  • DOE College Handbook
  • Identifying LGBTQI-Friendly Schools
  • Landscape Postsecondary Fundamentals
• Essay Writing Workshop
  • Asset Words for Effectively Conveying Strengths
  • Choosing a College Essay Topic
  • Essay Prompts for SUNY and Common Applicationt
  • Essays That Worked
  • Fair Test
  • The 8 Step Writing Process
  • The Dreaded First Line
  • Transitional Words and Phrases
• FAFSA
  • Useful Financial Aid Terms
  • Forms You Need to Complete FAFSA
  • FAFSA How-To Guide

Contact Us

• Send a message to DHS College Prep

Frequently Asked Questions

• Visit Our Question and Answer Board

Useful Documents and Guides

• College Planning Checklist
• CUNY Waiver Application for young parents, veterans, and individuals on Public Assistance
• Federal Student Aid
  • Learn more about applying for financial aid
  • FAFSA Self-Help Guide
  • Understanding the basics of what you are entitled to as a student living in shelter
• Applying to CUNY
  • Download the Applications Guide
  • To start your application, you must first create an account
  • Help Desk for Students
    • Email: admissions@cuny.edu
    • Phone: 212-997-CUNY (2869)
  • Email Macaulay Honors Desk
  • CUNY Info Sessions
    • Register for a CUNY Info Session
    • Register for a 1-on-1 Session with a CUNY Counselor
• Applying to SUNY
  • Learn about SUNY
  • Learn the best ways to apply to SUNY and which universities are right for you
  • Start your application or return to your current application

Inclusivity

The College Prep Project serves students who come from a range of backgrounds. As the program grows, we are working to make sure that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) students feel welcome at CPP workshops and events.

In practice, a commitment to inclusivity manifests in small but significant ways. Folders distributed to all students at every workshop will include specific resources for LGBTQI students, including an up-to-date list of available scholarships. Our conversations of diversity—in workshops facilitated by university experts and less formally, in daily exchanges—will be expanded beyond race and ethnicity, to recognize the full spectrum of identities and create spaces in which LGBTQI students can comfortably and safely apply to college.