College Orientation Program

The College Orientation Program is designed to support and advance young men in high school who desire to succeed in college and beyond.  The program guides and motivates students through the college matching and acceptance process with character development, academic enrichment, career and professional exploration, college readiness activities, individual advising, summer apprenticeships, and internships.  The participation of students’ parents, through attendance at seminars, presentations and advising meetings, is a fundamental expectation of the program.

Contact:

Felipe Mejia
College Orientation Program Manager
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773-292-2663

School Year Details:

Students in the school year program participate in: 
(1) Academic Enrichment
(2) College Readiness
(3) Professional Development Clubs

 

Academic Enrichment is provided to Midtown students through classes in study skills, life skills, ACT, Math, Science, and Reading, and college preparation seminars.  The purpose of these classes is to help students master fundamental principles as well as the analytical and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success in high school, college and professional life.  There is an additional focus on preparation for the academic and standardized tests that students will encounter throughout their college preparatory years.

 

The College Readiness aspect of the program features student visits to colleges and universities as well as participation in college fairs.  In addition, through regular presentations and seminars, Midtown aims to familiarize parents and students with the college selection, application and funding processes.

Professional Development Clubs are student directed classes designed so that through hands-on projects, students can develop leadership skills, a spirit of teamwork, and genuine friendships among fellow students.  The clubs provide students with a strong academic foundation in specific fields of study like Photojournalism, Industrial Design, Computer Hardware, Business/Entrepreneurship, and Suzlon Wind Energy.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
All students attend twice a week:  Mondays (6:00-9:00pm) and Tuesdays (5:30-9:00pm). Saturdays (10:00am-1:00pm) are optional. Students participate in academic enrichment, college readiness, and professional development clubs as described above, in addition to Character Education and individual mentoring with the same coach each week.

Summer Program Details:

Students enrolled in the summer can participate in three ways, depending upon their age and interests:
(1) The Freshmen Program
(2) Apprenticeships
(3) Internships

 Click here to view our complete SUMMER PROGRAM CALENDAR & SCHEDULE
 

The Freshmen Program prepares students for the academic demands and personal responsibilities they will encounter when they begin high school in the fall.  Classes offered in the program are not remedial; rather, they contain challenging material that is present in high school curricula.  Morning classes are followed by student participation in an afternoon sports league.

GRADE: Entering 9th graders (freshmen)
WHEN: Monday-Friday (weekdays)
DATES: June 28 - August 7
TIME: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
COST: Total cost of program is $275 for 6 weeks

Apprenticeships are hands-on programs in which students learn marketable skills from professionals in specialized fields.  Apprentices demonstrate their acquired skills by producing final projects.  They also develop the critical thinking and decision-making skills they will need to excel in the workplace.  Apprenticeships are open to incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors and are offered in Journalism, Architecture, and Business.

GRADE: Entering 10th, 11th, & 12th graders (sophomores, juniors, and seniors)
WHEN: Monday-Friday (weekdays)
DATES: June 21 - August 7
TIME: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Internships are highly competitive paid positions for motivated students who have typically exhibited dedication to Midtown as students in previous years.  Interns develop leadership skills and also expand their spirit of service and community responsibility.  Eligible candidates must at least be an incoming high school senior. Please contact the College Orientation Program manager for specific internship opportunities and job descriptions.

GRADE: Entering 12th graders (high school seniors) & college-age students
WHEN: Monday-Friday (weekdays)
DATES: June 22 - August 7
TIME: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
COST: No cost. This is a paid internship position. Students will receive a stipend.

Volunteer

We rely on the generous donation of time from people like you to make our programs happen.  Please consider donating you time to some inner-city kids that really need your help and guidance.  Visit our Midtown Volunteers page for more information and to download an application.