Schedule
You’ll attend classes after school and three Saturdays a month during the school year. Over the summer, classes are five days a week, Monday-Friday, for five weeks. You’ll also be participating in exciting Summer Enrichment Programs!
SEO Scholars High School Program
Everything you need to get to and through college.
What it is
Our Scholars program starts with high school and is designed to help students succeed — both in the classroom and beyond. Through a challenging academic curriculum and lots of personal support, you’ll build confidence, critical thinking skills, and get the quality preparation you need for college admissions and scholarships. We’re here for students and families every step of the way, making sure you have the tools and guidance you need to reach your goals.
SEO Scholars is available in four locations: New York City and San Francisco feature an in person curriculum, while North Carolina and Miami are hybrid.
It won’t be easy,
but it will be worth it
Beginning your freshman year of high school, your dedication and commitment are paramount. You’ll attend classes after school, on Saturdays, and over the summer. We know it’s a lot, but ask any Scholar and they’ll tell you this hard work pays off when you’re admitted to a competitive college or university, usually with a significant scholarship.
100%
of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges
85%
of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree
80%
of Scholars are first-generation college graduates
80%
of Scholars attend schools ranked as top-100 in U.S. News & World Report
How it works
If you’re reading this, you probably feel like you want more out of your public school experience. By committing to the rigorous supplemental education and support system SEO provides, our Scholars close learning gaps and make their way to — and through — college successfully.
Sample schedule
- Check your region for exact days and times.
- Saturday Academy: 8:30-4:30, 3 Saturdays a month
- Weekday Programming: 4:30-6:30, one-two afternoons a week
- Summer Academy: 8:30-4:30, five weeks over the summer*
Qualifications
For complete requirements and to apply, check your specific location:
“SEO taught me the value and importance of community. Without my strong community of support, I wouldn’t have been able to thrive in new spaces. I am forever grateful for the endless love and support SEO has provided me!”
Angie Leon SEO Scholars NYC High School Class of 2019, CUNY Baruch Class of 2023
“SEO taught me to put my hat in the ring for everything I think I can do and not to be discouraged by the amount of rejections I receive! I’m the measurer of my own successes and won’t let rejections define me because what’s made for me will come to me.”
Mikayle Despaigne SEO Scholars ‘23, Smith College, Posse Scholarship Program
“SEO is different because it doesn’t just prepare you to graduate; it prepares you for life. It prepares you for your career and builds the skills you need to be successful in real life.”
Justina Bethune SEO Scholar ‘16, BA Ithaca College, MA Cornell University, Housing Consultant, NYCHA
“SEO Scholars has taught me to never be afraid to try new things. I’m looking forward to a summer of research in the Biology and Environmental Sciences Department, stepping out of my comfort zone and learning more about marine organisms and their behaviors!”
Kemeria Barnett SEO Scholars ‘23, Muhlenberg College
What you get
Beginning your freshman year, you’ll dive right into our comprehensive curriculum, mentorship, and individualized guidance designed to ensure you’re admitted to a competitive college and have the best experience there.
After-school instruction and tutoring:
Weekly after school programming that includes tutoring support, community building, and learning.
Saturday Academy:
Three Saturdays a month, during the academic year, you’ll get a full day of rigorous and comprehensive curriculum in reading, writing, grammar, and math. Classes are discussion-based and mimic college courses.
Summer Academy:
At our five-week-long Summer Academy classes are hybrid and run Monday through Friday so students maintain academic readiness over the summer.
SAT strategy course:
Saturday Academy continues through 11th grade, concluding in an SAT strategy course in the spring.
Mentoring:
You’ll work one-on-one with highly-skilled volunteer mentors throughout your Junior year. Interested in mentoring a mentor? Visit our Mentor page.
Summer Enrichment Programs (EPs):
participate in EPs that promote leadership and independence — including travel abroad, experiential programs, college courses, and professional internships.
Dual Enrollment / Community College Courses:
New York and San Francisco students have the opportunity to enroll in college courses with NEON (National Education Opportunity Network).
Learn more about our Summer Enrichment Programs.
College applications and financial aid:
With the guidance of our college admissions team, you’ll visit campuses, meet with admissions officers, and receive personalized essay writing assistance. You’ll also get one-on-one counseling and support in applying for scholarships and financial aid so you can attend the best school you’re accepted to, regardless of family income level.
To learn more about the high school Scholars curriculum, check out our Curriculum page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for more information?
Check out our FAQ for deeper answers to the most common questions.
At SEO, there’s no one way to be a Scholar — it looks different for every individual, and we value the unique perspective each Scholar brings to our community. Our Scholars share a love of learning, they have big goals for themselves, and they know that the kind of success they strive for means committing to their future starting in ninth grade.
Nearly 80% of students in remedial courses in college had a high school GPA of ‘B’ or higher, according to Strong American Schools’ report, Diploma to Nowhere. This means that even the higher-performing public school students aren’t nearly as prepared as their counterparts in more affluent school districts for college. SEO Scholars concentrates on providing the academic enrichment that urban public school students need to be admitted to and graduate from competitive universities.
SEO Scholars is a free program! Everything we provide to our Scholars is free, including but not limited to academic classes, SAT prep, field trips, guest speaker sessions, Enrichment Programs (pre-college, study abroad, or internship), etc.
We concentrate on English Language Arts (Grammar, Critical Reading, and Critical Writing) and Math. In the spring of junior year, all students attend free SAT prep classes given by highly trained SAT prep instructors.
SEO Scholars recognize that success in college means preparing in high school. As an SEO Scholar, you can expect to attend programming at the following times*:
- Saturday Academy: 8:30-4:30, 3 Saturdays a month
- Weekday Programming: 4:30-6:30, one afternoon a week
- Summer Academy: 8:30-4:30, five weeks over the summer
*Sample schedule. Check your location for up to date days and times.
Scholars experience the most academic growth in the summers and return to school primed for the next grade. Since learning can slow during the summer, our program ensures you retain and grow your knowledge for the next school year. Summer is also a crucial time for building relationships with fellow Scholars and SEO team members, and provides meaningful college and career exposure opportunities as well.
Yes! This is an exciting journey, and we encourage parents to be as active as possible. SEO partners with parents to give your child what they need to matriculate and graduate from college. This includes, but isn’t limited to, having you participate in orientation, attend annual meetings, and more.
We look for driven and eager students who are willing to put in the extra time and effort to succeed academically. In addition, we know that a college education can have the greatest long-term impact on lower income families. Therefore, we do not make admissions decisions based solely on income, but we do consider this factor in our deliberation process.
Financial eligibility is assessed on a case by case basis. While financials are evaluated alongside all parts of each students’ application, SEO Scholars have an average income of $40,000.
Application requirements differ by location, so please check your region for the most up to date information.
SEO Scholars is NOT a college access program, it’s a college success program. SEO Scholars MUST commit to the full eight years which includes high school and college participation. SEO Scholars differs from other programs in two major ways:
- In high school
- We provide an engaging and challenging college preparatory curriculum in addition to an array of other services, including SAT prep, college trips, college admissions advising, and scholarship and financial aid services. This academic programming makes a huge difference to our Scholars’ success on the SAT and in college admissions. Our Scholars also enter college ready to succeed.
- In college
- Scholars receive 1:1 ongoing support from a College Persistence Advisor through college graduation. This includes support with college adjustment, academic advising, and career advising, internships, etc. Career readiness workshops are provided during college vacations.
- Our outcomes demonstrate the success of this approach. 100% of SEO Scholars are admitted to college and 85% of SEO Scholars graduate, a rate higher than the national average for all college students (~60%) and dramatically higher than the average for students from similar backgrounds (20%).
No. We’re committed to getting students academically prepared for college, which makes them more likely to earn admission to competitive schools and to earn financial awards like scholarships and grants. The SEO Scholars program assists students in navigating the college admissions, scholarship, and financial aid processes with the goal that they’ll attend a good college without incurring large debts. In the end, however, the student’s effort and commitment is what will determine their admission to colleges as well as their scholarships and/or financial aid packages.
Highly-trained College Persistence Advisors (CPAs) — masters-level educated with a background in either social work or education — provide you with meaningful support throughout your college career. The impact is powerful, with an 85% college graduation rate.
The SEO Scholars program serves
1,200+
Scholars in college
attending 180+
colleges and universities
in 30+
different states
Learn more
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