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Jenna Cassoli
Boston Community Leadership Academy + Wheelock College

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Psychology & Community Health, Tufts University, 2008

Why did you join the College Advising Corps? I saw this position as a really great opportunity to make a difference right here at home in Boston. I wanted to work with youth, and I knew I could share my own experiences with applying to college with them. There are too many smart students who are not able to go to college because they can't pay or because they do not know how to apply. The statistics on college access are so disappointing, and the College Advising Corps is a chance to change that.

How are individual students affected by this program? Students are given very focused attention, as the bulk of our work is individual advising. In addition to their teachers and guidance counselors, they know that someone really cares about their future--specifically their future education. They are exposed to more information about college and learn how to choose a school that fits them personally. Then they are given as much help as they request on their application process.

Why is it important to create a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? High school students need to be exposed to campus life so that they can get excited to apply to and to go to college. A college admissions office may also receive candidates from their partner high school, whom they would know better than the typical applicant.

What are the benefits of creating a relationship between high schools and college campuses/secondary schools and higher education? A partnership with higher education provides resources for the high school: access to college level coursework, introduction to college students, a direct connection to an admissions office, and funding. The college campus also gets its name out, which can be very helpful for recruiting.

How is your greater school community affected by this program? Before I came to BCLA, they already had an atmosphere which encouraged enrollment in higher education. On the first day of school, students are welcomed into their college preparation process. The College Advising Corps adds a resource and an outlet for this preparation--the students have someone to ask their questions to, someone to sit with for a longer period of time, and someone who is there for the purpose of college access only.

Why should there be so much emphasis on college access and the opportunity for higher education? I try to tell my students that they can do anything they want to in college. The resources on a campus allow them to take classes they are truly interested in, work on real research, intern at organizations that matter to them, develop their own projects that they enjoy, and attend countless events that are separate from academics. They can truly find themselves and what they want to do. And with a college degree, they have access to that job they really want, and the ability to be paid significantly more than they would be with a high school diploma.