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College and
Career Readiness

The Office of Civic Engagement's college and career readiness programs prepare Chicago public high school students to gain admission to, pay for, and thrive in college and excel in future careers.  The programs provide free support to more than 200 students annually.

Collegiate Scholars Program

The Collegiate Scholars Program prepares talented Chicago Public Schools students from diverse backgrounds for admission and success at highly selective colleges and universities through faculty- and graduate student-taught courses, college readiness resources, financial aid workshops, and more.

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South Side College and Career Catalyst Program

The South Side College and Career Catalyst Program provides student development support, college and career exploration activities, and educational opportunities to prepare Chicago public high school students to succeed in college and future careers.

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Space Explorers Program

The Space Explorers Program, offered by the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics in partnership with the Office of Civic Engagement, gives Chicago public high school students the opportunity to engage with college-level math and science course work; interact with astronomers, physicists, University faculty, students, and labs; and develop skills for high school, college, and beyond.

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UChicago Youth Internship Program

The Youth Internship Program is a paid, two-summer employment opportunity for South Side Chicago public high school students that provides work experience, mentorship, and college and career readiness programming.

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Profiles
Kana Hutchins
Kana Hutchens
Collegiate Scholars Program

When Kana Hutchens first saw the University of Chicago's Collegiate Scholars Program (CSP) mentioned in her high school newsletter, she knew immediately she had to apply.

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Devin Funches
Devin Funches
South Side College and Career Catalyst Program

When Devin Funches first explored college applications during his sophomore year at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep Academy, the process felt overwhelming and unclear. A first-generation college stud...

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Ethan Sitzes
Ethan Sitzes
Collegiate Scholars Program

When Ethan Sitzes first heard about behavioral science during his sophomore year at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, the field wasn't on his radar. But after attending a University of Chicago C...

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Teniola Ajagbe
Teniola Ajagbe
Space Explorers Program

Teniola Ajagbe decided she wanted to go to space at age nine. Now a senior at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep, Ajagbe was inspired by watching “Hidden Figures”—the based-on-a-true-story movie about t...

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Eleshaday Mengiste
Eleshaday Mengiste
Collegiate Scholars Program

After taking part in the UChicago Collegiate Scholars Program's many career exploration workshops, high school senior Eleshaday Mengiste's committed to keeping an open mind about her career path when she sets off for Harvard in the fall.

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Jae'Lyn Prewitt
Jae’Lyn Prewitt
Youth Internship Program

After spending her summer at the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago on the University of Chicago’s campus as part of UChicago’s Youth Internship Program (YIP), Jae’Lyn Prewitt says she's more open to asking questions and confident for college.

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