Let’s Get Ready… for College A Year Later

Our Let’s Get Ready! SAT Prep Pilot Cohort graduated on June 28. I journey back to when this program was in its concept stage. I am fortunate to be part of their milestone. From the Let’s Get Ready! Executive Director speaking to the Community School Team about his proposal, to actually rolling up our sleeves speaking to students one-on-one about the program, I reflect and realize the huge impact this opportunity has had on our students.

Our 64-student cohort emphasized that Long Island City High School is ready to bring college and career readiness to life for free. Above: Michelle Makabali with Jane Rivers*, LICHS graduate and former Let’s Get Ready student This program was more than an SAT Prep Program, this was more than sitting in evening classes for 9 weeks, more than the actual exam. This program set high expectations and an experience that shifted the mindset of our young people to letting them know that this opportunity does truly exist for them. One of our graduating seniors reminded me about how daunting it was to even talk about college but to then have a real-life on campus experience visiting SUNY Stony Brook.

Regardless of where they choose to attend, our young adults are leaving with a tool kit about what post-secondary options are and what they need to do to thrive in that environment. It has been a wonderful experience to see the students become more savvy with the FAFSA lingo, self-regulating themselves about their attendance to classes, advocating for their own needs, and speaking to their younger peers about what life looks like as a senior. There is no perfect recipe for College and Career readiness, however I know firsthand this program works and the Zone 126 team will keep working word to making this a premier program for the future.