Beginning in junior or senior year of high school, students visit our offices to begin meeting with a Bottom Line advisor. They share with us their interests, aspirations, academic history, and family circumstances. Through a series of one-on-one meetings, Bottom Line's full-time college advisors help each high school senior navigate the complex and intimidating college application process.
Services
While the services Bottom Line provides differ depending on individual needs, our advisor always help students:
- Build a balanced college list
- Brainstorm, write, and revise essays
- Submit college applications on time
- Apply for financial aid
- Search for scholarships
- Review financial aid packages
- Resolve any problems that arise
- Select a college that is a good match based on affordability and student fit
Unique Approach
Our program stands out because of our personalized, one-on-one approach, our thorough understanding of the application process, and our focus on matching students to a school where they can and will be successful. Through our support of students in college, we have gained a unique and invaluable understanding of where students will thrive academically, receive adequate financial aid, and fit into the college culture. With this knowledge, making the right college match is the first step on our students' path to success.
Bottom Line provides personalized support outside of school hours at one of our community-based offices or over video chat. We work with students to find the right college that will give them the best chance to succeed once they arrive on campus.
During the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year.
Bottom Line's programs focus on what we do best: helping students get in to college and graduate. We do not provide any college preparatory programming but instead work with students who are already in good academic standing and want to go to college. However, we maintain relationships with other organizations that provide college preparatory programming and cross-refer students as appropriate.
Bottom Line focuses on students from Boston, New York City and Chicago who are from low-income households and in the first generation of their family to earn a Bachelor's degree. Although there is no specific minimum GPA, students must be academically eligible to attend a four-year college.
On average, Bottom Line has 10 one-hour meetings with each high school senior. Usually there are 6-7 meetings during the summer and fall, and 3 or 4 more between January and May. Over the year, students may meet with their advisors more or less often depending on their individual needs.
If your student or child is eligible for our program, they can fill out an application and someone from our staff should be in touch with them shortly.
Parent involvement is not a requirement or focus of Bottom Line's programs. Parents can be as involved or uninvolved as they choose. However, parents and guardians are typically called upon during the financial aid application process to provide important tax information.
Students typically hear about our programs through word of mouth: from their friends, family, classmates, and school counselors. Other community-based organizations also refer students to Bottom Line.