College Planning Workshops

The Sebastopol Grange is launching a College Access Program (CAP), which offers free college planning workshops and individualized counseling scholarships to West Sonoma County high school students. The focus is on first-generation college applicants and lower-income families.

Nearly every major university system, including UC and CSU, and nationally recognized private universities like Harvard, Yale, the University of Chicago, now offers substantial financial aid to lower-income families. This aid often includes not simply tuition but room and board and living expenses. For many local students, tuition is no longer the barrier. Skilled guidance through the college preparation and application process is. The CAP program exists to close that gap.

COLLEGE PLANNING WORKSHOPS: Two free college planning workshops will be held at the Sebastopol Grange Hall, conducted by a professional college counselor with decades of experience in college admissions and student counseling. The first workshop, on August 27 from 6:30-8:00pm, will focus on an overview of college admissions today, financial aid opportunities, and advice on how to build a strong CV and college application. The second workshop, on September 16, also from 6:30-8:00pm, will focus on applications to the University of California and the requirements for UC eligibility. Both workshops are open to all West Sonoma County students and their families. Grange membership is not required.

COLLEGE COUNSELING SCHOLARSHIPS: Two two-year counseling scholarships will be awarded to students selected from workshop participants. Each scholarship provides 20-30 hours of individualized one-on-one guidance — from sophomore year through college application filing. Applications for these scholarships will open in December and awards will be announced in February.
For more information and to sign up for the workshops, visit sebastpologrange.org/scholarships-grants