Pathfinder Scholars: College & Career Exploration

Pathfinder Scholars is a grade-by-grade college and career readiness program that helps students understand their options, make informed choices, and take manageable steps toward life after high school.

Pathfinder Scholars may be included in college applications as an extracurricular activity and students who participate in the program for at least 2 years may request a letter of recommendation.

Juniors or Seniors who meet criteria are eligible for Honors or High Honors recognition from the program.

Small groups of 3-6 students meet virtually to discuss a new topic, review relevant resources, practice new skills, and leave with small, manageable tasks to complete between meetings.

Parents receive short, helpful summaries including tips on how they can support their student at each step along the way.

Tackling college readiness tasks step-by-step reduces anxiety and stress, prevents common misconceptions, and builds a solid foundation for thoughtful college and career decisions.  

Freshman Year: Mapping the Terrain

3 sessions (January, March, and May) to understand fundamentals and dispel myths about college and career choices. One session will dive into academics, one focuses on extracurriculars choices, and the final session is an overview of the journey ahead.

$250 per student

Freshman Registraiton 
Sophomore Year: Exploring Options

3 sessions (December, February, April) to understand the wide variety of colleges and key factors to look for, exploring interests related to potential majors or field, supporting course selection, summer planning, and resume building. Bay Area residents may join the in-person option which includes local college tours available to explore key preferences in college fit.

$450 per student

Registration closed until 2027 
Junior Year: Focusing Direction

10 bi-monthly sessions (January - May) for identifying college preferences, building a balanced college list, identifying potential majors and exploring specific college offerings, support with course selection and summer planning, and building a personalized timeline to manage all due dates.

$900 per student

Junior Registration 
Senior Year: Applying

10 bi-monthly sessions (August - December) to support with each component of the UC, Cal State, and Common Application, including extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and essay writing. Sessions will also focus on college readiness and independent living skills.

$900 per student

Registration Closed until 2027

Detailed Curriculum & Learning Goals

  • Meeting 1: Starting Strong in High School

    ·        How freshman year contributes to the overall high school record

    ·        Understanding grades, credits, GPA, testing, and graduation requirements

    ·        The importance of building effective study, organization, and time-management habits

    ·        Identifying trusted adults and accessing academic support resources when things are challenging

    ·        Creating a college-specific email for standardized tests, tours, etc.

    ·        Key factors in choosing Sophomore classes

    Meeting 2: Exploring Interests and Opportunities

    ·        Connecting personal interests, strengths, and values to possible future fields of interest

    ·        Choosing clubs, sports, service, arts, or leadership activities

    ·        Why depth, growth, and genuine interest matter more than joining everything

    ·        Creating a simple list of activities and accomplishments to update over time

    Meeting 3: Understanding the College Journey

    ·        Basic college vocabulary: major, degree, campus, tuition, and financial aid; Options after high school, including two-year colleges, four-year colleges, and certificates

    ·        What colleges do and don’t consider in an application and how to spot common myths

    ·        Setting one academic goal and one involvement goal for sophomore year

    ·        Creating a place to take notes on college tours

    By the End of the Program, Each Student Will Have:

    ·        Foundational college information to dispel myths and ease college anxiety

    ·        A clear understanding of how their academic path can lead to a wide variety of college choices

    ·        Ideas on activities, volunteering opportunities, and leadership roles that will allow them to explore their interests and set a foundation through high school

  • Meeting 1: Checking Progress and Planning Ahead

    ·        Reviewing grades, credits, course choices, and graduation progress

    ·        Considering appropriate academic challenge and asking for help early

    ·        Reflecting on freshman-year habits and identifying one area for growth

    ·        Drafting a realistic academic action plan for sophomore year

    ·        College tour plan

    Meeting 2: Building a College and Career Profile

    ·        Exploring career clusters and the education connected to them

    ·        Strengthening involvement through responsibility, leadership, service, or skill development

    ·        Finding summer programs, internships, job-shadowing, or volunteer opportunities

    ·        Beginning a simple résumé or activities record

    ·        Summer planning

    Meeting 3: Exploring College Options and Preparing for Junior Year

    ·        Comparing different types of colleges based on interests, goals, size, setting, and majors

    ·        Learning how requirements vary and planning courses and activities that fit your path, including learning about the Common Data Set

    ·        Understanding the purpose and general timeline of college applications and financial aid

    ·        Creating a junior-year readiness checklist with academic, activities, and summer goals

  • 10 meetings (bi-monthly, Jan - May)

    Phase 1: Identifying Preferences

    ·        Identifying Key Factors in College Fit

    ·       Researching Colleges Effectively

    ·       Building a Balanced Preliminary College List

    Phase 2: Researching for Fit

    ·       Investigating Careers and Education Pathways

    ·       Matching Colleges to Career Goals

    ·       Understanding the College Application

    Phase 3: Get Application-Ready

    ·       Finalizing a Balanced College List

    ·       Building an Application Timeline

    ·       Introduction to College Application Essay Writing

  • Phase 1: Building the Common Application Foundation

    ·        Completing and checking the Common App profile, family, education, and testing sections, and adding colleges

    ·        Building a prioritized activities list with concise, accurate descriptions of actions and impact

    ·        Brainstorming personal essay topics and starting an outline or freewrite

    ·        Selecting recommenders, preparing an information sheet, and tracking letter requests and deadlines

    Phase 2: UC and CSU Applications, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

    ·        Starting the UC application, entering coursework carefully, and reviewing campus and major choices

    ·        Completing UC activities and planning responses to the Personal Insight Questions

    ·        Searching for credible scholarships and creating a tracker of deadlines and required materials

    ·        Preparing for the FAFSA, protecting personal information, and adding financial aid priority dates to the timeline

    Phase 3: College Decisions and Preparing for the Transition

    ·        Holding family conversations about resources, costs, borrowing limits, and financially realistic options

    ·        Weighting deciding factors and ranking favorite colleges before decisions arrive

    ·        Comparing admission results and aid offers, then planning decision and enrollment steps

    Building independent living and self-advocacy skills and creating a summer transition checklist