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What Does “Support a Scholar” Mean?

“Support a Scholar” means walking alongside a student from the moment they begin exploring college through college graduation—offering personal mentorship, academic guidance, emotional support, and critical resources that fill the gaps scholarships don’t cover. It’s long-term, relationship-based support that empowers first-generation and under-resourced students to thrive in college and beyond.

Before College: Comprehensive Admissions Support

  • One-on-one guidance and counseling through every step of the college admissions process

  • Personal mentors

  • Personalized ACT prep in small-class settings

  • Extensive college tours across the country (by bus and flight)

  • Laptop computer

  • Financial Aid assistance (FAFSA & CSS Profile)

  • Help with logistics like:

    • ACT registration and printing tickets

    • Providing calculators

    • Transportation to events

  • Exposure to a wide range of colleges, often introducing students to schools they’ve never heard of but ultimately attend

  • Support for first-time flyers, with efforts to reduce fear and anxiety

  • Frequent communication with students and parents/guardians

  • 2 intensive college admissions and readiness summer camps

  • Relationship-building rooted in deep trust with students and their families

Summer Support: The “Summer Launch” Program

  • Help outfitting dorms, selecting classes, and assistance with move-in (when travelling significant distances)

  • Workshops focused on:

    • Financial planning

    • Mental wellness

    • Academic success strategies

    • Navigating the emotional and practical challenges of college

During College: Holistic Ongoing Support

  • Continued mentorship and regular check-ins throughout college

  • Social-emotional and mental health support

  • Academic guidance and accountability

  • Emergency response and crisis support when needed

  • Financial help for essential but often overlooked needs:

    • Summer storage for students far from home

    • Flights to and from college several times a year

    • Uber rides from the airport

    • Laptop replacement or meal plan gaps

    • Assistance in the event of a family emergency

“Ladies I want to thank you for everything!!! The impact this program and people have made in our lives is a generational change for us!!!!”
— Lindsey Williams, Tulane graduate parent

Mentor a Scholar

College Choice Foundation, through the Bateman Scholars Program, assists high-achieving, motivated students from under-resourced, disadvantaged backgrounds. This 12-month program, which provides intensive college-admissions support, serves between 30-50 Scholars each year by building the knowledge, skills, resources, and behaviors required to succeed at college, in careers, and throughout life.

CCF guides Scholars and their parents through the challenging college-selection process as they identify their best, most-affordable college fit. We provide computers, test-prep tutors, and test-prep books in addition to covering the costs of testing, score reporting, and application fees. We work closely with our Scholars and their families on their financial-aid applications and cover the associated costs. We facilitate campus visits, which affords our Scholars the opportunity to fully experience the atmosphere of a college campus.

It is critical that each Scholar have an assigned mentor, who, in conjunction with members of the Executive Board, will help him/her through the process. Mentoring a Scholar includes:
- meeting with your student once a week (Zoom or in person) during the busy months of September-November to work on updating resumes
- reviewing and filing applications, discussing essays, and assisting with scholarship applications
- each week, the Program Director will email a list of assignments on which students should be working
- mentors are encouraged to spend time getting to know their students by meeting for coffee or dinner on occasion

Mentors usually form a close bond with the students and their parents. A Mentor’s role goes beyond “taskmaster” - your student will often need someone to whom he/she can simply talk. We hope these “big brother/sister” relationships carry on throughout the Scholar’s college years and beyond.

BECOME A MENTOR

If you are interested in being a Mentor, please complete our application form by clicking here.
Background checks will need to be run if you are selected to be a mentor.