WHAT IS THE LISTO PROGRAM?

LISTO is a free after-school intensive college prep program designed to support 11th – 12th-grade students on their pathway to college and a potential career. LISTO offers academic support, college visits, team-building activities, networking with current college students and professionals from various careers, and mentoring for college and financial aid application completion. LISTO is held at Francis L Cardozo Education Campus and Calvin Coolidge Senior High School.

The Listo program is offered Mondays/Tuesdays for 11th graders and Wednesdays/Thursdays for 12th graders from 3 pm – 6 pm. In addition, drop in hours will be offered Monday – Friday at 1 pm and a Resource Hub on Wednesdays from 1pm-5pm. Students will have the opportunity to make an appointment for The Resource Hub, have access to Wi-Fi, academic support and snacks. All safety protocols and social distancing measures will be in place.

Students will continue weekly lessons on college and career prep, including technology tools for success in college, as well as support researching and applying to scholarships. Students completing their college application process and receiving admissions decisions will also be able to schedule meetings with LSF staff for help reviewing their results. You can apply to LISTO here or for more information email listo@latinostudentfund.org.

WHY LISTO?

Today, the enrollment of Latino high school graduates in institutions of higher education is 37% and around half of Hispanics enrolled in college are the first in their family to pursue higher education. Hispanic/Latino students and their families often suffer from a lack of information about the cost of college, types of colleges they are qualified to attend, and college culture (Pew Hispanic Center 2009). LISTO works to combat these issues by creating a bridge between students, families, and schools to increase access to information.

KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE:

STUDY HALL

While college seems distant for some students, a strong initial GPA is essential for any college-bound student. All LISTO students are required to attend a study hall/tutoring session three days a week. This option is also available for all students who want additional academic help. Students receive workshops providing them tools to succeed in their classes and homework completion – study skills, time management, essay writing.

FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS

We want our LISTO students and families to understand how to afford a post-secondary education by learning how to manage and budget money for college, where to find scholarships and grants (federal and private), and understanding total tuition costs of an institution and loan interest and debt. We offer 12th-grade students and their families a bilingual workshop that breaks down each section of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application and College Scholarship Service (CSS) profile.

12TH GRADE MENTORSHIP

Each college-bound LISTO senior has the opportunity to work one-on-one with a mentor to assist them in the college application and scholarship/financial aid processes. The students and mentors meet once per week. By the end of December, students apply to at least four schools. After the application process, students continue to work with their mentor to research and apply to scholarships, along with receiving support in deciding where to enroll.

LISTO RAPIDO

WHAT IS LISTO RAPIDO?

Listo Rápido is a one-week intensive summer college prep course that teaches rising 10th-12th grade students the basics of the college admissions process. The program provides guided college research, post-secondary admissions, financial aid, and financial literacy workshops, networking with college students and career professionals, a full day college visit and a career day trip to local businesses.