Thrive Scholars

THE MISSION OF THRIVE SCHOLARS IS FOR HIGH-ACHIEVING, LOW-INCOME, UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS TO GET INTO AND GRADUATE FROM TOP COLLEGES EQUIPPED TO REACH THEIR FULL CAREER POTENTIAL.

OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THRIVE SCHOLARS HAS DEVELOPED A PROVEN SIX-YEAR- LONG PROGRAM MODEL THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS STARTING IN THE 11TH GRADE AND EXTENDS THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION AND EARLY CAREER. IT FOCUSES ON FIVE PILLARS OF SUPPORT THAT CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP BETWEEN OUR SCHOLARS AND THEIR MORE PRIVILEGED PEERS, INCLUDING: - EXPERT COLLEGE ADVISING: OUR TRAINED PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS HELP OUR SCHOLARS FIND "BEST FIT" SELECTIVE COLLEGES AND SHOWCASE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMITTANCE. - ACADEMIC PREPARATION: THRIVE PROVIDES TWO SUMMERS OF A SIX-WEEK RESIDENTIAL ACADEMIC BOOT CAMP FOR RISING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS (AT AMHERST COLLEGE) AND COLLEGE FIRST-YEARS (AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) CALLED SUMMER ACADEMY, OFFERING COLLEGE-LEVEL INSTRUCTION TARGETING MATH, WRITING, AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS TAUGHT BY COLLEGE PROFESSORS. - SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL & ACADEMIC SUPPORT: THRIVE OFFERS SCHOLARS TAILORED 1:1 SUPPORT DURING COLLEGE VIA PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND VOLUNTEER MENTORS TO ENSURE THEY SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. - FINANCIAL SUPPORT: THRIVE ADVISES SCHOLARS TOWARD NO-LOAN COLLEGES (WHICH MEET THEIR FULL FINANCIAL NEED), SO THEY OFTEN GRADUATE DEBT-FREE. WE OFFER BRIDGE STIPENDS TO HELP MEET COSTS NOT COVERED BY TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES. - CAREER DEVELOPMENT: THRIVE PROVIDES A 4-YEAR CAREER DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM, INCLUDING 2 YEARS OF INTENSIVE, PERSONALIZED CAREER COACHING FOCUSING ON HARD AND SOFT SKILLS, IN ADDITION TO ACCESS TO OUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK AND INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS AT OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS. THRIVE RECENTLY ADDED INDUSTRY-FOCUSED TRACKS FOR SCHOLARS INTERESTED IN PURSUING CAREERS IN LIFE SCIENCES, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING, FINANCE, CONSULTING, AND LAW. THRIVE'S HIGH-TOUCH MODEL IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED DIRECT-TO- STUDENT SUPPORT FOR SIX CONTINUOUS YEARS ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS. AT EACH STAGE IN OUR PROGRAM, SCHOLARS ARE SUPPORTED BY A HIGHLY TRAINED, PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER. THRIVE'S PROGRAM STAFF BRING SPECIFIC EXPERTISE RELATIVE TO THE STAGE OF A SCHOLAR'S JOURNEY. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR COLLEGE GUIDANCE PROFESSIONALS HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING AS ADMISSIONS OFFICERS AT HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGES AND OUR CAREER COACHES HAVE WORKED IN COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL CAREER OFFICES AND AS RECRUITERS IN BUSINESSES. OUR SCHOLARS ACHIEVE AMAZING OUTCOMES. THEY GET INTO IMPRESSIVE COLLEGES - OVER 90% ATTEND TOP 100 COLLEGES, OVER 80% ATTEND TOP 50 COLLEGES, AND OVER 40% ATTEND IVY LEAGUE+ COLLEGES. THEY THRIVE ACADEMICALLY - 85% EARN A B AVERAGE OR BETTER COMPARED TO LESS THAN 50% FOR SIMILAR STUDENTS, 65% PERSIST IN DIFFICULT STEM MAJORS, THREE TIMES BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS, AND THEY EARN AN AVERAGE GPA OF 3.4 COMPARED TO 2.0 FOR SIMILAR STUDENTS. 98% OF THRIVE SCHOLARS GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE COMPARED TO LESS THAN 50% FOR SIMILAR STUDENTS. THRIVES SCHOLARS NOT ONLY DO BETTER THAN SIMILAR STUDENTS, THEY ALSO OUTPERFORM THE GENERAL POPULATION AT TOP 100 SCHOOLS. THEY ARE 15% MORE LIKELY TO PERSIST IN STEM DEGREES AND THEY ARE 10% MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AT THESE COLLEGES, INCLUDING THEIR MORE PRIVILEGED PEERS.