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It should be simple to figure out what you need to do to get a high school diploma in New York City, but it’s not. First, there are two main kinds of diplomas, a local diploma and a Regents diploma. The Regents diploma is harder to get because you have to pass more tests with higher scores (and there’s even an Advanced Regents diploma). Also, the requirements may be different depending on your program, such as general education, special education, career and technical education, or ELL (English Language Learner). The best way to figure out what you need to do to get a diploma is talk with a counselor at your school and someone at your agency who is responsible for your educational success. Have them explain your situation and what you need to do next. You can also find detailed info on graduation requirements at the Department of Education website. Following are many way to get that diploma. Alternative Schools Behind in credits? Here's your second chance
A transfer school is a small, supportive high school designed to help young people like you finish their required courses and get a high school diploma. Transfer schools like City-As-School and South Brooklyn Community HS have lots of support for students to make learning easier. Some have the Learning to Work program (see more on that below). Transfer schools offer smaller classes, which can lead to close relationships with teachers, counselors and classmates. Their guidance counselors can help you take the classes you need, and you don't have to take classes for which you already have credits. The schools also have many outside learning opportunities, including student internships in New York City businesses and non-profits. There are 22 transfer schools (some with more than one location) in the five boroughs. Different transfer schools are designed to help students in different ways. Some focus on literacy, math or English as a Second Language (ESL). If you're thinking of transferring to one, visit the schools you're interested in. Each school has a different feel. Requirements: Students must have been enrolled in a New York City public school for at least one year and be over-age for their grade and behind in credits. There are different age and credit requirements for each school. Can't go to school during the day?
If you're thinking about dropping out of high school because you can't attend classes during the day, this program is for you. The 18 Young Adult Borough Centers (YABCs) are evening programs developed by the Department of Education. Eight new YABCs opened in September 2005, and five existing ones were expanded. The programs provide support for teens who feel the need to drop out because they're over-age for their grade or because they have daytime responsibilities like a job or caring for a child or other family member. The late afternoon and evening classes make it easier for these students to continue their studies. Students attend classes up to five evenings per week. Although the programs are hosted at high schools around the city, students graduate with a diploma from their original high school once they've earned all their credits and passed the required exams. Each YABC has a community-based organization that gives students academic support for those who need extra guidance in preparing for class exams or projects. Counseling is also available for those who face personal problems at home or school. Job and career development and college preparation are available at YABCs that have the Learning to Work Program. Requirements: You must be 17½ to 21 years old, be enrolled in a New York City high school, have been in school at least four years, and have 17 or more high school credits to attend this program. Get a job and your diploma at the same time
If you're on the verge of dropping out of high school or have already stopped going, and you need help developing work skills or getting a job, this program is for you. The Learning to Work program is a job readiness and career exploration program that can be found at certain Young Adult Borough Centers, transfer schools and GED programs. The Department of Education started it last September to give a boost to young teens who are not only struggling in school, but who want to figure out what they can do after finishing high school. In addition to working toward their diploma or GED, students who attend a Learning to Work program participate in activities to develop job skills, like workshops, seminars, lectures and field trips. The program also places students in paid and unpaid internships and helps them make connections to other employment opportunities. Each Learning to Work program also works with a community-based organization that provides support, career and college counseling and helps with job placement and work skills training. Learning to Work is currently available at nine Young Adult Borough Centers, six transfer schools, and three GED programs. Requirements: The requirements vary depending on whether you choose to participate in a Learning to Work program at a Young Adult Borough Center, a transfer school or a GED program. See requirements for Young Adult Borough Centers and transfer schools and GED program requirements. GED Programs About GED Programs GED stands for General Educational Development (also called the General Equivalency Degree), and is accepted as equivalent to a high school diploma by many colleges and universities. If you're between 16½ and 19, you must get 150 hours of instruction in a New York state approved GED preparation program (full time programs are available through the NYC Department of Education), and receive satisfactory scores on official GED practice tests before you'll be allowed to take the exam. You must also have at least a 9.0 (9th grade) reading level and 7.5 math skills level to take the tests.
Basic GED Requirements You must be a New York state resident, but you don't need to be a U.S. citizen. You can't have graduated from high school or already earned a diploma.
There are lots of GED programs in New York City. Some of them are offered by the Department of Education, and that is a good place to start looking. We list the major programs below.
Find GED Programs Here, Too NYC Employment and Training Coalition For a list of GED programs, go to their Programs page. Then click on the box in the middle on the left side (Training Programs in NYC). This takes you to a page where you can select your “target population” (such as “youth” or “ex-offenders”) and the “training provided.” If you scroll down in the “training provide” window you’ll come to GED Programs—and you’ll get a great list. (Note: This “Programs” page also has tons of other resources. Check it out!)
How ACS Can Help You Prepare for College If you are in foster care, in grades 8-12, and planning to attend college, you can participate in the Administration for Children’s Services’ G.A.T.E. Pre-College Program, which offers academic support, mentoring, and college guidance. Among the services offered are: The College Now Program The College Now Program matches students with mentors who support you in making the transition from high school to college. Students in the College Now Program also may enroll in non-credit or college credit courses, participate in educational enrichment workshops and/or attend SAT preparation courses. College Prep Workshops Youth graduating from high school and/or a GED program are encouraged to attend college preparation workshops scheduled regularly throughout the year. Topics include: types of colleges, college life, time and financial management, relationships, careers, creative writing (journaling). SAT Preparation Most colleges require students to submit SAT scores for college admissions. With adequate test preparations, students may significantly increase their SAT scores and improve their chances of entering a two or four year college. SAT preparation classes are available to students enrolled in the Pre-College G.A.T.E. program. Students interested in taking this course should be prepared to make a four to six week time commitment. For more information on any of these services contact an Office of Youth Development education counselor at 212-487-8779. Students interested in learning more about how to prepare for college, or locating colleges in or out of New York State may also visit ACS’ resource library at 2 Washington St., 20th Fl., New York, NY 10004. Why enroll in a two-year college?
Convinced? Good! Here are the colleges. Check out the websites of the schools that interest you for more information about each school and how to apply.
There are 34 community (2-year) colleges in the SUNY system. Some are close to the city, such as Westchester Community College. Others are hundreds of miles away. Many do not have student housing, so you have to find your own place to stay, such as your own apartment or with family members who live in the area. If you want to get out of the city for college, and are not ready for a 4-year school, a community college might be the right thing for you.
Because there are so many schools you must talk with a counselor about which ones might be best for you. Once you’ve identified a few schools, ask your counselor to find a way for you to visit the school so you can see first hand whether it is in a place you could see yourself living for two years. Most of the colleges are in small towns that have a much slower pace than New York City . Some people love that, and others hate it. For a complete list of schools, with links to their websites, go to:
There are more than 20 SUNY (State University of New York) colleges scattered around the state. A couple are in New York City, but almost all of them are upstate. That means you have to live in a dorm or an apartment if you go away to one of those schools.
University Colleges
There are dozens of 4-year private colleges in New York State (far more than we can include in this website). You can get a quality education at any one of them. So how do you choose?
First, you have to be able to get in. Second, you have to be able to afford them. A few private schools are very competitive (you need very good grades and test scores). However, many of them are not as competitive as the top CUNY and SUNY schools. They are almost always quite a bit more expensive than the CUNY and SUNY schools, so you’ll probably need a scholarship.
When choosing a private college, there are many things to consider, like whether the school you are attending has a good reputation in the areas of your interest; whether you wish to move far away or stay close to home; whether you want the range of opportunities of a big school or the one-on-one attention of a smaller one; how diverse the school is and whether this is important to you; and how much the school costs. One of the best ways to find out about schools is to talk to people about their experiences. You can also read the stories on this website, including Kizzy Charles-Guzman’s “Minnesota Merengue” about being one of the few people of color on a mainly White campus, and Lishone Bowsky’s story “The College of My Dreams…With No Money Down,” about paying for a private college. Private Trade Schools You’ve seen the ads for private trade schools on the subway which promise that you, too, can learn to make movies, become a dental technician, or an auto mechanic. They say (or imply): It’s easy! You can get your high school diploma at the same time! They offer financial aid! It’s easy to get in! They’ll place you in a high paying job! And they have photos that make it look like young people just like you are succeeding at their school. In our experience, what the ads really mean is: The government will give you a loan to go to our school. We’ll help you get the loan, enroll you, take your money and then—good luck sucker! The classes and equipment that looked so good in the brochure? They don’t exist, or there’s so little equipment (such as three cameras for a filmmaking class with 25 students) that it’s impossible to learn. The teachers are all part-time, which means that they have no time for you. Meanwhile, the school doesn’t have to pay back the loan, YOU DO. We have seen this situation over and over and over again. (Does that mean that no one ever graduated from a private trade school and got a good paying job? No. But it is all too rare.) Therefore, we cannot recommend enrolling in a private trade school. Find a nonprofit program that offers similar training. Find the program you want at a CUNY college. Do anything but borrow money for a private trade school education if you possibly can. The Armed Forces For some young people in foster care the armed forces are the first step toward independence. There are four branches of the armed forces: the Army, the Marines, the Navy, and the Air Force. Each branch has recruiters in practically every neighborhood, and recruiters often visit schools and subway stations, too, so they are not hard to find. But what do the armed forces have to do with college? Well, as the recruiters will tell you, the armed forces have programs to help you pay for college. (In some cases they can even help you get a GED.)
An advantage of joining the armed forces is that it can be a first step toward independence. You’re not totally independent, because you are subject to military rule and you will live on a base, at least at first. But if you’ve lived in the system for much of your life, you’re probably used to following orders. (Of course, in the armed forces if you disobey they lock you up!) For some people, the limited and structured freedom of the armed forces is an important first step toward full, adult independence. There are a couple of disadvantages of the armed forces. First, unlike other jobs, once you’re in you cannot just quit if you don’t like it. Second, like trade school recruiters, armed forces recruiters are known to exaggerate and mislead young people about the benefits they might get and about military life in general. One of the most common deceptions is to tell you that once you get in you can do whatever you “qualify” for. The key word here is “qualify.” Sure, you can become a pilot, or a mechanic, or an electronics expert…if you “qualify.” But remember, there are tens of thousands of other recruits trying to qualify for the same few good jobs. (For example, in the Air Force there are literally thousands of people who wash planes, fill their gas tanks, and hand out uniforms to the pilots for every person who is actually a pilot.) Most recruits do not get the good jobs because they do not “qualify.” And those college benefits? Well, they’re real, but only if you take advantage of them by actually going to college. And that can be hard to fit around the demands of regular life in the armed services—like getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. To join or not to join? The decision is yours, but make it with your eyes open. If possible, do not rely on what the recruiter tells you. Talk to people in your neighborhood who have been in the armed forces. And know that if you really want to use the armed forces to further your education, it will take a lot of discipline. College Counseling Services It’s difficult to figure out what college is right for you. You will need help. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a good college counselor at your high school or your agency. Use them! If you don’t have people at your school or agency (or even if you do, but you need more attention or information) many community groups run their own college counseling programs. Here’s a list. Look for agencies near your home or school and call them about hours and eligibility. Remember, the best time to begin the college search is in your junior year of high school. However, you can still get help in your senior year, or even after you’ve graduated.
The Application Process If you feel stressed when you think about the college application process, join the club. Though there’s nothing about the process you can’t handle, there are many steps you have to get through. First, if the college(s) you choose requires it, you have to take the SAT. Then there’s filling out the applications and writing the essay, which is your opportunity to tell the school who you really are and make yourself stand out from other applicants. You also have to apply for financial aid. This is the trickiest and most technical part of applying to college, so make sure you find someone to help you, like your school counselor or caseworker. The most important thing is not to let your fear stand in your way of getting started. Start early, don’t wait until the last minute to start filing out applications, and keep in mind there are always deadlines. Because there are many steps to applying to college, it can be helpful to see the process broken down step by step. One of the best resources we’ve found is the New Visions/Citigroup College Planning Guide. If you’re applying to college, we recommend that you print this guide out and use it to help you plan your application process. The New Visions/Citigroup College Planning Guide can be found at: www.newvisions.org/collegebound/collegepossible.asp Scholarships and Loans Most youth in care are eligible for scholarships and loans, including Pell grants given out by the federal government, TAP grants giving out by New York State, and Education & Training Vouchers (ETVs) given out by New York State's Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS). However, learning about scholarships, grants, and loans is complicated and so is applying for them. You definitely need to talk to someone at your school, your agency, or a community-based college counseling program to figure out the best package of scholarships, grants, and loans to pay for your education. Meanwhile here are several key things you need to know: 1) Scholarships: These are the best because you don’t have to pay them back! For example, ETVs and Pell Grants are scholarships. 2) Work/Study Grants: Colleges often provide what are called “work-study” grants. You work a certain number of hours on the campus and in return you get a grant that you don’t have to pay back. 3) Loans: Avoid loans. Loans are easy to get, but they must be paid back. And you don’t want to be paying $300 a month on top of your rent and other expenses for the next10 years! (That’s about what you’ll pay if you borrow just $25,000.) Avoid taking loans except in a serious emergency, and keep them small. (For example, if you get scholarships and grants to cover $10,000 and your college costs are $12,000, consider taking a loan for the last $2,000.) Taking out a big loan to attend a private trade school is almost never a good idea. Meanwhile, to keep things simple, focus on these opportunities first: ETVs; New York State scholarships such as TAP; the federal Pell Grants; and the Orphan Foundation. Information on these and more are below.
Pell Grants (and other Federal Scholarship and Loan Programs)This website explains everything about the federal grants and loans. For example, there’s information on Pell Grants that provide more than $4,000 a year to eligible students: http://studentaid.ed.gov/ Orphan Foundation New Yorkers for Children Guardian Scholars Program Each year, New Yorkers for Children plans to sponsor one or more Guardian Scholars, which will provide a five-year scholarship and supportive services for youth in care who are selected. It is a competitive application. To apply you must be accepted to either Hunter College or John Jay College. The benefits include: a five-year scholarship which you can use for tuition, books, school supplies, and other living costs; year round housing; one-on-one mentoring; and support from a Guardian Scholar advisor. If you are selected you must meet the following criteria to keep the scholarship: a GPA of 2.5 or higher; complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester; work, intern, or volunteer between 10 and 20 hours per week; and participate fully in all aspects of the program. This is an extraordinary opportunity. If you plan to apply you will need to complete an application that includes an essay, letter of recommendation, your high school transcript and your SAT or ACT scores. (Warning: This is not something you can pull together the last minute! Plan ahead if you plan to apply.) Click here for application. For more information, contact: New Yorkers for Children Spirit Award The New Yorkers For Children Spirit Award will honor a young person in foster care who is attending a two- or four-year college or university and has demonstrated leadership skills. The winner must also be willing to represent the opinions of youth in foster care as a representative to the Board of Directors of New Yorkers for Children. This is a one time, $10,000 educational scholarship. The John Seita Scholarship ScholarshipHelp.org Guaranteed Scholarships The Theodore R. & Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Foundation Adopted After 13?: New Law Will Help You Get Financial Aid The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) The SAT is an exam most students take as part of the college application process. Some colleges do not require the SAT. If the colleges you hope to attend do not require it, then there’s no need to take the test. You’ll have to look in a college guide book, visit college websites, or talk to a guidance/college counselor to know if a college requires the SAT. If you are planning to take the test there are a couple of things to know. First, you may be able to get a fee waiver so that you can take the test for free [See SAT Fee Waiver]. Second, you will do better on the test if you know what to expect. Even if a young person does not secure a fee waiver, s/he should not have to pay the SAT fee—his/her agency should cover that. The entire exam takes 3 hours and 45 minutes, and focuses on testing your math and English skills. The exam includes an essay writing section. To get a feel of what the SATs are all about check out: http://www.collegeboard.com/about/newsinfo/sat/factsheet.html
SAT Fee Waivers Unless you have suddenly come into a lot of money, teens in foster care shouldn’t have to pay to take the SATs. Students eligible for a free or reduced price lunch are eligible for an SAT Test fee waiver. You are eligible for a maximum of four waivers for SAT tests; two may be used for the SAT Reasoning Test, and two may be used for SAT Subject Tests. You should speak to your college counselor to obtain a fee waiver card and mail it in with your test registration form. If you register online, you will have to enter your 6-digit school code, found on the bottom of the fee waiver card, which you should obtain from your school counselor. Again, ask your college counselor for help with this. Application Fee Waivers Believe it or not, it costs money to apply to college. However, you probably don’t have to pay, if you plan ahead. You should contact the admissions office at all the colleges you plan to apply to. Tell them you’re in foster care and ask them how to get a “fee waiver” form. Get the form and fill it out and—like magic—you’ve saved yourself $30 to $50 for each school you apply to. A fee waiver itself costs nothing— it is just a form you fill out and send to the college along with your application. Other Resources FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) The College Board Website College Opportunities On-Line The 2006 Colleges, College Scholarship, and Financial Aid Website Hobson’s College View FinAid! Free Application for Federal Student Aid – US Department of Education ACT, Inc.: Education/Career Planning and Workforce Development CollegeNET – Online Applications and Free Financial Aid Search College Housing If you go away to college you can live in a dorm or in an off-campus apartment, which can be a lot cheaper than the city. Also, many colleges have bulletin boards or housing offices that list apartments for rent or people looking for roommates. What housing does ACS pay for if you’re in college? If you’re going to college outside of the city and you’re age 18 to 21 and you have not signed yourself out of care, the room and board payment that ACS would have sent to your foster parent or group home is sent to your college instead to cover room and board in your dorm. This can be a complicated issue (where do you stay on vacations, for example?). If you will be attending college outside of the city (congratulations!), be sure to talk with your foster parents and your caseworker to get all of the arrangements straight before you head off to school. |
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Getting Your Diploma
