QTC took place on August 3 - 6th, 2024
READ the Blog post re-cap!
QuickStart to College 2024
What is QuickStart to College?
“There are so many ways to think about and do college. There isn’t one right way, the important thing is to know your options and explore.”
QuickStart to College is a free summer camp program to uplift and encourage incoming high school seniors as they prepare for college selection, applications, scholarships, and financial aid processes. Students enjoy 4 days and 3 nights at WWU and visits from our friends at BTC, NWIC, SVC, and WCC to help them learn more about the various types of colleges available. Not only do we work hard, but we also have fun visiting Western’s Camp Lakewood (boating, kayaking, swimming, volleyball, paddle boats, etc.), enjoying local food, visiting the Rec Center, and doing various self-care activities. By attending QuickStart, our mentors and local college staff members will help students get prepared for milestones throughout their senior year, so they can confidently step into the path that lies beyond it.
“I feel so much more confident about the whole college process. I love the connections I’ve made and I’m so much more sure about my decision to not live at home for college. I’m also very happy that I don’t have to worry so much about money.”
FuturesNW helps students who qualify for the College Bound Scholarship, are 1st generation, and/or BIPOC by recruiting them into our QuickStart to College program. The QuickStart program nearly doubles (43%) the possibility that attendees directly enroll in college compared to their low-income peers who don’t participate in our supplemental program.
Email our QuickStart to College Program Coordinator and Mentor, Karina Avila, at kavila@futuresnw.org with any questions!
“This program changed my perspective on going to college… I have a hope in myself that I can get into a college & do great things in the future.”
Shout out to our wonderful Mentors and Staff
“I really liked that there was majority POC mentors, it made me feel like I could relate to them more and I liked how welcomed I felt.”
2024 QuickStart Mentors and Staff. Not pictured, Atiana, Sabrin, Julian and Tiffeny
FuturesNW recently received the Gold Badge from the National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS), earning us statewide acclaim for QuickStart to College’s adherence to the highest national standards in mentoring and our commitment to continuous improvement in supporting underserved youth.
Many of our QTC near-peer mentors were themselves participants in QTC just a few years ago! We are so proud of this achievement and will continue to uphold these high standards to best serve our students and families!
Adi was interviewed by Mentor WA to share more about her journey as a mentee, to mentor, to Sr mentor, and then lead mentor for the QuickStart program. Read the interview here (opens new tab).
“My favorite aspect is that mentors gave really good advice and helped me to understand the things I was struggling with before QuickStart.”
QuickStart to College poster art and design by the amazing Eliana Vasquez!