Step 1: Attend an Info Session Steps in the Admission Process Once you completed a Student Interest Form at www.yearup.org/apply, you can expect an email invitation to an upcoming Info Session. Please reply to that email to reserve your spot and remember to arrive on time and dressed professionally to make a great first impression! At the Info Session you will get a tour of Year Up, learn more about our program, begin your application process, and have an opportunity to schedule a group interview. Step 2: Begin your Application Please see page 2 for a complete list of application materials. We have also included helpful information on completed the various application materials included in this packet. Step 3: Attend a Learning Assessment Learning Assessment is a group interview designed to simulate a typical Year Up experience. You ll be evaluated on your reading, writing, and communication skills while getting a glimpse into a day in the life of a Year Up student. You will also make a reservation for your individual interview at the end. Step 4: Schedule an Individual Interview The final step is a one-on-one interview for qualified candidates that will give you a chance to show us that you re ready for Year Up. Admissions staff will be in contact with you regarding your appointment. Priority Deadline: Our Priority Deadline is Wednesday, January 14 th, 2015. Applicants who are serious about attending Year Up are encouraged to attend an Information Session on or before this date. Year Up applicants are accepted to the program on a rolling and first come first serve basis; those who apply early have the best chances of gaining a seat in our September class. Step 5: Application Review and Decisions Admission Application Process and Materials The Admissions team will review the files of qualified applicants once they ve completed the one-on-one interview. You are encouraged to submit all of the required application materials by this time. If you are not able to submit all of your required paperwork, please be in touch with us to figure out a timeline for completion. All application materials submitted become part of a permanent record, are the property of Year Up, and are not returnable. Decision Notification: Applicants will be notified of our decision by email. At each step of the admissions process, applicants will be notified as to whether or not they have or have not qualified for the next step. A Reminder to ALL Applicants: The two most important factors in any application process are 1) Keeping your scheduled appointments and 2) Timely communication. We understand that things come up, but if you make an appointment with Year Up, please do everything you can to keep that appointment! If at any point, you encounter difficulty with your application process, please call us! Qualified applicants MUST attend a mandatory enrollment day. Dates will be offered starting in Nov. Accepted students MUST attend a mandatory pre-orientation on Tuesday, February 24 th, 2015. The program start date is Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015. Year Up, Inc. 93 Summer Street, 2 nd Floor Boston, MA 02110 (617) 542-1533 www.yearup.org 1
Required Forms for Admission We recognize that our application process is rigorous and that there s a lot of paperwork to collect and submit. If you are serious about Year Up, we will support you as much as we can through this process, and ask that you communicate any difficulty you face along the way. This is a complete list of required application materials: Online Application Form a personalized link will be emailed to you before your individual interview- see page 3 Documentation of identification and legal right to work in the US see page 3 Two page personal statement/essay see page 4 Recommendation form or letter see pages 5-7 Proof of health insurance A copy of Insurance Card- see page 8 2 copies of your official high school transcript see page 9 OR Official GED/HISET test results Immunization record & signed form see page 10 Student Aid Report for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at https://fafsa.ed.gov; see page 11 The following list provides you with brief instructions on completing the forms and items above: Online Application Form...page 3 Please be sure to answer all questions. Where requested, we do require that you list dates of completion. If you have any questions or concerns with completing any portion of the application, you should talk with a member of our admission team. Documentation of identification and legal right to work in the US...page 3 Year Up seeks to train and place its students in internships during the program in order to prepare them for post program employment. Legal right to work in the US is therefore required in order to ensure we meet these goals. If you have any concerns about your status as it relates to our application process, please talk with a member of the admission team. Two page personal statement/essay...page 4 We want to know more about you and why you chose Year Up. Your essay should be 2 full pages in length, typed, 12 point font, and double spaced. Your essay can be emailed or submitted as a hard copy. Recommendation Form or Letter...page 5 7 A recommendation is required as part of your application. Your recommender can fill out the form on pages 6 & 7 OR submit a letter if preferred. Your recommendation can be emailed or submitted as a hard copy. Proof of Health Insurance...page 8 In order to prove you have valid health insurance a copy of your health insurance card is required. If you do not have health insurance, you will need to apply as it is a state requirement for full-time students. Information on applying for health insurance is available on page 8. Two copies of your official high school transcript or official GED test results...page 9 In order to count as an official copy, your transcript must include the school seal, a signature and your graduation date and be sealed in an envelope by a school official. For those submitting official GED test score results, please note that we will need to keep the original, official copy. A transcript request form for high school diploma completers is included. Immunization record & signed form...page 10 Your doctor may give you a print out of your immunizations in place of filling out the form on page 10. In this case, please fill out the top portion of the form, sign your name at the bottom and attach it to the print out from your doctor s office. Student Aid Report for FAFSA...page 11 You are required to submit a FAFSA and submit your Student Aid Report (SAR) as part of your application to Year Up. If you have already completed the FAFSA, please add Cambridge College and print out and submit your SAR. If you have not completed FAFSA, please see resources on page 11. We can also provide assistance during the enrollment appointment. Year Up, Inc. 93 Summer Street, 2 nd Floor Boston, MA 02110 (617) 542-1533 www.yearup.org 2
Online Application Form Once you have completed Learning Assessment we will email you a link to your online application. Please reserve 15 minutes to complete this form in advance of your one-on-one interview. If you do not have access to a computer, you may reserve time before or after you one-on-one interview to complete the online application at Year Up. Please review the following guidelines as they will help you to navigate the application. 1. This online application works best with Internet Explorer. 2. By accessing this online application you are confirming your email address. The Year Up Admissions team will use this email address to keep in touch with you through the application process. 3. You will need to include your social security number (SSN) on the first page of the application in order to move forward. If you do not have access to your SSN or if you do not have a SSN, please hold off on completing the online application until you are able to access your SSN. 4. Including extra spaces before or after numbers in number fields will return an error message once you try to move to the next page in the application. Similarly, if you include letters or words in number fields, you will receive an error message when you try to move to the next page. 5. Toward the end of the application you will be asked to supply the name and at least one contact number for at least 2 people outside of your household. These are not references. These contacts are only used if we lose contact with you. 6. The application asks you to submit an essay and resume. Please submit your essay (required) and resume (optional) to us separately- you do not need to upload it into the application. 7. Once you have reviewed the information in your application, you will be able to submit it to our database. Once you submit your application successfully, you should see a plain, white screen with the words Thank you. If you receive any other message, please contact us for assistance before pressing refresh or using your browser s back button. Documentation and IDs Year Up is a workforce development program and because students spend a portion of our yearlong programing in an internship, we do require documentation of identification and legal right to work in the US. Please review this list of documents and submit original copies of those to which you have access. If you do not presently have a state or federally issued ID, you will have to apply for one. Applicants must submit ONE of these documents: US Passport Permanent Resident Card Certificate of Naturalization US Citizenship Certificate OR submit one from column A AND one from column B: COLUMN A Driver s License State ID Unexpired work authorization card COLUMN B US Social Security Card US birth certificate US citizen card 3
Personal Statement / Essay Please respond to the following question in 2 full pages so that we may learn more about you and your interest in joining Year Up: Why do you want to join Year Up and why do you believe you are a good candidate for Year Up? Briefly describe your experience and learning, including learning outside the classroom, such as employment, family, military, volunteer work, and participation in community organizations. We want to know why you ve chosen to further your studies and also hear about your personal and professional goals. Your answer will be checked for content, grammar, spelling, and your general writing ability. However, we are most interested in reading your thoughts and learning more about you so please be thorough and detailed. Please refer to the following questions if you are having trouble developing your essay: 1. Where were you born? 2. Where did you grow up? 3. What school did you attend? 4. Why Information Technology or Financial Operations at Year Up? 5. Why do you want to earn college credit? 6. What kind of career are you interested in? 7. If you are working now, what are you doing? Do you enjoy this? 8. What have you done for your community? 9. How did you hear about Year Up? 10. Was there an inspirational moment or person in your life? 11. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? How can Year Up help? 4
Recommendation Form Year Up applicant, Please ask a teacher to respond, or your guidance counselor, coach, clergy person, supervisor, mentor, or other adult in your community who knows you well enough to comment on your character and ability (family members or close friends are not acceptable). Please complete this portion before giving the form to your recommender. One recommendation is required. Your Name (applicant) Recommender s name Profession and title Name of company, school or organization Relationship to applicant Recommender s phone number(s): work Home Cell For the Recommender Dear Respondent, The young person named above is applying for a one-year educational and internship opportunity with Year Up. Year Up is a nonprofit organization that gives urban young adults the opportunity to learn technical and professional skills and apply those skills in a professional setting through an internship with a corporate partner, while earning a stipend throughout the program. Candidates must show a tremendous amount of commitment, character, competency, and initiative throughout their one-year commitment. Your observations of the applicant's character, leadership ability, computer skills, and aptitude will play a role in determining the applicant's suitability for this program. Please provide your recommendation through your thoughtful and detailed responses to the questions on the next page. Upon completion, this reference form should be sealed in an envelope with your signature written across the seal, and returned to the applicant to submit to Year Up. Conversely, you may choose to write a letter in which you respond to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 and email it to Jonell Bone at jbone@yearup.org. Thank you for your time! Your input is important to us and we look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, The Year Up Boston Admissions Staff 5
Assessment of Applicant Recommendation Form 1. How long have you known the applicant? In what capacity have you known the applicant? 2. What do you consider to be the applicant's strengths or talents, especially those that may be relevant to the Year Up program? 3. What do you consider to be the applicant's weaknesses? 4. What is your overall recommendation regarding this applicant's eligibility and ability to succeed in the Year Up program, and ultimately, in a professional environment? (Use space below or feel free to submit an attachment.) 6
Recommendation Form 5. Please evaluate the applicant in the following areas by marking the appropriate box below for each item. Check One Skill or Quality Basic computer/pc skills Works well with peers Takes initiative / pro-active Demonstrates responsibility, follow-through, and commitment to task Conflict resolution skills Time management skills Leadership ability Demonstrates integrity Record of attendance and being on time Critical thinking and problem solving skills Reads and writes at or near high school graduate level Demonstrates age-appropriate maturity Positive attitude and overall disposition Strong Yes or Very Good Okay or Average Needs Work Don t Know 6. Please feel free to comment on any of the characteristics for which you gave the applicant a very high or low rating above. (Use space below or feel free to submit an attachment.) 7. Please provide any other information that will help us evaluate this candidate's ability to succeed in the Year Up program and ultimately, in a professional environment where they earn college credit. (Use space below or feel free to submit an attachment.) Please return completed recommendation to the applicant in an envelope signed across the seal. 7
Health Insurance Year Up will need to take a copy of your health insurance card and, during the enrollment appointment you will be asked to submit further verification of health insurance to ensure compliance with state regulations for fulltime college students. If you do not have health insurance, it is important that you apply for Mass Health asap as the process can take several months. We will need a copy of your health insurance application to keep on file and ask that you bring in a copy of your health insurance card as soon as you are approved. Below you can find a list of resources where you can apply for Health Insurance: 1.) Mass Health Enrollment Center 1-888-665-9993 (Mass Health) 45-47 Spruce Street 1-877-623-6765 (Commonwealth Care) Chelsea, MA 02150 www.mahealthconnector.org 2.) Boston Medical Center 617-638-6800 Insurance Office Yawkey Building M Floor 850 Harrison Avenue - Boston 3.) Codman Square health Center 617-825-9600 Insurance Department (See Reception Desk in Main Building) 637 Washington Street Dorchester, MA 02124 4.) East Boston Neighborhood Health Center 617-568-4401 Enrollment Center 1 st Floor 10 Grove Street East Boston, MA 02128 5.) Mass General Hospital 617-726-2171 Outpatient Registration Department Wang Ambulatory Care Center 1 st floor 55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114 6.) South End Community Health Center 617-425-2000 1601 Washington Street Boston, MA 02118 Please note that the application process for Mass Health could take more than 3 weeks. Don t wait for the last minute to apply- make this your number one priority 8
Transcript Request Form To be submitted directly to your high school Last Name First name Middle initial Date Maiden or former name Address Apt/Unit # High School Name: To the Registrar or Guidance Counselor: Please forward TWO (2) official copies of my academic transcript to Year Up in to separately sealed envelopes. Please contact me regarding any concerns with releasing my transcript. City State Zip SS# - - Date of birth - - (MM-DD-YY) Date of graduation Signature Please mail my official transcripts to: Admissions Year Up Boston 93 Summer Street, 5 th Floor Boston, MA 02110 Thank You! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transcript Request Form To be submitted directly to your high school Last Name First name Middle initial Date Maiden or former name Address Apt/Unit # High School Name: To the Registrar or Guidance Counselor: Please forward TWO (2) official copies of my academic transcript to Year Up in to separately sealed envelopes. Please contact me regarding any concerns with releasing my transcript. City State Zip SS# - - Date of birth - - (MM-DD-YY) Date of graduation Signature Please mail my official transcripts to: Admissions Year Up Boston 93 Summer Street, 5 th Floor Boston, MA 02110 Thank You! 9
Please type or print clearly! Certification of Immunizations Please complete, sign and return to: Year Up Boston Admissions, 93 Summer Street, 5 th floor, Boston, MA 02110 Name Maiden or Former Name Address Apt Number City State Zip Home Phone Cell Phone Social Security Number - - Date of Birth - - Immunizations Measles Date first live vaccine given (MM-YY) - Exemption: The only circumstances in which you may Date second live vaccine given (MM-YY) - be exempt are: (check those that apply) Part Time Study (less than 12 credits Date of positive serological test (MM-YY) - undergraduate study per term; less than eight credits graduate study per term Mumps Birth before 1956 Date of vaccination or positive serological Conflicts with your religious beliefs (explain test (MM-YY) - in space below) Your physician, who has personally Rubella examined you, is of the opinion that your Date of vaccination or positive serological health would be endangered by the test (MM-YY) - required immunizations (explain below) Diphtheria Date basic series (three doses) completed (MM-YY) - Vaccine type (Circle) : DPT TD D T Tetanus (Students must have this every 10 yrs) Date basic series (three doses) completed (MM-YY) - Vaccine type (Circle) : DPT TD D T Diphtheria-Tetanus Booster Date of vaccination: (MM-YY) - Medical practice/school Last dose or booster must be within 10 years Address Hepatitis B Date given (MM-YY) - Physician/Nurse/School Official Name (Print) - - Physician/Nurse Signature Date - - 10
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) INFO ON COMPLETING FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Though Year Up pays tuition costs, all applicants must file a FAFSA prior to starting the program. If you are under 24, do not have children, and have parents or legal guardians working and living in the U.S., you will need to submit a parent or legal guardian s most recent tax returns or W-2. When filing your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov make sure you: File for the 2014-2015 school year Fill in the Cambridge College FAFSA Code (021829) Once you have completed the FAFSA, a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) will be emailed to you within 3-5 days. If you do not provide a valid email address, your SAR will be mailed to you via postal mail within 7-10 days. A copy of your SAR must be submitted to Year Up. For additional information or for help filling a FAFSA, contact uaspire or American Student Assistance to speak with a free financial aid advisors: uaspire American Student Assistance 31 Milk St #900 700 Boylston St (Boston Public Library) Boston, MA 02109 Boston, MA 02116 617-778-7195 617-617-536-0200 ext. 4716 www.uaspireusa.org/ www.asa.org 11