College Scholars Program FAQ

There are a lot of great programs to apply to that will help you with the college application and financial aid process. The most significant difference between other programs and the College Scholars Program is philosophical. It is our philosophy that our students should enroll in the most competitive and selective colleges and universities in the country with significant financial aid so that attending these schools is affordable. We accomplish this through a 17-month long immersion program that not only helps our students become stronger applicants, but also successful college students. After the program concludes, our graduates receive yearly visits from SEEDS staff during the first two years of college.

In one of our most recent graduating classes, students received 131 acceptances to 61 colleges and universities in 13 states, and the District of Columbia. All students were admitted to at least one school classified by Barron’s as “Most Competitive,” “Highly Competitive,” or “Very Competitive.” 90% were admitted to a “Most Competitive” school.

A Recent Matriculation List (sorted by the high school the SEEDS student graduated from):

Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy (1 student)
Northeastern University

Barringer High School (1 student)
Villanova University

Belleville High School (1 student)
Colgate University

Carteret High School (1 student)
Bates College

East Orange STEM Academy (3 students)
Colby College
Cornell University
Smith College

Hackensack High School (6 students)
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Case Western Reserve University
Johns Hopkins University
Rutgers -The State University of NJ -New Brunswick
Washington University

Harrison High School (1 student)
Nova Southeastern University

Innovation High School (1 student)
New Jersey City University

James J. Ferris High School (2 students)
Montclair State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Kearny High School (1 student)
Rutgers -The State University of NJ -New Brunswick

North Bergen High School (3 students)
Barnard College
Cornell University
Stevens Institute of Technology

Orange High School (4 students)
Lehigh University
Smith College
University of Richmond
Vassar College

Perth Amboy High School (2 students)
Emory University
Wesleyan University

Rahway High School (3 students)
Gettysburg College
Northeastern University
Smith College

Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts (3 students)
Montclair State University
Skidmore College
Union College

Technology High School (2 students)
Georgetown University
Lehigh University

Union City High School (1 student)
University of Richmond

Union High School (2 students)
Colgate University
Northeastern University

University High School (1 student)
College of the Holy Cross

The College Scholars Program is 17 months long. Students begin Saturday classes with SEEDS in the second half of their junior year of high school. SEEDS classes continue for a three-week residential session the summer before 12th grade. Then, students participate in academic classes each Saturday of the 12th grade year. For more information, click here.

The College Scholars Program is an academically rigorous 17-month program that enrolls approximately 40 students from 65 partner high schools each year. Therefore, the SEEDS selections process attempts to select well-rounded, high-achieving students for this opportunity.

Applicants demonstrate their potential to successfully perform in SEEDS by submitting transcripts, an application, writing prompts, standardized test scores, and recommendation forms. Not everyone who submits a completed application with supporting documents will be selected to proceed to the final phase of the admissions process, which is an interview with the student and parent or guardian.

We are looking for students with excellent grades in the most challenging courses offered (honors, AP, IB), strong NJSLA scores, excellent writing ability, extensive involvement in extracurricular activities, and stellar recommendations.

The College Scholars Program takes place each Saturday at Drew University in Madison and the residential summer program takes place at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY) each summer.

No, there is no charge for participating in any SEEDS program. We are a nonprofit organization funded entirely by private donations.

Yes, SEEDS provides free transportation to all our students.

The mission of the College Scholars Program is not only to place students into the most selective colleges and universities in the country with sufficient financial aid, it’s also to make sure they succeed in their studies and graduate. In order to fulfill our commitment of not only making our students stronger applicants to these schools, but also excellent students, the curriculum consists of the following:

• Three week summer residential experience on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges
• Saturday classes during the school year at Drew University
• ACT test prep
• LOTS of writing: Journal/reflective writing; argumentative writing; preparing personal statements; critical reading seminars
• Comprehensive assistance with the Common Application
• College transition seminars
• College tours
• Scholarship research

Working with our staff, students undertake a comprehensive college search, complete with campus tours, visits from college representatives, counseling, mentoring, and fly-in weekend applications. At the same time, we work with each College Scholar to complete college applications, develop compelling essays and secure the maximum available financial aid.

SEEDS works with colleges to obtain 90-100% in financial aid and scholarships directly from the schools our scholars attend. The College Scholars Program is designed to provide students and their families with the resources and information to prepare them for the college application and financial aid processes. All financial aid packages will be reviewed with students and their families.