This year, Summer Search New York wrapped up one of our most ambitious outreach and recruitment seasons yet—one defined by curiosity, innovation, and a willingness to be bold in service of students and families. 

As we prepare to welcome more than 500 new sophomores across the network by March 2026, our NY team used this season as a pilot opportunity to rethink what early engagement with Summer Search could look like—and how it could feel for students and their caregivers. 

Innovation Rooted in Student Experience 

At the heart of this pilot season was a clear goal: elevate the student experience by building stronger, earlier connections to the program team and ensuring clarity about what it truly means to be part of Summer Search. 

We wanted students to enter the program feeling informed, confident, and excited—ready to engage deeply in mentoring and prepared for the journey ahead. At the same time, we recognized how critical it was for parents and caregivers to understand the program, feel connected to our team, and trust the process. 

That intention led us to rethink our traditional outreach and enrollment timeline. 

A New Approach: Rolling Admissions & Faster Acceptance 

After weeks of collaboration with stakeholders across Summer Search—and multiple rounds of iteration and feedback to catch blind spots—the NY team launched a rolling application and enrollment process. 

This approach introduced: 

• Faster acceptance timelines, allowing students who applied as early as September to move through the process within a month. 
• Concurrent phases of application and enrollment, with three application deadlines that overlapped with enrollment. 
• Earlier program start points, with students beginning engagement as early as November rather than waiting until March to hear next steps. 

By February 13, enrolled students will already be fully onboarded—months earlier than in previous years. 

Meeting Students and Families Where They Are 

To support clarity and access, students were encouraged to begin their applications during school presentations, reducing barriers and creating momentum in real time. 

We also introduced required virtual information sessions for students and families—highly attended spaces that offered a clear overview of the Summer Search model, mentoring, summer experiences, expectations, and the application process. These sessions were energized by parent and student ambassadors who shared their own experiences and helped bring the program to life for new families. 

In some cases, parents joined sessions even before completing the family portion of the application. Our hypothesis was that meeting the team and learning more about the program might help caregivers who were hesitant feel confident enough to move forward—an insight we’re continuing to explore through data and reflection. 

Building Community Early: Mentoring Module 0 

Another key innovation was the launch of Mentoring Module 0, a group-based introduction to Summer Search designed by Summer Search New York Director of Programs, Borah Coburn and co-led with Cynthia Garcia, Summer Search New York High School Manager who ensured our professional mentors were ready and prepared in successfully facilitate these sessions.

Designed to align with the shifted timeline, Module 0 created space for: 

• Clear understanding of key elements of our program including: 

• What individual and group mentoring are and how they work 

• The types of summer experiences we offer and how young people can expect to grow through them  

• Our approach to post-secondary and career support 

• Relationship-building with staff and fellow accepted students 

• Early community formation during the enrollment phase 

Reflecting on its purpose, Borah noted, “This was also part of what Module 0 is all about—creating additional Group Mentoring content in acknowledgement of shifted timeline and trying to make sure it aligned with and supported checks for understanding and community building for sophomores in enrollment.” 

This additional mentoring content acknowledged that students were joining earlier—and ensured they felt supported, informed, and connected from the very beginning.
 

What Students Are Excited About 

Across the network, students are already naming what they’re most excited about as they imagine their Summer Search journey. Students shared hopes that reflect the very experiences this season aimed to make more accessible and tangible from the start: 

• “Getting to step out of my comfort zone.” 

• “The community and the opportunities.” 

• “Having a mentor to guide me through high school.” 

• “Meeting new people and building new connections.” 

• “Traveling and gaining new experiences.” 

• “Adventure and belonging.” 

• “Building friendships and having a support system.” 

• “Learning new skills and exploring opportunities for my future.” 

Their words echo a shared excitement for mentorship, community, exploration, and growth—the core of what Summer Search strives to offer from the very first point of contact. 

Looking Ahead 

As of January 27th, the NY team entered the final stage of enrollment with a goal of 140 students—and had already enrolled 100. The team is now actively debriefing, reflecting on learnings, and identifying what to carry forward into next year. 

What made this season different wasn’t just the numbers—it was the mindset. By leading with curiosity, centering student experience and student and family understanding, and embracing innovation, Summer Search New York took a bold step toward creating a more engaging, transparent, and affirming entry point into the program. 

And this is just the beginning.