Summer Search is a year-round program that empowers young people to confidently pursue their vision of success during and after high school through mentoring, summer experiential learning opportunities, individualized college & post-secondary advising, and career supports.

We believe that all young people should have the support to pursue their purpose and secure their financial futures. Starting in sophomore year, your student will be paired with a staff mentor and a group of peers for regular conversations where they will work together on building social emotional and leadership skills and exploring college and career options after high school. Your student will receive support from our community for 7-9 years as your student journeys from high school through to launching their career.

We partner with more than 90 high schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Philadelphia, Boston and New York city.  Please visit our school partner page to learn whether Summer Search is working with your student’s high school.

There is no cost to participate in the Summer Search program.

Sophomores who attend one of our partner schools (or are connected with one of our partners) and who meet our eligibility guidelines can apply to Summer Search. To be eligible for Summer Search, prospective students must be sophomores from a partner school, be Free and Reduced lunch-eligible and be born on or after August 1, 2003.

Your student will be invited to complete an online application linked to the Summer Search website. Once they complete their part of the application, you’ll receive an email invitation to review their application and complete some additional information about yourself and your household in your preferred language. This step may include providing income verification.

Your student will participate in an interview or welcome conversation with Summer Search to get to more information about the program and meet some of our staff to help your student decide whether to enroll in our program.

The power of this program comes from the combination of the depth of support provided by Summer Search and the mutual investment made by each young person in our program. Initially to enroll in the program you and your student will be asked to complete an application which includes providing information about your family’s financial picture.

Once your student is accepted into the program, you will be invited to talk with your child’s mentor over the phone, review materials about the program in your preferred language and attend an orientation (which will be virtual in the 2020/2021 school year) to share more details and answer questions. There are other opportunities to connect with your child’s mentor and post-secondary advisor through the program, including attending events and meetings. There is no cost to participate in the Summer Search program.