We speak with Michael Sanchez, executive director of Circle Match (formerly TCAT), a program that helps students in underserved high schools apply to colleges. Circle Match serves low income students, primarily of color, who are the first in their families to apply to college. Participants in turn assist classmates, thus creating a college-going culture and subsequently on-campus support. Circle Match students have been extraordinarily successful in gaining admission to elite colleges and universities.
Overview
00:00-00:43 Intros
00:43-02:14 Michael Sanchez’s own K-12 and college admission experiences
02:14-05:27 How these experiences influenced the concept of Circle Match
05:27-10:34 How Circle Match works
10:34-13:56 The people involved in Circle Match
13:56-15:46 Helping students with culture shock at Ivy league schools
15:46-18:54 Students’ responses to giant differences in wealth, income, expectations
18:54-21:10 Affinity groups of different types
21:10-23:36 Why Circle Match focuses on Ivies and other prestigious schools
23:36-26:21 Working with students who won’t get into Ivies
26:21-28:38 Making connections with other-than-Hispanic communities
28:38-30:22 Next schools to partner with
30:22-33:04 Communication with parents
33:04-34:07 Data on families
34:07-35:45 Admissions success rate
35:45-37:59 Going away to college as an issue for parents
37:59-40:55 Funding
40:55- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
Click here to know more about Circle Match.
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
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