College & Career Bridge For All

College & Career Bridge for All increases postsecondary enrollment by hiring and training college students to provide meaningful advising to graduating seniors through the postsecondary planning, financial aid, and matriculation processes. The near-peer Bridge Coach model is cost-effective, has demonstrated an impact on postsecondary enrollment, and provides paid, professional work experience to college students. Launched in 2016 in collaboration with New York City Public Schools, College & Career Bridge for All is housed in the CUNY Office of K16 Initiatives College & Career Advising Programs.

In 2020, we scaled our program to ensure that all students in the NYCDOE graduating class have access to a near-peer Bridge Coach to support them on their postsecondary journey. As a city-wide program, we serve more than 50,000 students annually as they graduate from the NYCDOE. Our Coaches work from June – September to support an average of 250 students. Coaches meet weekly in teams for supervision and professional development sessions. Coaches earn $20 per hour, and up to $5,000 by the end of the program. Want to work with us?

Every summer College & Career Bridge for All serves 50,000+ students as they graduate from the NYC Public Schools. With the support of their Coaches, each fall approximately 70% enroll in college – with the vast majority choosing CUNY. College & Career Bridge for all supports more than half of all first time freshmen entering CUNY. For those who don’t enroll in the fall, we offer Winter Bridge to support them to enroll in the Spring and continue their educational journey.

Coaches provide meaningful support: students who engaged with their coach enrolled in Fall 2022 at a rate 9% higher than students who did not; in our Spring 2021 Winter Bridge program, it was 18% higher. Additionally, students who connected with their Bridge Coach were disproportionately community college bound, Hispanic or Latinx, and graduates of high schools with low postsecondary enrollment rates, suggesting that Bridge Coach supports are filling a gap for  populations historically underrepresented in higher education. Analysis has shown that our impact is strongest for these students: low-income, Spanish-speaking, Hispanic or Latinx, and Black students who had coach support were more likely to enroll than their peers without Coach support (Impact Assessment).

We partner with other similar near-peer matriculation programs run by College Access: Research and Action (CARA), New Visions for Public Schools, the Urban Assembly, and Student Leadership Network to share best practices and provide mutual support. Collectively, we serve all graduating high school seniors across the NYCDOE.

Hear Kellyah’s College & Career Bridge for All  experience as a student and Coach here and check out our program impact section for more.

My coach truly was the best guidance I’ve ever experienced. Nobody else was as patient or kind as her. She sat down and explained everything to me and understood my point of view as well as where I was coming from. Everyone deserves to have a great support system like that, especially when entering college.”