The Mentoring for Academic Achievement and College Success (MAACS) program was developed in 1988 in response to the high dropout and low college attendance rates among Bridgeport, Connecticut public high school students. MAACS pairs high school students in all three Bridgeport public high schools with college mentors from Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Bridgeport. Students meet one-on-one with their mentors for 45 minutes per week during the school year. During this time, the pairs work together on all aspects of college exploration, preparation, and application. Student-mentor activities are based on the student’s grade level and individual needs, and may include goal-setting, interest inventories, college searches, SAT preparation, college searches, college applications, and financial aid applications. A number of supplementary activities reinforce the bonds between students and their mentors and provide students with exposure to college life. These include “Shadow Days,” in which students spend a day on their mentors’ college campuses, movie nights, and sporting events.

While MAACS has historically done an excellent job helping students perceive college as a realistic option and successfully apply to college, an additional component was required to ensure that students who attend college complete their studies. The advent of the College Assistance Program (CAP) in 2003 provides high school seniors who are planning to attend college with an informational three-day workshop that addresses issues including financial aid, financial planning, health and wellness, writing skills, and social issues. Students who attend the workshop are eligible for academic, financial, and social advising from CAP staff throughout their college careers, a $100 stipend each semester, and emergency financial assistance once they complete freshman year.

In recent years, the importance of collaboration in successful college preparatory programs has become apparent. MAACS staff has developed relationships with several agencies doing related work. Additionally, MAACS staff currently participates in several collaborative initiatives, including the Bridgeport Higher Education Commission, the ARISE program, and career-based mentoring with Area Health Education Centers and Fairfield University. Such collaborative work helps ensure that MAACS is providing the most informed and comprehensive services possible to Bridgeport students.