I tried finding this answer by searching through old posts. If I missed it, I apologize. I need to figure out what “an authorized community-based organization” is.
My high school counselor told me “I see no reason why schools wouldn’t consider you first generation,” but she and I kept e-mailing back and forth. You know how it was. School started being online the second week of March. Our emails never went anywhere before school ended.
She is new to being a college counselor and all her previous background was in marketing. I go to a small charter school in an affluent area. You get into the school by lottery, but the end result is that low-income students, Latinx students, and African American students are all underrepresented at the school in a county where those groups are already underrepresented compared to the nation. I totally understand why she’s never had to apply for TRiO programs for a student or apply for SAT waivers on behalf of a student.
I say all this to explain why it’s important that I figure out what “an authorized community-based organization” is.
All the stuff online says I can only apply for an SAT waiver through my high school counselor or “an authorized community-based organization.” I can only apply for TRiO programs through my high school counselor or “an authorized community-based organization.”
But what in the world is “an authorized community-based organization”?
If this is in reference to college admissions specifically, these are organizations that would help with a college application. On the common app, there’s a drop down menu of pre-selected orgs to choose from. Some examples include: 21st Century Scholars, Boys and Girls Clubs, Girl/Boys Scouts. Of course, you’re only supposed to include these if they help you in the application process.
I gather your goal is to get somebody who is not your GC to file for the fee waivers for you- but that just gets around the immediate issue, and doesn’t deal with the larger issue: your GC will have to write an LoR for you- and it will matter a lot- so developing a good relationship with her is important. Doing an end run around her won’t help.
So, instead of putting a lot of effort in finding an outside org to do your fee waiver apps for you, go back to working with the GC. There is a link on the College Board website that tells schools how to do it:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/k12-educators/advising-instruction/requesting-fee-waivers
@collegemom3717 On the last e-mail I sent her, it said she will not be responding to her email until August 5th. I do not want to wait until August 5th to get this ball rolling.
I’m trying to understand the issue…are you trying to get a test fee waiver, or do you want to work with a college admissions CBO?
Are you receiving free or reduced lunch at school?
Have you taken the ACT or SAT test yet?
Any updates from your previous thread? http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/22557155
A local YMCA might be one. Have you read all of the info on the College Board site? It might list the authorized community-based organizations by state and then you can narrow it down. I think finding out what your resources locally are is a great first step, then you can work with your GC when s/he returns. I think it’s a great idea to sign up before August. Given the strangeness of this year, it’s good to have a spot.
Also, some of the Community based organizations might offer some valuable services like free SAT prep, help with various aspects of applying etc. We have an organization nearby that helps kids much as a GC would but through the lens of someone coming from a different background. They know FA is important, they start SAT prep early, they push kids to take the PSAT etc. These organizations often understand students with demographics that are perhaps different from those at your charter school. They also often have volunteers who came from that area and successfully graduated from college and want to help. In my area, there are three such organizations filled with people who want to help first gens get into and succeed in college.