ABOUT THE PROGRAM

At Rutgers Future Scholars, we believe that access to higher education not only changes the lives of our students, but also has the power to change entire communities.

Each year, the Rutgers Future Scholars program offers 215 first-generation, low-income, academically promising middle school students from New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark, Camden and Rahway the opportunity for a college education. Click on a town to learn more about each program.

In the summer before their 8th grade year, students become part of a unique pre-college culture of university programming, events, support, and mentoring that will continue through their high school years, and eventually college.

The Rutgers Future Scholars program does not replace high school. The program is additional to your standard high school classes, intended to prepare students for college by providing them with honors classes, cultural events, career skills, sports, and more. Future Scholars are expected to complete their regular schoolwork as well as the additional requirements of the Rutgers Future Scholars program.

Students who successfully participate in the five-year program and are accepted into Rutgers University, will receive a tuition assistance scholarship, after all federal and state grant aid has been applied.

In short, Rutgers Future Scholars offers hope, opportunity, and tuition scholarship.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Rutgers Future Scholars program are to:

• Increase the number of promising students who complete high school.
• Encourage them to apply to and attend post secondary educational institutions, including Rutgers University.
• Develop a replicable model to incite peer institutions in-state and nationwide.

ACADEMIC AND DEVELOPMENT THEMES

Rutgers Future Scholars participate in a series of active, focused workshops and events intended to foster each student’s academic, social, and personal development.

Each year, participants build on their ability to confront and master new challenges, develop the skills needed to score competitively on college entrance exams, as well as explore career options.

Scholars are required to attend mentoring, college readiness, enrichment, academic support, and team building seminars.

During the summer months, students are also expected to enroll in rigorous enrichment courses for a minimum of three weeks (some six) to earn early college credit.

Each summer, Scholars are required to participate in programs on their local Rutgers campus.

The summer program has many purposes:

• It boosts a student’s academic skills.
• It introduces them to careers and college majors in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), plus liberal and performing arts.
• It also offers students the experience of living on a real-world college campus.

Building a strong network of support is vital to each student’s overall academic success and future professional career.

The Rutgers Future Scholars program connects students with a Future Scholars Mentor who provides them with mentoring, tutoring, and personal guidance. The Scholars receive tutoring as necessary to strengthen their academic achievement.

Some students may need personal counseling with issues in the areas of family or personal stress or health concerns. The mentors assigned to the students connect them with Rutgers resources in the areas of social work or personal counseling as needed.

Future Scholars from the same school district periodically take part in cohort meetings. This cohort bonding provides the chance for peers to interact and encourage each other. These meetings take place monthly in the school district, or on a Rutgers University local campus.

When the school year begins, Scholars receive continuous support to assure success and motivation. We build on key points learned from the summer and provide unique events throughout the year.

The Rutgers Future Scholars’ Seminar Series consists of topics such as:

• Climbing the Academic Success Ladder
• College Application Process
• Financial Planning
• Career Exploration
• Avoiding High School Minefields

Future Scholars are exposed to a wide array of fine arts and performing arts at Rutgers.

With its nationally recognized museums and art galleries, art facilities, notable actors, musicians, and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, there are always wonderful events and extraordinary people to meet and experience.