August
We're approaching a new year! With all AmeriCorps members selected for the 2008-2009 term of service, new VISTAs will join Admission Possible at the St. Paul office towards the end of the month after attending AmeriCorps training. For the first few weeks, they will be helping Leadership Team members prepare for orientation and the annual retreat, preparing the curriculum and other materials that the AmeriCorps*State members will use in the schools, and learning the ropes and the history of Admission Possible.  As each new group of people begins a term of service, it's interesting to see what former AmeriCorps members say about Admission Possible.

"Being an AmeriCorps volunteer with Admission Possible has greatly impacted my outlook on the society we live in.  It has given me faith and hope that change is not only possible, but necessary, and that there is no other work more meaningful than helping young men and women find who they are and how many opportunities life has in store for them.  You even discover yourself in the process."  

-Aaron Salasek
2006-2007 Junior Coach at Roosevelt H.S.

September
As the VISTAs settle in and AmeriCorps members get started, we are busy with orientation!  We are learning the true meaning of Admission Possible’s seven idealistic leader traits, and putting them to good use.  Our many questions about our terms of service are answered as fast as we ask them!  Soon, coaches will meet the students that they will be serving in the year ahead. Last week we began to get to know each other, while learning about the student populations in each of our schools, talking about financial aid, college admissions, and learning about standardized tests.  Alumni Programming AmeriCorps members are getting to know the Admission Possible alumni - current college students that are graduates of Admission Possible - as they will be in contact with them throughout the year over the phone and in person.  ACES AmeriCorps members will meet the programming staff with which they will build partnerships, as well as the students that they will be serving. 

"I graduated with a degree in Social Justice and German from Hamline University. I believe that education is vital to future success and I love assisting high school students. Admission Possible is great because of its commitment to social and educational equality. It attracts engaged and committed students that are wonderful to serve. I love the atmosphere and the loan deduction is icing on the cake! If you are someone who loves serving  youth and likes to see results, then Admission Possible is for you!"

-Molly MacDougall
2006-2007 AmeriCorps Member

October
Thanks to the planning and dedication of the Workshop and Volunteer AmeriCorps Members, each person at Admission Possible - students, staff, and AmeriCorps members - will get involved in the community this month through our Volunteer Days and Make a Difference Day.  This is a month of firsts! The first Inside the Gate alumni newsletter, created especially for Admission Possible student alumni, will be published and mailed; the Admission Possible Board of Directors will meet for the first time this fiscal year; and students will take their very first practice ACT test as part of the Admission Possible Program. Students will begin going on campus visits; the first student-led workshops will give Admission Possible seniors a chance to share useful college information with sophomores in their schools; and seniors will begin the exciting process of exploring different colleges, as well as applying to colleges , financial aid & scholarships.

"When I first started looking for a position, I knew that I wanted to do something non-profit, and since I planned to attend graduate school, I wanted it to be temporary. That’s when I fell into looking for an AmeriCorps position. When I first came across Admission Possible, I was drawn to apply because of the way that the application was organized and because of their great website that made the positions of Admission Possible seem very hands on and challenging. Compared to other AmeriCorps positions, I felt that Admission Possible was a place I could make the most difference and could develop the most skills for my term of service. Although I had some teaching experience, I felt that I could best serve the organization with program and event planning, so I applied for an office position. I really enjoy my position and feel like I made the right choice.”

-Jy Xiong
2006-2007 & 2007-2008 Alumni Programming AmeriCorps Member

November
This month, junior and senior coaches will be assisting their students on essay writing skills.  The first newsletter of the year, The Gate, will be published and mailed, which will keep all of the community members, foundation staff, donors, former AmeriCorps members, and supporters updated on Admission Possible activities! Junior coaches will begin Kaplan trainings to better assist their students in improving ACT scores.  On November 14, 2006 our CEO, Jim McCorkell, was inducted as an Ashoka Fellow  in Mountain View, California in recognition of his success as a social entrepreneur!

December
At the end of the year, many people are making their annual charitable contributions, which keeps our development team busy! Since we could not pursue our mission without generous financial donations from our supporters, we're delighted to practice the idealistic leader's trait of being grateful by writing lots of thank you notes! A second Inside the Gate will be published, a Board of Directors meeting will occur, and many scholarship and college applications will be completed and submitted by seniors. In December of 2006, we were pleased to discover that Admission Possible was selected from businesses and organizations across the country for the Princeton Review’s national Best Entry-Level Jobs publication!

"One of the cool things about serving as an AmeriCorps member for Admission Possible is that we are serving beside 45 other AmeriCorps members much like us - for the most part, we are recent college grads who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students. We go through busy times and challenges together, but we get to celebrate and relax together as well. It's really rewarding to be part of a team of people all focused on the same goal!

Being an AmeriCorps member with Admission Possible is different from other entry-level positions in that we are given a significant amount of responsibility. Our supervisors trust us to get things done and give us the flexibility to be creative in our approach and implementation of projects. Instead of just doing "grunt-work" such as pushing papers, we do meaningful things that impact students' lives, and we get the credit and intrinsic feeling of accomplishment when they are a success!"

-Kate Friedrichs
2006-2007  & 2007-2008 Workshop/Volunteer AmeriCorps Member

January
Financial aid is the name of the game this month, as the senior coaches help their students complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and push them to continue applying for scholarships.  The second Admission Possible practice ACT test will help to boost student scores and confidence!  During this time of year, there are many Admission Possible ripples that are changing lives and affecting futures, thanks to the dedicated efforts of everyone involved - it is easy to see why it is so important that Admission Possible exists.

“I get up early and challenge myself all day to serve some of the best, funniest people I've ever known: my students.  I correct essays, help with scholarships and financial forms, and organize their college applications.  Sometimes, my students are so wonderful, they make me want to cry.  And sometimes, they're so frustrating that they make me want to cry.  But at the end of the long day comes the moment: I run into someone who doesn't know what I do, and I get to tell them that almost every hour of my day is spent making sure there is more equality in the world.  That every essay I correct means a kid who deserves it will have a future. Thanks in part to one year of my life, 34 people will have that most profound of gifts: a future of possibility rather than a future of choices they never get to make.”

-Carolyn Herman
2005-2006  and 2006-2007 Coach at Patrick Henry H.S.

February
Juniors and seniors continue to visit college campuses around the region, and juniors will work with their coaches to start planning for their summer enrichment activities.  Sometimes, Admission Possible is featured in the media - such as a recent news article about an Admission Possible student, included in a four-part series in the Star Tribune, which follows her through her senior year of high school and reports on her experience with the college admissions process!

"I was encouraged to apply to Admission Possible by a classmate who had been an AmeriCorps member here in the past. Her experience with Admission Possible inspired me to be a part of the organization and to do my part to better our community. As an Alumni AmeriCorps member at Admission Possible, I try to stay connected with our students after they graduate from high school and continue on to college. I think my role is important because not only do we want our students to gain admission to college - we also want them to succeed once they get there.

On a typical day in the office, I try to contact alumni via email or phone to check-in, offer my support, suggest resources and options, and help them navigate any obstacles they may be facing. I've also had a chance to write newsletter articles, plan events on- and off-campus, and create amazingly complex spreadsheets. For these and many other reasons, I feel like my work at Admission Possible is different from other entry-level positions. I have many varying responsibilities, all of which have provided me with new skills and experiences, and I am fortunate to be with an amazing group of idealistic, passionate, and dedicated peers every day."

-Meaghan Larson
2006-2007 Alumni AmeriCorps Member

March
Transitioning to college will be the exciting topic in senior coach sessions, starting this month and continuing until graduation. There are many exciting opportunities for alumni such as internships, job fairs, community meetings and conferences available during this time, as well as all year long.  There are also many scholarships available to students who are already in college, and we encourage our alumni to continue submitting those applications.  Both The Gate and the Inside the Gate will be published this month, both of which serve to answer frequently asked questions.

"One of the great things about Admission Possible is that AmeriCorps members directly carry out the tasks and mission of the organization.  You are given a lot of responsibility but at the same time have plenty of support from a dedicated group of leadership staff.  The leadership team is a great group of experienced supervisors who are always looking out for you.  I moved 1,200 miles across the country to serve an AmeriCorps term with Admission Possible and have felt fully supported from day one.  The organization does all that it can to help its AmeriCorps members make ends meet on their tight budgets by providing money-saving advice and resources.  I have met wonderful people and feel that my efforts are truly making a difference.  It's rewarding to be a part of a community of like-minded recent college graduates.  Everyone is exceptionally dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students, but outside of those responsibilities there are always fun social outings to enjoy.  I feel really fortunate to be a part of this organization and fully recommend it to anyone!" 

-Caitlyn Schnure
 2006-2007 AmeriCorps Member

April
Junior coaches: this is what you have prepared for all year!  The real ACT will happen this month, and the test scores of our students will add to our current average ACT improvement of 18%!  The Princeton Review’s 2008 Best Entry-Level Jobs national publication, for which Admission Possible was selected, became available in April 2007.

May
Spring is in the air and so are the graduation caps!  Seniors will graduate from the Admission Possible Program and join our growing group of Admission Possible student alumni, who will begin to receive alumni  newsletters - first, an At the Gate to help them look ahead at their first semester of college - and then, the Inside the Gate, once they have begun their coursework in the fall.  It’s so exciting to see where our alumni are attending college!

"One of the great things about Admission Possible is that you gain valuable experience in many different areas by being an AmeriCorps member here.  Not only do you get exposure to serving young people, but you also learn to plan lessons, work in groups, and navigate office life.  Also, you are given real responsibilities, which is unique for an entry-level position.  The Leadership Team trusts you to make good decisions and to do your best.  It is powerful to be given that faith and freedom in your role.

 It’s fun to serve with other like-minded people who are all passionate about what Admission Possible does.  Everyone is supportive and wants you to succeed so that your students succeed.  The feeling around Admission Possible is to work hard, love what you do, and not forget to have some fun!"

-Taylor Swartz
2006-2007 & 2007-2008 Coach at Highland Park H.S.

July
AmeriCorps*State members have officially ended their service and they will be missed tremendously.  Hopefully, quite a few of them will choose to spend a second year at Admission Possible, and continue their efforts in the schools and in building our program’s capacity.  It’s wonderful to see where the AmeriCorps alumni are now, and what they are doing after their term of service!  It is also amazing to hear all of the great things that our AmeriCorps alumni have to say about Admission Possible.

"What's great about serving Admission Possible is that every day is a learning experience. Since the organization is still young, there is a lot of discussion about the way it operates, what works well and what can be improved. Each time I catch a portion of one of these discussions I learn something about the organization, the individuals it serves, the community in which it operates, and/or issues surrounding access to education. It's also pretty amazing serving alongside so many dedicated and talented individuals. I've worked in many teams but never have I cooperated with so many people who take their commitments so seriously. It's really refreshing.

A typical day as an Alumni AmeriCorps Member includes sending emails and/or calling alumni, responding to students' inquiries and directing them to resources that can meet their needs, planning events for various alumni groups and, on occasion, writing articles for the alumni newsletter and/or collecting data on various groups of alumni to create reports used by the organization."

-Kelsey Nolan
2006-2007 & 2007-2008 Alumni AmeriCorps Member

August
Our VISTA members officially become AmeriCorps alumni this month, when their service ends mid-month....unless they return for a second year!  Another school year is fast approaching, and the new VISTA members will begin their term of service at the end of August.  All of a sudden - another year has been added to the history of Admission Possible!