This Seems Like A Worthy Endeavor!

As I was glancing through this volunteer opportunity in Northern California, I got to wondering how prevalent such mentor programs are:

"The Marin Education Fund is looking for potential mentors to assist high school students with the college and financial aid process.

Mentors will be partnered with the graduates of Marin Education Fund's 2010 Summer Application Institute, a program that assists first-generation high school juniors and seniors from low-income families by providing them with information regarding the application process.

The program will run from May 2010 through June 2011. The Marin Education Fund will provide training and support for mentors.

Potential mentors should have a college degree and be interested in working one-on-one with a high school student for one year.

For information, call 451-4016 or visit www.marineducationfund.org."

In an attempt to answer my own question, here is what I uncovered in quick search:

• First Generation College Bound (Laurel, MD):  "Without FGCB, most of these young people would not have known how to navigate the college admission process and, even if accepted, could not have afforded the cost. FGCB stands out among college access programs in helping its participants secure financial aid - $2.7 million from 2001-2007. It also stands out in continuing to mentor students through that crucial first year of college, and beyond.

• Draft report titled "Pre-College Outreach Programs For Low-Income Students:  A Literature Review" noted the positive effects of mentoring:  "Levine and Nidiffer (1996) conducted in-depth case studies with 24 low-income students who overcame substantial obstacles and enrolled in higher education.  In each case, the student cited the positive effect of a mentor on their academic success.  Mentors generally provided these students with motivation and information on resources, course-taking, test-taking, college applications, and financial aid.  Researchers found that students who engage with a mentor for sustained period of time are more likely to enroll in higher education (Gandara, 2001).

• UC-San Diego's A3 mentoring program:  "Since the 2004-2005 school year when A3 began as a pilot program at Castle Park High School (in the Sweetwater Union High School District), an increasing number of juniors and seniors there are experiencing A3's personal approach to college prep through interaction with UCSD mentors...The number of high school students participating in the program this year, she reports, more than doubled to 47, and of the 23 high school seniors who participated this year, 12 will be incoming UCSD freshmen this fall.

Anyone aware of other effective mentoring programs for first-generation, minority and/or low-income students?