The vision of the Consortium is to position Greater Worcester as a premier destination for undergraduate and graduate students as well as college and university faculty and staff.
Middle & High School Resources
- Want a good job?
- Want to make good money?
- Want a good start in life?
Go to college!
In America today, earning a two- or four-year college degree is critical to economic success and to providing the knowledge and skills needed for life. Getting into and succeeding in college requires time, effort and careful planning by both students and parents.
The Consortium can help you plan for, get into and pay for college – no matter your cultural background or socio-economic level. Consortium services include:
- Inspiring young people to want to attend college
- Preparing them for the challenges of higher education
- Providing academic programs and financial aid information
- Providing assistance in completing college and financial aid applications
- Assisting students and their families in interpreting their financial aid awards and providing guidance toward the most cost-effective options for a college education
- Advising and testing for academic placement and career goals
- Providing support to help students stay in college
With federal and state funding, the Consortium provides in-school services to middle and high school students in Worcester, New Bedford, Springfield and Holyoke.
Educational Talent Search (ETS), a federally funded TRIO program, serves 7th -12th grade youth in Worcester, New Bedford and Springfield. Youth who have the potential to succeed in college but who are educationally or economically disadvantaged are eligible for ETS at no charge.
GEAR UP Worcester: GEAR UP, funded through a contract with the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, provides services to middle and high school students in targeted schools in Worcester, New Bedford, Springfield and Holyoke. The GEAR UP program also provides professional development services to teachers and guidance counselors at GEAR UP schools statewide. All services are provided free of charge.
CollegeAccess: This program helps high school students and adults learn about education/training options and how to access them and is available in southeastern Mass., Central Mass./southern Worcester County, and the Pioneer Valley. The project is provided in partnership with Valley Opportunity Council and Seven Hills Behavioral Health and is supported in part through the Mass. Dept. of Higher Education's College Access Challenge Grant program.
CSI Worcester is a locally funded college access program, serving students from five Worcester public high schools. Many of the participants are from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
For more information about these programs, contact Pamela Boisvert (pboisvert [at] cowc [dot] org), Consortium vice president.
To learn more about the Consortium and planning for college, visit Planning for College.