To St. John's University,

We are a group of high school students from Freedom & Citizenship at Columbia University, writing on behalf of high school students living in Queens including Astoria, Jackson Heights, and Flushing. We are reaching out to urge a partnership between St. John’s University and the College Advising Corps. This collaboration will leverage your current College Preparatory Program with Townsend Harris High School to bring college preparation through the form of guidance counselors to other high schools in our community.

72.8% of public school students in New York City are economically disadvantaged and have limited resources outside of school. The lack of adequate school counseling within public schools exacerbates this disadvantage. Although the recommended student-to-counselor ratio is 1:250, the ratio in New York City is 1: 331. The abnormal caseloads demonstrated by the ratio limiting counselors' ability to effectively advise students and provide individualized plans to further their postsecondary plans.

In light of this prevalent issue, we ask universities to act by partnering with the College Advising Corps (CAC). The CAC is an independent nonprofit organization with a national network spanning 15 states and 30 university partners advising students in 691 high schools. The program has yielded a 53% increase in college enrollment for students who meet with a CAC advisor compared to those who don’t in the same high school . They have served thousands of students, and with your institution’s support, they can extend their efforts to Queens high schools and fill the gaps in school counseling students encounter.

Developing a partnership between your institution and the CAC will allow Queens schools to effectively advise their students and support their post-secondary plans. Furthermore, the initiative will maximize students' academic potential and facilitate access to higher education through high-quality advising.

Finally, we urge you to forge a partnership with the CAC to bring this necessary program to Queens high schools. The CAC will help alleviate the deficiencies of the current college counseling system. Your support will enlighten and empower bright minds from underserved communities by giving them access to the transformative power of education.

Sincerely,

Students of the Freedom and Citizenship program, on behalf of Queens high school students