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What We Do

A Better Chance helps academically-talented students of color access the best educational opportunities for middle school and high school.

Our College Preparatory Schools Program (CPSP) nationally recruits, places, and supports students enrolled in grades 4 through 9 at more than 300 independent day, boarding, and select public schools.

Our 18 month application process begins with the application release on February 1 and concludes in August of the following year, by which time Scholars have been successfully placed and enrolled at one of our Member Schools. During these months, we select candidates, evaluate their strengths, and work with them to navigate the independent school application process.

We do not provide scholarships, but for over 50 years we have specialized in helping families navigate the admissions process for college preparatory schools in order to obtain a quality education - which includes orienting families to financial aid processes and leveraging scholarship funds on their behalf.

On average, it costs A Better Chance thousands of dollars to see each student successfully through our program. However, the services we provide to our families are free.

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Our application for the 2021-2022 school year is now OPEN.

To be considered, you must complete the application by April 15. Please read the Eligibility Requirements prior to applying.

We strongly recommend that you take a moment to review our application guidelines and faqs before you start the application.

To Begin the application, click here
Please remember to save or bookmark the link.

Note: if you are a teacher or school official completing a recommendation for a student, please do not use the link above to create an account for the application. If you are having difficulty accessing the student's recommendation, please contact us via email at admissions@abetterchance.org with “Recommendation Help” in the subject of your email. Remember to include the name of the applicant(s) whose recommendation you are trying to access.

The Stages in Our Process

Applicant
Applicant

4 Months

Applicants must establish their eligibility for the program through our rigorous application process and attend an information session as they work toward Candidacy. 

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Candidate
Candidate

14 Months

Candidates go through an intensive cycle of preparatory workshops on everything from essay-writing to mock interviewing. At the same time, A Better Chance works to connect each Candidate with their best fit Member Schools.  Candidacy ends upon a student's enrollment at one of these Member Schools.

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Scholar
Scholar

3-6 Years

A Scholar, once enrolled at a Member School, has access to incredible benefits.  These include summer abroad programs, support getting ready for college, and more.  Each Scholar is also part of an incredible network that celebrates together and supports each other.

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Alumni
Alumni

For Life

More than 16,000 trailblazing Alumni found a turning point in their lives through A Better Chance.  They are leaders across the United States, in every imaginable industry, and their influence has already been instrumental in shaping the world as we know it.  They are also part of a vital, supportive community.  

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Get to Know Our Current Scholars