On a cold December day before the holiday break, 210 ninth graders from The Young Women’s Leadership Schools of East Harlem, the Bronx and Queens spent their day learning about college and how to plan for this important part of their high school career. YWL Foundation’s inaugural “College Discovery Day” was presented by JPMorgan Chase and was held at Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx. All students took part in a college fair, staffed by volunteers and alumni representing more then 30 colleges and universities, and early college awareness workshops led by YWLF’s outstanding team of college counselors. One student said, “Now I know what colleges look at, and if my grades drop, I need to bring them up and I should do after school activities.” 

In the morning, girls were welcomed by Gayle Jennings of JPMorgan Chase Foundation and received advice about going to college from Chase employee Ann Marie Griglick, a graduate of St. John’s University and the first person in her family to attend college. At lunch time, students sat with volunteers and recent TYWLS alumni and took part in an informal roundtable of questions and answers about going to college and the application process. We would like to thank JPMorgan Chase, Kips Bay and especially all the volunteers who shared their time and knowledge with our young women and helped give them a leg up on their exciting journey towards college!