It can be confusing and intimidating to start off on the long path to a bachelor’s degree. If you are a graduating high school student or parent who would like some extra support on this journey, City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University have a program that can help!
Known as the “Metro Academies,” these programs offer many support services and a smooth pathway to put students on a clear fast track to graduation and success. The program is intended for first-time students recently graduated from high school who are able to spend two full days a week taking classes. Metro Academies just received a national award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for its outstanding results in helping disadvantaged students successfully graduate from college.
The Metro Academies function as “schools within schools” for the first two years of college, the time when many students would otherwise drop out. A cohort of 70 students shares two classes every semester, working together over two years. Students, faculty and counselors get to know each other well.
Metro students are connected to faculty who inspire them, are committed to their success and have high expectations for them. Throughout the program, students are given academic counseling, tutoring, financial aid information and personalized connections with other campus services. Students also benefit from writing-intensive courses, a challenging and relevant curriculum, specially trained faculty and a classroom culture focused on student success.
All of the Metro Academies have a relevant curriculum that is based on the real-life experience of students. The program gives students an early exposure to a possible career in fields such as health and social services, child development or science and engineering. Metro prepares students to give back to their communities and learn leadership skills for social justice.
Too many students become frustrated with taking courses that count for nothing toward graduation, spending precious time and money. Students who successfully complete City College are guaranteed admission to San Francisco State University and other Cal State Universities. A Metro student at City College on average transfers two years faster than students not in Metro and earns a higher grade point average. Nine times as many Metro students are ready to transfer in only two years compared to similar students not in Metro.
One hundred percent of the core classes within the Metro Academies satisfy graduation requirements for both an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree. Every Metro core class is a required general education course that counts for graduation for all 289 majors in the California State University (CSU) system.
If this support and level of success are something you want for yourself or for someone you know, please learn more at the websites below. Metro also welcomes inquiries from high school teachers and counselors.
- At City College of SF: www.ccsf.edu, then search Metro Academy
- At SF State: metro.sfsu.edu
Then contact Maritza Pulido, who is in charge of outreach for Metro Academies at both City College of San Francisco and at San Francisco State University at 415-338-3034 or info@metroacademies.org. You will be glad you did!