Unlike a larger school community, our college and career preparedness for students, known as the GALS Future’s program, is able to give specific attention to all of our future graduates and to help guide them through the important task of choosing what is next based on personal interests and desired pursuits.
College and University Acceptances, to-date:
Colorado School of Mines | Colorado State University | Community College of Denver | CU Boulder | CU CO Springs | CU Denver |. Metropolitan State University of Denver | Red Rocks Community College | Regis University | University of Denver | University of Northern Colorado | Colorado College | Colorado Mountain College | Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
American University (DC) | Bard College (NY) | Cedar Crest College (PA) | Clark University (MA) | College of Wooster (OH) | Cornell College (IA) | Davidson Honors College (MN) | Denison University (OH) | Drexel University (PA) | Eckerd College (FL) | Hampshire College (MA) | Hastings College (NE) | Ithaca College (NY) | Kalamazoo College (MI) | Lewis & Clark College (OR) | Mills College (CA) | Morningside College (IA) | New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology | Northland College (WI) | Reed College (OR) | Simmons College (MA) | Smith College (MA) | St. Joseph’s University (PA) | St. Lawrence University (NY) | St. Olaf College (MN) | Syracuse University (NY) | University of California – Davis | University of California – San Diego | University of Montana | University of Puget Sound (WA) | University of South Dakota | Wellesley College (MA) | Whitman College (WA) | Willamette University (OR)
McGill University, Montreal | Trinity College of Dublin, Ireland | University of Bristol, England | University of Edinburgh, Scotland | University of St Andrews, Scotland
Emma Harrison | Class of 2018 | Currently attending Simmons University
“My academics are phenomenal. I love all of my professors, and I feel like GALS prepared me really well to succeed at Simmons University (Boston, MA). I’m on a Biochemistry track, and I am loving everything I’m learning. It’s all super fascinating to me, and I’m making awesome, really important connections with people from all different walks of life. Simmons is a diverse community just like GALS. “
About GALS Futures:
GALS Futures is a key part of the GALS High School experience that is implemented during the GALS Series course. Futures provides the skills and framework for our students to prepare for and implement their career and educational goals after graduating from GALS.
Here is an overview of what students will do during GALS Futures:
Master Resumes
Students are given a Resume Template where they fill in in the following information:
- Education
- Work Experience
- Volunteer Experience
- Leadership Experience
- Extracurricular Activities
- Skills
Doing this allows students to have a physical document that outlines what experiences they have and what experiences they need to be looking for/attaining.
Job/Volunteer Research
Students will seek out opportunities to gain the experiences they want/need to add to their master resumes!
College Comparison Research
There are many variables that go into a person’s college experience—size, location, cost, type—and the best way to figure out what you might want for yourself is to do the research. Students will be given a list of variables that they need to research against a few colleges that pique their interest.
Personal Statements
Many colleges use the Common Application, which prompts students to write an essay. These essays are used to assess a student’s application (along with transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, etc.), but often times are left to the last minute to complete by many students. At GALS, students will begin writing their Personal Statements during their Junior year. This allows plenty of time for students to gain the practice and feedback so they can apply their time toward writing other essays for scholarships instead!
Scholarship Research & Applications
An important factor that almost everyone who goes to college today is having enough money to pay for their post-secondary education. At GALS, students will be coached through how to research for scholarships, as well as applying for scholarships.
College Campus Visits
We believe that having the opportunity to visit many different types of college campuses not only helps students determine what kind of experience they want to have for themselves, but also allows many first generation college students to begin to picture themselves going to college. This is a great opportunity for students to have a hands-on experience, get a basic sense/feel for a campus, as well as have the opportunity to ask current students questions face to face.
College Fairs
These are great opportunities for students to talk directly with admissions representatives from a variety of colleges and universities in Colorado and across the nation. Students are able to get direct information, ask questions, and hear about the opportunities available at a variety of institutions.
Why FUTURES Matters
While many high schools have the role of college counselors available to meet on occasion with their students, at GALS, we take things a step or two further by carving out times to meet each week to engage with our students. Many students feel the pressure and anxiety about what they will do and be when they grow up. At GALS, students are more confident in the paths they choose for themselves after they graduate from high school because we provide them with the skills and framework necessary to be able to know they are doing what they need to to do be the best versions of themselves and lead a well lived life.
College Partnerships
We are determined to do everything in our power to ensure that colleges and universities know who we are, why we matter, and why our students are going to be great additions to their campus communities and classrooms. Below is a quick look at the colleges and universities we’ve cultivated relationships with thus far.
