Programs

Learn more about ACCESS's four main programs: Early Awareness, Senior Advising, Last Dollar Scholarship, and Postsecondary.  For further information, please contact Program Director Melissa Sañez at 617.778.7195, ext. 102, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Early Awareness Program

• Identifies financial barriers that prevent low-income students from earning college degrees and takes proactive steps to help eliminate those barriers or minimize their impact.
• Through workshops and financial aid awareness events, provides vital information and resources to students and families within Boston.
• By building partnerships with Boston Public High Schools and community-based organizations, expands ACCESS’s reach to new populations of students and parents.

• One on One: Individual, personalized advising on the financial aid process.
• Large Groups: Lectures to entire grades; classroom presentations; early awareness workshops aimed at younger students.
• Small Groups: Workshops focused on specialized topics impacting only certain groups of students; follow-up sessions from larger presentations.

• Upon completion of the college selection and financial aid packaging processes, students with unmet financial need may apply for an ACCESS’s Last Dollar Scholarship.
• Scholarships range from $200 to $2,500 and are renewable for up to six years.
• ACCESS’s staff evaluates each student’s financial need and awards scholarships accordingly.
• Only students advised by advising program are eligible.

• New program providing financial aid advising and assistance to former program participants once they have reached postsecondary education.
• Designed to ensure that participants complete higher education.
• Maintains connection with participants as they enter the workforce in order to measure longitudinal impact.