What We Do

EST is a disrupter in the educational services industry, creating a transformational path to higher education that overcomes systemic, institutional, societal, and economic barriers. We identify first-generation college hopefuls in California who dream big, but lack the direction or financial resources to make those dreams happen without assistance. Some of our students are foster youth and low-income. Others are children of the working poor or are members of households that live beneath or at the poverty line. We have students who work and are providing support for their single parents. These young people are a part of the 86% of Americans who cannot afford college. No matter the reason - they all want success - and it’s our job to help them realize their dreams.

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What We Do

Noteworthy Achievements

How We Help

“My parents, my grandparents, and my great-grandparents all lived in poverty. I’ll be the first in my family to earn a college degree and break the cycle."

- Isaiha Thomas

Inspiring Hope

We inspire hope in students who want to excel. Our work starts in high school and extends beyond college graduation to post-graduate school, and workforce assistance. By forming long-term relationships with students, we nurture their growth and help them succeed by providing extensive, one-on-one wraparound services, including college advising, application coaching, entrance exam preparation, financial literacy classes, college tours, and more.

EST CAP serves an average of 60 high school and 290 college students annually.
100% come from economically disadvantaged households.
100% are students of color.

The Problem

According to the Pew Charitable Trust, when foster youth leave high school and do not enroll in college, within two to four years, many experience unemployment, go on public assistance, battle homelessness, or become involved in the criminal justice system. The outcomes for foster youth who do attend college are equally as direr. Less than 3% of former foster youth ever graduate from college without the support of a warm and caring individual.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, colleges and universities continue to struggle to graduate low-income students. While 66% of the wealthiest students complete their studies and graduate, only 16% of low-income students graduate from college.

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Less than 3 % of former foster youth ever graduate from college without the support.
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66% of the wealthiest students graduate from college.
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16% of low-income students graduate from college.

The Solution

Create an equitable high school-to-college and career pipeline.

College Readiness

College List Building
Brag Sheet Development
Career Development
College Entrance Exam Prep
Social Emotional Learning
College Application Assistance
Letters of Recommendation
Central Passion Video Development
Scholarship Club

Financial Assistance

Financial Literacy
Financial Aid Workshops

College Essay Writing Assistance

Writing Instructor
Bootcamp Writing Coach
1:1 Writing Coach

Other Provided Services

Holiday Networking Event
Internship Opportunities
Interviewing Skills Workshop
Mock Interviews
Mentorship
Parent Workshops
Elite Scholarship Coaching
Career Panels

Noteworthy Achievements

2024
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Woman-of-the-Year (Education)
2024
UCLA Fiat Lux Award
2023
Los Angeles Rams Playmaker of the Year Award
2021
Youth with a Purpose Community Service Award
2019
College of Alameda Community Service Award
2018
Biddy Mason Leadership Award
2008
NAACP Men of Valor Award

How We Help

EST has cracked the code on what it takes to help foster and high-achieving low-income youth earn merit-based scholarships to pay for college.

Pre-College Programs

EST identifies high school juniors who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and provides them with no-cost resources and services.

College Preparatory Resources

Essential items and technology for students to succeed include assistance with access to WiFi, Hotspots, computers, quiet study spaces, counseling, and more. 

Academic Coaching Services

Designated tutors prepare students to complete the A-G required courses for college admittance, and SAT and ACT test prep.

  • College Applications and Selection Support
  • College list selection
  • Fully-funded college tours
  • Brag sheets for strong letters of recommendation
  • Essay and application preparation 

Financial Literacy and Preparedness

Students attend a mandatory 7-week financial literacy course at Loyola Marymount University, which covers budgeting, appropriate credit card usage, and investing.

Monthly Cohort Meeting

Students meet to develop relationships with their peers and EST staff.

Parent Scholarship Club

Monthly meet-ups to support parents, help them identify scholarships, and understand the nuances of higher education.

Financial Aid Support

EST provides assistance with the Federal Student Aid Application (which establishes eligibility for Pell Grants and the California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth Application) and helps students and families understand how to analyze financial award letters and identify potential funding gaps.

EST Scholarships

Students can access a small scholarship provided by EST to support their transition to college.

Cal State LA Summer Academy

EST's College Access Program actively engages students starting from the spring semester of the 11th grade and supports them through college graduation. As part of the program, students take part in our annual Summer Academy. Our dedicated counselors work with students individually and in groups, providing personalized support to prepare them for the college application process using the Common Application. The Common Application is an online platform that enables students to apply to multiple colleges with just one application. EST scholars receive assistance in entering information such as grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, and personal statements.

The Summer Academy also includes a one-week residential program at California State University, Los Angeles, with nightly homework from Sunday through Friday. The topics covered during the Summer Academy include:

  • ACT/SAT preparation 
  • Financial literacy 
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Interviewing skills 
  • Career exploration 
  • Essay writing 
  • Social-emotional learning

After the summer, EST provides continuous support through the Scholarship Club, offering year-round monthly support and ongoing standardized test preparation on weekends. This consistent support is designed to help scholars and their parents identify institutional and private scholarships to minimize student loan debt. The College Access Program's success is further enhanced by the support of approximately 50 volunteer mentors who provide students with timely feedback on their college and scholarship essays.

In College Programs

After being accepted to a four-year institution, EST focuses on helping our students build supportive networks.

  • First Days Mentoring - Our mentoring sessions reduce the isolation many economically disadvantaged BIPOC students may experience. Connections to EST alumni attending the same school share their experiences and give insight into navigating campus culture.
  • Connections to Campus Support Services - Assistance with campus navigation and resource support.
  • Emergency Support - When away from home and family, students need support at every level. EST serves as an extended family to help students access vital resources, including computers, food, mental health services, and more.

Post-College Support

Life after college can be challenging. We help our students build life-long connections with seasoned professionals in their fields to advance their careers and personal lives.

  • Graduate School Assistance - Assistance with graduate school applications, financial aid, and other support areas.
  • Professional Network of EST Graduates - Students are invited to attend our social networking events to make professional connections for a lasting career.
  • Workforce Assistance - We help our graduates find careers that align with their education and professional aspirations, including a deep relationship with the Omega Psi Phi fraternity’s 250,000 members.

Get involved. Join us.

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