Thank you for visiting the College Choice Program, an initiative from NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), in partnership with The New York Foundling.

The College Choice Program supports youth in foster care who are attending college full-time. The program was established in the summer of 2022 with the goal of making significant enhancements to several programs that were already operating under ACS’ College Initiatives: The Fostering College Success Initiative (the “Dorm Project”), Fostering College Success Stipend, and College Room and Board. The purpose of making these changes was to give students more flexibility and options around what types of support they need while attending college, including where they can live.

Please see the Program Summary Sheet for complete program details.

Program Benefits

  • Tutoring, Coaching, and Career Counseling offered through The New York Foundling’s Fostering College Success Initiative (FCSI)
  • Year-round housing costs covered by ACS for you to live:
    • On campus at your college/university, or
    • In a CUNY dorm or private dorm (for students attending schools in NYC or in online classes), or
    • In safe off-campus housing with a private landlord (students attending schools outside of NYC)
  • Tuition costs and related fees covered by ACS, after all eligible financial aid is applied
  • $60/day stipend to cover the cost of food and other college living expenses, which students can receive while in school and for up to 6 months after graduating with a degree

Eligibility Criteria

  • Foster Care Status: Be in foster care through the NYC Administration for Children’s Services at the time you first begin participating in the College Choice Program
  • Full-time Course Load: Be enrolled in at least 12 credits during each of the fall and spring semesters or have the equivalent full-time status at a college/university that isn’t on a semester system.
    • If taking less than 12 credits, submit a formal letter from your college/university advisor that explains why you are attending less than full time and lays out a plan to return to full-time status, or if it is your final semester, noting how many credits you need to graduate.
  • Academic Progress: Maintain a 2.0 cumulate GPA (or the equivalent of your college/university grades on a different scale) after your first semester.
    • If your GPA falls below a 2.0, to maintain eligibility you’re required to work with your college/university advisor to develop and submit an Academic Success Plan that outlines tasks/steps you will take to improve academically
  • Financial Aid: Apply and submit all required documentation for all of the following, by the deadline prior to the start of school year in which you wish to participate in College Choice:
  • College/University Support Programs: Enroll in all college support programs which are offered by your college/ university for which you are eligible. These include ASAP, SEEK, CD, and H/EOP
  • Responsiveness: Respond to any questions, concerns, and document requests from ACS and NYF staff, and Case Planner or Fair Futures Coach, as well as be responsive to any plans that might be put in place by them to help you with school.
  • Degree Type: Be an associate’s degree student, which enables you to participate in the College Choice program for up to a total of nine semesters (including summers), or a bachelor’s degree student, which enables you to participate for up to a total of fifteen semesters (including summers and including any time you spent in the program as an associate’s degree student).

Required Documents

  • All students applying to the College Choice Program are required to provide the following documentation as part of their application each semester.
    • College/university enrollment verification letter (view sample)
    • Bursar bill with financial aid/awards applied (view sample)
    • Up-to-date college transcript (for continuing college students) – view sample
    • Full-time course load for the upcoming semester (view sample)
    • College of attendance academic calendar (view sample)
    • For students living in private off-campus housing, a signed lease with their landlord outlining terms and fees (view sample)
    • For students applying for the 6 months post-graduation stipend, a copy of their final college transcript and diploma are required

If you would like to see a sample documents package, please click here.

Housing Opportunities

Students are responsible for arranging their housing, including making sure any licensing agreements and other paperwork are filed by deadlines set by colleges/universities/private landlords. ACS will cover up to $30,000 in housing costs, after financial aid, during each academic year/three-semester period (fall, spring, summer).

  • Students who attend a school that provides on-campus housing can apply directly through their school
  • Students who attend a school outside of NYC can opt to apply for safe and appropriate private off-campus housing
  • Students who attend school in NYC can an opt to apply for any of the below options. Housing is first come, first served, and coordinated directly through the housing provider. Students must indicate they are a student with ACS College Choice when they apply.
  • The Towers at City College of New York (only for CUNY students)
  • The Summit at Queens College (only for CUNY students)
  • International House (Morningside Heights; for students age 20 and older)
  • 92Y Residence (Upper East Side)
  • Outpost-club Student Housing (Multiple locations through NYC)

FAQs

Application ProcessStipendsHousingPost GradProbationPromise to Pay Letter

Application Process

All student applications are reviewed on an individual basis and processed in the order they are received.

If you miss the priority deadline you are not guaranteed to receive your DCA (Stipend) at the beginning of the academic semester.  However, you can still apply up until the deadline. A complete and correct document packet is needed to be approved. Without it, you cannot be approved.

Please keep an eye out via the message center for updates. If all your documents are not correct you cannot be approved. You must resubmit any incorrect documents in order to be approved.

You can do this by signing back into the portal, clicking on ‘My Account,’ and then clicking ‘Message Center.’ From there, you can attach additional documents by clicking on ‘Attach a File’ in the chat.

You must apply EVERY semester and submit corresponding documents for the semester that you are applying to.

You can email [email protected]. Also, you can book an appointment via our Calendly: https://calendly.com/collegechoiceprogram/officehours. An email will be sent out to let you know when office hours are open each semester.

You must be in good academic standing to join College Choice. If your GPA is below 2.0 or have a pattern of withdrawing from the majority of your courses, you may not qualify for College Choice. Once you’re able to bring your GPA then you can reapply.

Yes, as long as you meet all requirements of the program.

If you have been discharged from Care unfortunately you do not qualify for The College Choice. You must be in care at the time that you applied.

No, Since you are already in the program at the time that you applied you will be able to stay in the program as long as you meet all requirements.

Stipends

Stipend lists are sent out to agencies at the beginning of each month. If you were approved after the stipend list went out to your agency for the month you will be on next month’s list. You will receive retro pay for the days that you were approved in the previous month. Payment schedules for DCA (stipends) vary by agency. Please check with your agency for the payment schedule.

If you miss the priority deadline you are not guaranteed to receive your DCA (Stipend) at the beginning of the academic semester.  However, you can still apply up until the deadline. A complete and correct document packet is needed to be approved. Without it, you cannot be approved.

If you have been approved for stipends but have not received it, please contact your agency directly. Your agency is responsible for issuing your payment.

Housing

Students should confirm with their housing provider that they meet all eligibility requirements for Housing.

After you apply for College Choice you must also apply for housing. You can find housing options under program information. You then can click on the link of the housing option you prefer and apply. If the application requires a guarantor you can put “College Choice.”

We require a lease and an invoice. You can submit this with your application.

Students interested in private off campus housing outside of NYC are responsible for working with their landlord and agency to ensure the landlord is aware of the following before they sign a lease:​

  • Private off campus landlords will be paid on per semester schedule. ​
  • Private off campus landlords will be expected to submit an invoice.  ​
  • Students are responsible for any additional fees such as (parking, damages to unit/dorm, etc.)​

Post Grad

To be approved for a post-grad stipend we must have both a copy of your final transcript and a copy of your diploma. Without both, you will not be approved or start to receive payments until we have all the documents on file.

Probation

Students who are not in good academic standing are put on probation as students must have a 2.0 GPA, pass 65% of courses attempted, and/or not meet the requirements for College Choice. You are given two semesters to make improvements to maintain good standing in the program. It’s important to note that a pattern of withdrawal from classes, failing grades, or a drop in GPA during semesters might impact your College Choice benefits, including stipends and housing placements for the upcoming semesters.

Promise to Pay Letter

Please reach out to [email protected] to request one. Any payment-related questions can be submitted to this inbox.

Request a Promise to Pay Letter. Reach out to [email protected] to request one.

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