By Pam Landry, Register Correspondent

Preparing to apply for college can be a daunting task, and an organization founded by Yale University students is helping high schoolers get through it.

ReadySetLaunch is a nonprofit college consulting organization established in 2008 by nine Yale students.

Recently, ReadySetLaunch received a $62,000 grant through Chase Community Giving, competing in a field of more than 500,000 registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

“We’re in a unique position,” said Jim Liu, executive director of ReadySetLaunch who is a Yale sophomore. “Usually, small nonprofits that are only a year-and-a-half old like ours don’t get grants such as this.”

The organization “emerged from the belief that quality college advising should be available to all high school students and their families, not solely those with unlimited budgets,” a ReadySetLaunch press release says.

High school students who are accepted into the program receive free one-on-one mentoring that begins in the second semester of their junior year . Last season, 24 students were mentored; this season, Liu expects 44.

Although the organization focuses on low- to middle-income families, any student in the country can apply. Liu noted that the deadline for students to apply this season was originally Feb. 1, but that deadline has been extended “a few weeks.”

To apply for the mentoring program, visit www.readysetlaunch.org.

All of the mentors are volunteers and students at Yale or Brown University. Recruitment drives are held each spring and fall at the two campuses.

“The beauty of our organization is that we are still on the first cycle of students, “ said Liu. “After a couple of cycles, we hope to replicate this on other campuses. We are developing the organization so it is sustainable, and then will look to expand first to other Ivy League schools and then beyond.” Continued...

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As for how ReadySetLaunch will use the grant money, Liu said that it is a “no strings attached” grant, meaning the organization can use it as it sees fit.

“We are approaching the spending carefully,” said Liu. “As far as services are concerned, we are looking at implementing a library system where we would purchase college course and test prep books. After a student uses those books, we would recycle them to another student.”

Another service being considered is the use of webcams. Since mentor and mentee might be many miles apart from one another, “getting webcams for the mentees would allow some kind of face-to-face interaction, and would help make both mentor and mentee more accountable to one another,” said Liu.

And, as with the books, the webcams would be recycled from one student to another.

“Fundraising needs to continue,” said Liu, acknowledging the grant money will only go so far. Among other things, ReadySetlaunch is looking for sponsorships for the webcams. Interested parties are encouraged to contact him through the Web site.

Liu described his involvement with ReadySetLaunch as a “fantastic learning experience that has taught me so much.” All of the mentors do this on their own time because, as Liu said, “we all really care about these kids. This is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

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