Georgetown Reach’s Pioneering Students Ready to Take on College

When Ava Johnson began the Georgetown Reach program as an eighth grader, college was a distant goal. Now, she’s preparing to start her freshman year this fall – a journey she’s worked toward for five years. 

“I just can’t believe how fast the time has gone,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t feel real that I’m graduating high school and that this program has taken me as far as it has.”

Launched in fall 2020, Georgetown Reach provides free college consulting services for rising 8th grade students in Washington, D.C., and their families, through their 12-grade year. This spring, 17 students in the inaugural cohort completed the program and are heading off to college in the fall, attending schools such as Howard University, University of Michigan, Temple University, and University of Chicago. This cohort began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting to a virtual format in order to continue the experience.

Throughout the program, students participate in customized sessions tailored to where they are in their academic career, meet with current Georgetown students to learn about college life, and receive one-on-one consulting. There are also sessions designed for families to learn about the college application process, financial aid, and more. 

“It’s really important to involve the whole family and start preparing for college early,” said Bonnie Montano, teaching professor and co-director of Georgetown Reach. “We do this not to put pressure on young students, but to make them aware that ninth grade matters. A lot of students get to high school thinking they can worry about college in their junior year, but if you haven’t done well academically, it’s too late. Our program is targeted to teach students what they need to ramp up and prepare to have a robust college application.”

Georgetown Reach’s focus on both students and their families was attractive to Lisa Johnson, Ava’s mother. She found the sessions and community of other families valuable as she and Ava navigated the college search and application process. 

“I hadn’t looked at the process since I was applying to college myself, so we were aware that things were different,” Johnson said. “Georgetown Reach forced us to focus very, very early on how important all of the application components are. Looking at not just you have to have great grades, but also extracurricular activities, community service, and to be thoughtful about creating an entire package and a picture.” 

In August, Ava will start her freshman year at the University of Chicago. She plans to major in biology and political science, with aspirations of working in disability rights lobbying and genetic research. 

“I appreciate the community that the Georgetown Reach program has given,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of people from different schools in the D.C. area, and I’m glad that I know them.”

Since 2020, Georgetown Reach has grown and currently has 200 students enrolled (50 per cohort). With the pioneering class off to college, the goal is to keep alumni engaged with the program and strengthen the community by bringing them back to share their experiences with students. 

“We want to make sure that the students in the program get into the best possible school that they can for themselves,” Montano said. “It’s about wherever your dream school is. We want to help you achieve that goal.”

Learn more about Georgetown Reach.