Frequently Asked Questions
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT
• How do I know if I am eligible to apply?
You can review SRA’s student eligibility requirements here on the website: http://studentsrisingabove.org/sra-scholars-program/eligibility. If you meet the criteria, have a strong desire and commitment to go to college, and earn a Bachelor’s degree, we encourage you to submit an application.
• How do I apply?
Complete details about how to apply can be found here on our website: http://studentsrisingabove.org/sra-scholars-program. Make sure you complete all the required components of the application.
• What happens after I apply?
After you submit your completed application with all the required components, you will be notified that it has been received. Your application will then be reviewed. See the “How are students selected?” question below for more details of what happens next.
• Why should I apply?
There are few programs which provide the range of personal, individualized, and comprehensive support that we provide through Students Rising Above. We welcome our students as juniors in high school and are committed to working with them until they graduate from college. We provide the academic expertise, mentoring support, financial assistance, and employment skills needed by our students to be successful in school and in life.
• How are students selected?
Our students go through a rigorous selection process. Each year, over 300 students apply and roughly 40-50 students are accepted. Every application is read by our student advisors who complete reference checks and review academic transcripts before finalists are invited for a personal interview. The interviewing panel (comprised of advisors, board members, and staff) make the final decision. Students selected into our program are notified in June.
• Can I apply to other scholarships?
Yes. The costs of attending college continue to rise and we strongly encourage SRA applicants and recipients to apply for other scholarships to help reduce the costs of their education.
• What if I still have a question after reading these FAQs and reviewing the website?
If you have additional questions, please email us at selection@studentsrisingabove.org or call 415.333.4222
PROSPECTIVE RECOMMENDER
• Who can recommend a student?
Educators, counselors, community leaders, and mentors from an organization or high school are encouraged to recommend qualified students who they believe will be good SRA candidates.
• How do I know a student is qualified?
A complete list of selection criteria is included on our website: http://studentsrisingabove.org/sra-scholars-program/eligibility.
Additionally, we look for students who have shown great courage and strenght of character in overcoming obstacles -- not of their own making -- including poverty, homelessness, abandonment, and neglect. Our students desperately want to go to college and believe that education is their best chance for a better life. If you have a question about a student’s eligibility, please email selection@studentsrisingabove.org
• How do I recommend a student?
You may recommend a student by letting them know about the opportunity, directing them to the website to learn more, and encouraging them to apply. The application and application requirements can be found on our website: http://studentsrisingabove.org/about-us/programs
PROSPECTIVE DONOR
• Why is SRA needed?
All young people deserve and need the direct intervention in their lives of mature individuals, who will provide the one-to-one relationship that can reassure each child of his/her innate worth, instill values, guide curiosity, and encourage a purposeful life. Not all students receive this important support growing up.
Students Rising Above identifies students with the potential and desire to go to college and create new opportunities for themselves and their families. SRA provides each student with the mentoring support, financial assistance, and employment skills to ensure their success in college, career, and in life.
• Why is SRA uniquely positioned to help?
There are few programs which provide the comprehensive support that we provide through Students Rising Above. Our SRA Advisors bring a unique set of skills and expertise and serve as advocates for our students, providing them with emotional support, academic guidance, career assistance, medical/dental care, friendship, housing, and stability.
We watch our graduates head out into the world with their diplomas in hand, to help others as lawyers, doctors, news reporters, engineers, teachers, and Peace Corps volunteers. Our college graduates are now launching a SRA Alumni program as a means to stay in touch with their “SRA family” and to help our newest students prepare for college.
• How can I make a donation to SRA?
Donating to SRA is easy – and can be made through our secure online website or by mail.
Donations are tax deductible and donors can designate their funds to the Program Fund (these are unrestricted funds and can be used for any SRA purpose including scholarships, students expenses, mentoring and summer programs) or the Scholarship Fund (100% of the funds are designated for scholarships only).
To donate online: https://studentsrisingabove.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/57748/Default.aspx
To donate by mail:
Students Rising Above
P.O. Box 29174
San Francisco, CA 94129
415.333.4222
Federal Tax ID: 81-0615887
Foundation for Students Rising Above
• What is the mailing address?
The mailing address for Students Rising Above is:
Students Rising Above
P.O. Box 29174
San Francisco, CA 94129
415.333.4222
HOW CAN I RECEIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT SRA?
Upon request, Students Rising Above will make available information related to its application for exempt status, its annual Form 990's, its governing documents, its financial statements, and its conflict of interest policy. To make a request, contact us at info@studentsrisingabove.org, or mail a request to the address listed above.
PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEER OR EMPLOYEE
• How can I volunteer for SRA?
There are a number of ways you can get involved with SRA. Depending upon your availability and interests, you can work on our annual spring Gala, or serve as a Mentor to one of our students, or help move our students into and out of school dorms, or donate items or services to our students.
To learn more about volunteer activities please click onto this link and fill out the volunteer application:
http://studentsrisingabove.org/get-involved/volunteer-application
• Do you have staff opportunities?
SRA has a small and dedicated group of professionals who provide the advisory, program, and operational guidance to support this growing organization. We anticipate hiring additional staff in the future and will post new positions on our website and Bay Area online hiring sites. SRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.