Working under the direction of the California Student Aid Commission, the
California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) has represented the educational
community throughout the state since 1978. The program is operated in partnership with the
University of California system, the California State University system, local non-profit
agencies and public elementary and secondary school districts.
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Cal-SOAP Consortium is one of the largest of the sixteen
Cal-SOAP consortia throughout the state. In recent years, the consortium has expanded to
serve North San Diego County as well as the entire Imperial County area. With this expansion
effort, the San Diego and Imperial Counties Consortium offers a broad range of services
tailored specifically to serve both urban and rural populations in one central and two
satellite locations.
Holly Cook GEAR UP Counselor Point Loma High School Grade 10
619-223-3121 ext 2021
hcook@sandi.net
Sadako Felix Coordinator San Diego Educational Complex Grades 9,10
619-525-7455 ext 2118, Room 350 N
schinen@ucsd.edu
Adolfo Garcia Site Coordinator Serra High School Grades 9,10
858-496-8342 ext 259
a3garcia@ucsd.edu
Jessica Estrada GEAR UP Counselor San Diego Educational Complex Grades 9,10
619-525-7455 ext. 2379, Room 350 N
jestrada@sandi.net
Peggy Jo-Holly GEAR UP Counselor Serra High School Grades 9, 10
858-496-8324 ext 259
pholly@sandi.net
Leezel Ramos Site Coordinator Madison High School Grade 10
858-496-8410 ext. 4709
leezelr@ucsd.edu
Clarissa Padilla Site Coordinator Kearny Educational Complex Grades 9,10
858-496-8370 ext.2750
cpadilla@ucsd.edu
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Cal-SOAP Consortium
There are seventeen California Student Opportunity and Access Program Consortia, each serving a specific geographic area of the state, and all working toward a common goal: providing information about postsecondary education and financial aid, and raising the achievement levels of students from low-income families, from schools or geographic areas with documented low eligibility or college participation rates, or from families in which they would be the first to attend college.
Working under the auspices of the California Student Aid Commision, the Cal-SOAP Consortia represent the educational community: the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, independent colleges, public schools and local non-profit agencies.
San Diego and Imperial Counties Cal-SOAP Consortium Members:
Since 1978 UCSD has served as the fiscal agent for the project. UCSD has the responsibility of fiscal management of the project and oversees the proper performance of the Director and Administrative Assistants.
By building collaborative relationships with federal, state and local sponsors, Cal-SOAP is working to increase the number or students who avail themselves of postsecondary opportunities. The goal of the program is two-fold: to advise, motivate and inform students regarding college admissions and financial aid information, and to academically assist students to achieve college potential.
Cal-SOAP is committed to providing an inter-institutional and inter-segmental cooperation in serving the target population. Cal-SOAP serves as an instrument for focusing the San Diego and Imperial Counties Consortium outreach efforts, and developing activities that will minimize duplication of effort by individual institutions. Consequently, services can be delivered cost effectively to target students, both by the Consortium, through its Cal-SOAP project, and by the individual postsecondary institutions. Cal-SOAP recognizes that, in any given area, the project may be one of several organizations concerned with a target population as defined in the law, but Cal SOAP is in a position to take the lead in coordinating the efforts of organizations.
The primary focus of Cal-SOAP serves students from:
Low income families
Families in which they would be the first to attend college
Schools with documented low eligibility or college participation rates or
Geographic areas with documented low eligibility or college participation rates
Cal-SOAP Components
Through a network of trained staff members and college students, Cal- SOAP offers support and assistance to college and academic counselors, middle and high school students and their families. While services are typically delivered to over 10,000 students per year, the personal attention that has become Cal- SOAP 's hallmark is never sacrificed. The program is built around the following components:
College Advisement Cal- SOAP manages a team of highly trained college students to serve as the program's primary resource of outreach. These College Peer Advisors (CPAs) are trained to provide support for school counseling personnel in San Diego and Imperial County high schools. CPAs address the needs of high school students through 1:1 conferences, in classroom presentations and in small groups. At these sessions, information is disseminated about college options, the college application process, financial and career options, essay writing and scholarship search. Additionally, CPAs serve as role models -- those students who have successfully navigated the often choppy waters of college admissions and financial aid.
Academic Enrichment and College Entrance Test Preparation
Cal- SOAP recognizes that academic success in school will provide more options for students after high school. Academic tutors undergo a comprehensive and training process to work with students in schools. Tutors are responsible for providing intensive, one-on-one academic enrichment session to assist students in their core classes and other academic skills.
Community Resource Cal- SOAP believes in empowering parents/guardians and the community to understand the college process early. Through disseminate of information about postsecondary education, both community and parents are encouraged to be informed, be involved and to be inspired to assist students. The Community Resource Program include programs such as, College Making It Happen (CMIH) that prepares middle school parents about A-G requirements, academic achievement and college options; provides newsletters with college admission, deadline and financial aid information; and provides parent workshops, where one can learn about and discuss parent/guardian education issues, the college search process and more.
Community College With 108 affordable well-respected community colleges throughout the state, California has the most sophisticated and admired two-year college system in the country. The mission of Cal- SOAP is to provide high school students and their parents with the necessary tools and information to actively pursue postsecondary options, including the community college where students can pursue career technical and academic pathways. Students may use the community college as a transfer partner to a 4-year institution.
College, Career and Technical Assistance
Cal- SOAP supports students in their future college, career, and technical plans through one-to-one, small group and large group presentations. Cal- SOAP offers its annual College Fair and works with schools on career awareness activities.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to use the form below to send Cal-SOAP an email.
It is important that you provide at least one piece of contact information, such as your email address or telephone number, so that we will be able to respond to your question, concern or comments.
Chair
Treasurer 
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