College and Career Success Program – How to Apply
Welcome
We’ve heard from you that the support provided through this Making Waves college and career success program is meaningful and valuable. We want the program to continue to be open to every Making Waves Academy student who is ready to fully engage with all it offers.
For students who were not initially selected, the re-application is an opportunity to receive feedback, show continued interest, and demonstrate growth. Note: re-applying does not guarantee admission.
Our team will carefully review every application using the same criteria, and every student who re-applies will have a fair chance to show their growth and continued interest.
Important dates for re-application
Note: These deadlines are designed to make sure students considering four-year colleges receive their program decision one week before national college decision day on May 1.
Four-year college bound students
Application open
- April 17-23, 2025
Application review
- April 24, 2025
Program selection notifications
- April 25, 2025
College decision and registration payments
- April 28-30, 2025
- May 1, 2025 – national college decision deadline
Community college bound students
Application open
- May 15-21, 2025
Application review
- May 22, 2025
Program selection notifications
- May 23, 2025
College decision and registration payments
- N/A
Re-application requirements
Note: Your re-application will only be considered if both requirements are submitted by the deadline.
Four-year college decision and registration payment steps
For all seniors who plan to attend a four-year college
For seniors joining the Making Waves college and career success program
3. Program registration documents
- Sign your program registration documents (sent via email with your program notification and scholarship award)
4. College registration payment
- Connect with Ms. Adams at Making Waves Academy to schedule a college registration payment meeting with the Making Waves Education Foundation team by April 29. Note: Steps 1, 2, and 3 must be completed prior to this meeting. Be sure to bring your college portal login information!
Eligibility requirements
You are eligible to re-apply if you:
- Submitted a complete original application by the February deadline, but were not selected
- Have a minimum 2.0 high school GPA (verified via transcript with original application in February and post-program selection)
- Applied to 2-year and/or 4-year colleges for the upcoming academic year
- Are on track to earn a high school diploma from Making Waves Academy (graduation verified post-program selection)
- Have been admitted to college (verified post-program selection)
- Completed the FAFSA (verified with original application in February)
Re-application support – optional, strongly recommended
Want to boost your chances of getting accepted? Get 1:1 feedback on your original application to understand how it aligned with program selection criteria and how to strengthen it for your reapplication. Students who got feedback in January-February were more than 1.5x as likely to be accepted into the program.
- Schedule time with Aiyana Mourtos, Chief Program Officer
- Schedule time with Dr. Wright, Vice President of Student Success
Note: Appointments will be prioritized for four-year college bound students through April 23.
Making Waves College and Career Success Program
The Making Waves college and career success program provides scholarships, college and career coaching, and financial planning support. We seek students who demonstrate characteristics like self-awareness, interdependence, passion, and perseverance. Unlike many scholarships that are academic-based or specialized, Making Waves welcomes students from across academic majors and maintains a 2.0 GPA minimum. Our holistic application and selection process seeks submissions through which students can showcase their strengths, passions, and priorities.
1:1 college coaching
Our college coaching is all about you. We’re here to help you navigate college life, from picking the right major and planning your path to graduation to forming meaningful connections.
Scholarships and financial planning
With Making Waves, you’re in control of your college finances, with financial aid and budgeting support from our team. Earn $2,000 (community college) or $4,000–$6,000 (four-year college) in annual scholarships that go directly to you to spend when you need it.
Career skills and support
Dreaming of a future career but unsure where to start? Partner with our career team to explore career paths, pursue internships, expand your network, and find a job that matches your degree.
How your application is scored
Academic motivation (30%)
- Show us how your high school experience developed your academic resilience and commitment to handling college-level work. We’ll also take a look at your high school GPA and transcript.
Financial need (30%)
- Finances shouldn’t be a barrier for going to college. We use your Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA to prioritize students with greater financial need.
College commitment (20%)
- Tell us your college “why.” Share about how college supports your life goals and how you tackle life’s challenges.
Program fit (20%)
- Help us understand how our program’s coaching, financial support, and career prep will make a difference in your journey.
Tips to strengthen your application
Show you know what the college and career success program offers.
- This is more than money for college – it’s personal coaching, financial guidance, and career support. Show that you understand how these resources can help you succeed.
Answer every prompt fully.
- Read every question carefully – and make sure you answer the whole thing. Don’t skip parts or answer halfway. Treat every prompt like it matters, because it does!
Go deep in your responses.
- The 500-word minimum on the personal statement and the time allotted in the interview responses is your chance to share your full story – your struggles, your growth, your dreams. Go deep, be honest, and reflect on what’s shaped you. Give the reviewers a real sense of who you are.
Use specific, personal examples.
- Be real. Tell stories. Instead of saying, “I’m hardworking,” show it – “I stayed after school three times a week to get help in math and brought my grade up from a D to a B.” Specific = powerful.
Prepare for your interview.
- Practice makes progress. Outline your thoughts and rehearse your answers. There’s no limit to the number of times you can record. Be confident – and be yourself.
FAQ
Why is there a re-application process?
We’ve heard from you that the support provided through this program and scholarship are meaningful and valuable – and we couldn’t agree more.
We want the college and career success program to continue to be open to every student who is ready to fully engage with all it offers. For students who were not initially selected, the re-application is an opportunity to receive feedback, show continued interest, and demonstrate growth.
We also heard that the communication wasn’t always clear that not all applicants would be admitted. We’re sorry for the stress this caused, and we believe it’s important to be upfront about how the application process works moving forward: re-applying does not guarantee admission.
Our team will carefully review every application using the same criteria, and every student who re-applies will have a fair chance to show their growth and continued interest.
If I am selected, how is my scholarship award determined?
Four-year college goers:
If your updated application meets the criteria and you are selected for the program, your annual scholarship award will be one of the following amounts: $6,000, $5,000, or $4,000.
Here’s how the award amount is determined:
- The top 30% of accepted applicants (based on total application score) will receive $6,000.
- The middle 40% will receive $5,000.
- The remaining 30% will receive $4,000.
This ensures we can recognize the strength of each application while providing meaningful support to all selected students. Your award amount will be based on your total application score and how it compares to other selected students this year.
Note: for previously selected students: Your scholarship award will not change.
Community college goers:
Your annual scholarship award will be $2,000 because the cost of attendance at community colleges is lower.
For additional information, visit the Making Waves college and career success program and scholarship webpage.
Is there enough money to fund more scholarships since some students have already been admitted?
Yes. All students’ whose re-application meets the program criteria will be awarded a scholarship as outlined above.
Given the quick timeline for re-application, can I ask for an extension?
Unfortunately, no extensions will be granted. The timeline maximizes time for you to complete your re-application, while allocating time to thoughtfully review applications. The deadlines are also designed to make sure students considering four-year colleges receive their program decision one week before national college decision day on May 1.
If I am not selected, what supports are available for my next steps?
Check out this website with important dates and tips to support your next steps — it includes key deadlines and resources to help you stay on track with your college decision this year and for reapplying next year.
Will there be an appeals process if I am not accepted in the re-application process?
No; however, Making Waves Academy graduates can reapply next year in January-February 2026 for Academic Year 2026-2027.
Financial aid support for Making Waves Academy
Making Waves Education Foundation provides one-on-one support for Making Waves Academy students and families – from understanding financial aid, submitting FAFSA and Dream Act forms, and weighing admissions offers and financial aid and scholarship packages.
Here are the steps you need to take this January or February before the FAFSA deadline March 3, 2025.
1. Sign up for a meeting with Mr. Miguel Mendoza
Mr. Miguel Mendoza, financial services manager and program specialist at Making Waves Education Foundation, will walk you through the financial aid forms and setting up an FSA ID.
Mr. Mendoza is on campus (in the college and career center) the following days and times in January and February:
- Monday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Tuesday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Wednesday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Thursday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sign up for a meeting
Señor Mendoza habla Español y Inglés.
Once you have completed your meeting with Mr. Mendoza, he will verify that this program requirement and task has been completed and will close it.
2. Get your materials ready
Here is what to bring to the meeting.
Wave-Makers:
- Copy or picture of social security card
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Personal email address
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Date of birth
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If you filed taxes, please bring 2023 federal tax returns
Parents:
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Copy or picture of social security card/s of both parents (if parents are married/live together). If parent/s does not have a social security card, please bring picture of front of State ID/Driver License or consular identification
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Personal email address for both parents (if parents are married/live together)
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Date of birth for both parents (if parents are married/live together)
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Month and year one parent moved to California
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If your parents filed taxes together, please bring the 2023 federal tax returns. If parents are married/living together, but filed separately, please bring both 2023 federal tax returns
