College Access Leadership Institute (CALI)

Demystify college admissions with NYU CALI!

The College Access Leadership Institute (CALI) is a residential summer program designed to help rising high school seniors navigate the college admissions process. Led by NYU Admissions counselors, CALI is a series of intensive workshops and seminars that, in collaboration with NYU campus partners, prepare you to apply for and succeed at college.

Dive into key aspects of the college application and transition process, such as essay writing, building your college list, and applying for financial aid and scholarships. You will complete the program empowered with the knowledge and skills that you need to conquer college applications, and your journey into college, with confidence.

NYU CALI is tuition-free. There are no costs associated with applying to or participating in the program.

How to Apply

To apply, you must complete and submit the online application, an essay, your high school transcript and one letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor. Once you submit the application creation form, you will receive an email with instructions and log in credentials to complete the application. Please submit your application and all required materials by April 12th to be considered for admissions to CALI.

Eligibility Criteria:

High school students currently in the 11th grade
Strong academic background
Reside within the United States (NYC metropolitan area)
Underrepresented in higher education due to socioeconomic status and/or first generation status

Areas of Study

Finding Your College Fit

Academic opportunities, campus culture, and student life can vary significantly from one college or university to another. Would you rather study at a small liberal arts college, or at a large research university? Do you want to go to school somewhere far away, or stick close to home?

When considering where to apply to college, it's important to consider your values, what experiences you want to have, and where you want to spend your college career. Through CALI workshops and assignments, you'll narrow down your college list to focus on the schools that are right for you.

Acing the College Essay

The essay portion of the college application is your chance to show admissions counselors who you are in your own words. For many students, essay writing can be the most stressful part of the admissions process.

CALI students workshop their essays with the guidance of NYU Admissions counselors. You'll get expert advice on how to interpret and respond to essay prompts and how to structure and compose your essays. You'll leave the program with a polished draft that you can use in your applications.

Financial Education and Navigating Financial Aid

College is a big investment, and there are many factors to consider when assessing the cost of your degree.

NYU's Office of Financial Education offers CALI students workshops on understanding the costs of attending college, how to apply for federal and institutional financial aid, and how to navigate financial aid packages.

CALI also offers an informational session on scholarship opportunities and how to research and apply for scholarships and grants to help you pay for college.