Rising Stars Program Application (Class of 2026)

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Overview

This application is for the Students Rising Above Rising Stars Program for HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS graduating in Spring 2026. SRA empowers students facing systemic barriers to define and find success through education, career, and in life.

Selected students will receive mentoring support, financial assistance, and college and career guidance. The goal of the Rising Stars Program is to provide students with the individualized support they need to be successful.

Any applications received after the March 4th deadline will automatically be disqualified

OVERVIEW

Rising Stars Program Requirements:

Must be a current high school junior
Will be a senior in the 2025-2026 school year
Low-income or living on government assistance
Committed to earning a 4-year college education
G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher
Must live within the nine-county Bay Area
All students are eligible to apply, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status

Click Here for our FAQs and income ranges for low-income eligibility

Below are the steps to the application process:

The application will close on March 4th at 11:59 p.m.
After the application closes, 6 groups of 3 will read through the applications
If you are invited to be interviewed, you will be notified in May
The finalist will be interviewed by 3 people on the Rising Stars team
The interview team will make final selections and Students selected for the Rising Stars program will be notified by the end of June

**If invited for an interview, you will be asked to provide proof of family income with 2024 tax returns or other documentation, if needed.**

To learn more about our program visit: https://www.studentsrisingabove.org

Disclaimer: Confidentiality policy

The contents of the application will be reviewed by the selection committee and will remain confidential
SRA does not and will not share the contents of this application with any outside organizations
SRA is designated as a Mandatory Reporter under California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
Please review our Privacy Policy here.
Applicants will receive email and text reminders leading up to the application deadline; text reminders can be opted out at any time by replying "STOP."

Please contact Students Rising Above at selection@studentsrisingabove.org if you have any questions about this process. We look forward to reading your application.

Qualifying Information

Are you a junior in high school?

YesNo

Are you planning on continuing your education after high school?

YesNo

Application Status

Not eligible to apply

School Information

Make sure to save your progress regularly to avoid timing out and losing your progress

Select High School

If you do not see your high school name, please reach out to us.

High School ID

If you attended the above high school for less than one year, please list all previous high schools.

What is your last official day of school for this school year?

How do you spend your time outside of the classroom? (Ex: spend time with friends or family/after school programs/sports/caring for family members/work)

As of today, what are your summer plans for the summer of 2025?

Please attach a copy of your complete, 5 semester transcript that includes all your grades, courses, and GPA for 9th, 10th, and Fall semester 11th grade.

Essay Prompts

Please respond to the following three prompts to complete your rising stars application. Make sure to save your progress regularly to avoid timing out. We recommend drafting a responses in a separate word document and then adding them here when you are ready to submit.

We discourage relying on AI for your essay responses, while AI tools can be helpful for brainstorming or light grammar checks. Your essay should primarily reflect your unique voice and perspective. When discussing your personal experiences, we want to hear your story – crafted in your own words. Essays that rely heavily on AI tend to lack the authenticity and personal touch that make them stand out.

1. Tell us about a time you felt challenged. What factors contributed to you feeling challenged, and what did you learn from the experience? How did this experience help you grow as an individual? (300-500 words)

2. Discuss your educational, career, and personal goals beyond high school. Tell us about any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to achieve the goals you describe. (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended) (200 - 400 words)

3. How can the Rising Stars program help you achieve your educational and career goals? (100 - 200 words)

4. Is there any additional information you would like SRA to consider as we review your application? (Optional: leaving this blank will not hurt your application) (Max 100 words)

Disclaimer

Disclaimer Section

I understand that any false information supplied will invalidate my application and will deem me ineligible to be part of the Students Rising Above Rising Stars Program.

I understand SRA is designated as a Mandatory Reporter under the California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.

I have read the above disclaimer and agree with and understand what is written.

Please click the submit button only once. It may take a minute for your application to process. Once an application has been submitted, changes are no longer possible. Please reach out to selection@studentsrisingbove.org with questions.

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