Students
Navigating the past year has been tough. With the uncertainty of COVID-19 and its disruptive impact on your life, the future you hoped for may seem out of reach.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can help.
Forward Together offers a guided path from high school to college to career — all at no cost to you. To learn more, keep reading or email forwardtogether@cscc.edu.
More Than Free Tuition
Forward Together is a partnership designed to do whatever it takes to give you the chances that COVID-19, lost time in high school, or other barriers may have taken away. Forward Together provides three essential components for student success:
A Personal Coach
A personal coach — we call them “Navigators” — will work with you one-on-one to get to know you, your needs, and your interests. Your Navigator will lead you through every step and will be a call or text away to help you manage any challenges. Navigators are full-time Columbus State employees with experience working with students. Each Navigator will support no more than 30 students at a time to ensure the strongest level of support.
All Costs Covered
We’re committed to removing financial barriers to higher education. All education costs are covered, and we will provide assistance with childcare and household costs, like food, housing, technology, and transportation.
Success Plan
Your Navigator will help you get ready for college, and if you experienced a “lost senior year” because of COVID-19 you'll get a personalized plan to catch up quickly. Classes and other activities will be in-person when possible. And as you progress, you'll work with career counselors and mentors to get ready for what comes next — applying and interviewing for a job, getting ready for the workplace, and even considering your next educational goal.
Short Programs, Lasting Careers
College doesn’t always mean four years of school. Forward Together matches students with short-term programs — most just a semester or two — that will prepare you for an in-demand job in fields including healthcare and skilled trades. These certificates will put you on a path to a true career, so your first job will be a launchpad to growth, greater earnings, and the life you deserve.
Start here:
Step 1: Sign up
Fill out this form and tell us who you are, where you go to high school, and why you’re interested in Forward Together.
Step 2: Meet your Navigator
Within two business days of receiving your form, your Navigator will contact you to learn more about you and help you get financial aid and resources to allow you to focus on school. Together, you’ll make a plan to move forward. Meet the Navigators
Step 3: Pick a program and enroll
Your Navigator will help you find the right program, understand the career pathway it will lead to, and walk you through the college enrollment process.
Step 4: Get college-ready
Many of our students need to brush up on academic and study skills so they can do well in their classes. We’ll help you enroll in a free summer bridge program and orientation so you can be college-ready and get a strong start at Columbus State.
Step 5: Earn your certificate
You’ll learn in-person from faculty who are invested in your success. Your Navigator will work to answer any questions you have, connect you with tutoring resources if you need them, and keep on track right through to earning your certificate.