We help former foster youth, also known as care leavers, apply to graduate programs and professional schools by providing the knowledge and funds that help each applicant create a competitive application. We are MAPS (Mentoring for Academic and Professional Success), a group of established professionals and volunteer mentors. We are doctors, professors, business analysts, teachers, social workers, lawyers, counselors, college advisors and dentists. We are well aware of the educational adversity faced by young adults with a background in foster care because we share that experience; now we want to support others in their career aspirations.
Our mission is focused at a critical point: MAPS assists young adults who were formerly or currently in California’s foster care system and are ready to cross the bridge to a graduate or professional degree. These are juniors and seniors enrolled as undergraduates at a university or working professionals who want to return to school for professional development.
We address the two important factors that help applicants gain access to an advanced degree program: a complete and thorough knowledge of the application process, an understanding all our mentors can provide, and sufficient funds to cover the associated costs.
Just applying to graduate school can be expensive and the uncertainty of acceptance causes many care leavers to hesitate submitting an application. All funds raised through this GoFundMe site will be used for the following costs: exam preparation fees, exam fees, application fees, travel for interviews and other associated costs.
Here are application estimates for various advanced degree programs: Submitting an application to a School of Education to become a high school math teacher is estimated to cost approximately $1,100; applying to Medical School will cost approximately $2,575 and the application costs for a MA or PhD are estimated to be $1,305. These are bare bones estimates that do not include any preparation courses for exams. (See itemized costs below).
Helping care leavers by ensuring they submit competitive applications and funding some of the associated costs puts them on a path to professional success. It will also help diversify graduate and professional school programs and increase the number of students from this underrepresented demographic. If you like our mission but prefer to make a tax-deductible contribution, that option will be available soon.
Professionals associated with our program have been in the news:
Sederic Grant completed his DDS at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry in 2020. He is currently completing a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
JP Horn earned a PhD in Social Work at Boston University in 2020 and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Cal State East Bay.
Festus Ohan attended UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine on a full scholarship and is currently a resident physician at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
A more detailed list of estimated costs:
High School math teacher – Estimated cost of applying: $1,100
-prospective applicants must complete state required tests: CBEST $102 and three CSET @ $99 each.
-application fees to three programs $300 estimate.
-costs of additional courses to meet requirements $400.
Medical Doctor – Estimated cost of applying: $2,575
- prospective medical students must take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) which costs $320.
-applications are submitted through a central service with the first application costing $170 and $39 for each additional application. Applicants applied to an average of 16 schools in 2018-2019.
-travel for three medical school interviews: estimate $1500
-applicants can apply for fee waivers for exams and application fees but travel is not covered.
Master or PhD program – Estimated cost of applying: $1,305
-prospective students are generally required to take the GRE which costs $205.
-applications submitted to UC graduate programs cost $120/application and it is advised that an applicant apply to 3-5 schools ensure acceptance.
-travel to speak with potential mentors, $500.
MAPS is an off-shoot of a state-wide pilot program established at UC Davis between 2013-2017. The Guardian Professions Program (GPP) assisted over eighty care leavers successfully gain acceptance to graduate and professional schools.
Read an article about the program in Child and Family Services Review. The Guardian Professions Program
Our mission is focused at a critical point: MAPS assists young adults who were formerly or currently in California’s foster care system and are ready to cross the bridge to a graduate or professional degree. These are juniors and seniors enrolled as undergraduates at a university or working professionals who want to return to school for professional development.
We address the two important factors that help applicants gain access to an advanced degree program: a complete and thorough knowledge of the application process, an understanding all our mentors can provide, and sufficient funds to cover the associated costs.
Just applying to graduate school can be expensive and the uncertainty of acceptance causes many care leavers to hesitate submitting an application. All funds raised through this GoFundMe site will be used for the following costs: exam preparation fees, exam fees, application fees, travel for interviews and other associated costs.
Here are application estimates for various advanced degree programs: Submitting an application to a School of Education to become a high school math teacher is estimated to cost approximately $1,100; applying to Medical School will cost approximately $2,575 and the application costs for a MA or PhD are estimated to be $1,305. These are bare bones estimates that do not include any preparation courses for exams. (See itemized costs below).
Helping care leavers by ensuring they submit competitive applications and funding some of the associated costs puts them on a path to professional success. It will also help diversify graduate and professional school programs and increase the number of students from this underrepresented demographic. If you like our mission but prefer to make a tax-deductible contribution, that option will be available soon.
Professionals associated with our program have been in the news:
Sederic Grant completed his DDS at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry in 2020. He is currently completing a residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
JP Horn earned a PhD in Social Work at Boston University in 2020 and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Cal State East Bay.
Festus Ohan attended UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine on a full scholarship and is currently a resident physician at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
A more detailed list of estimated costs:
High School math teacher – Estimated cost of applying: $1,100
-prospective applicants must complete state required tests: CBEST $102 and three CSET @ $99 each.
-application fees to three programs $300 estimate.
-costs of additional courses to meet requirements $400.
Medical Doctor – Estimated cost of applying: $2,575
- prospective medical students must take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) which costs $320.
-applications are submitted through a central service with the first application costing $170 and $39 for each additional application. Applicants applied to an average of 16 schools in 2018-2019.
-travel for three medical school interviews: estimate $1500
-applicants can apply for fee waivers for exams and application fees but travel is not covered.
Master or PhD program – Estimated cost of applying: $1,305
-prospective students are generally required to take the GRE which costs $205.
-applications submitted to UC graduate programs cost $120/application and it is advised that an applicant apply to 3-5 schools ensure acceptance.
-travel to speak with potential mentors, $500.
MAPS is an off-shoot of a state-wide pilot program established at UC Davis between 2013-2017. The Guardian Professions Program (GPP) assisted over eighty care leavers successfully gain acceptance to graduate and professional schools.
Read an article about the program in Child and Family Services Review. The Guardian Professions Program