ACADEMIC SERVICES
Kaplan Tutoring Services Inc.
Cindy Kaplan, President
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Tutoring is no longer in-person.
CREATIVE WORKAROUNDS: All tutoring is now performed via Zoom,
Skype or speaker phone. All college essays are worked on through
Google Docs.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: Some students are enjoying virtual college
tours and info sessions, especially at hard-to-visit colleges.
LOOKING AHEAD: Until there is a vaccine, all tutoring will take place
remotely. Social distancing is impossible for in-person tutoring.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW: KTS will be giving individual, timed practice
SAT and ACT exams to students and supplying the results to the
students to include with their college applications.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: kaplantutor.com
The College Crusade of Rhode Island
Kristen Cyr, Director of Marketing and Communications
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Our organization’s mission is to prepare and
inspire young people to become the first in their families to attend
and complete college. We serve more than 4,000 students starting
in grade six and continuing through college with intensive, oneon-one
advising and through in-person academic and social-emotional
learning programming that helps them excel academically
and prepares them for college. Our biggest challenge was finding
new ways to connect with students so we could support their
needs during a stressful time for them. Our advisers are embedded
within the schools where they serve, so we had to adapt nimbly to
the closure of schools in March and move our spring and summer
programming online.
CREATIVE WORKAROUNDS: In the first two weeks after schools
closed, our advisers made 3,757 wellness calls to check on our middle
school, high school and postsecondary College Crusaders and
their families. Many of our students and their parents expressed
gratitude that we were checking on them during this time of
uncertainty. Our advisers were able to reassure students, make sure
they had what they needed to move forward with learning from
home, and connect families with social service agencies to help
with other identified needs. Moreover, we moved the remainder
of our spring in-person programming online — including hosting
virtual college tours, financial aid review nights, Q and A sessions
with college admissions representatives, college essay writing, Cru-
Club (our after-school enrichment program), guest speakers, a
fitness club and more. We also held a virtual talent show with prizes
and a panel of guest judges. Then, working with the Rhode Island
Department of Education, we opened our FAFSA (Free Application
for Federal Student Aid) completion assistance to any high
school senior in the state. We also opened our summer programming
to all Rhode Island public school students through RIDE’s
SAIL (Summer Academy for Interactive Learning) program.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: The pandemic dealt our Class of 2020
seniors a tough blow, but we found creative ways to celebrate
them. For the past two years, we have held a College Signing Day
75 JOHN STREET, PROVIDENCE, RI 02906
We are an international
community of lifelong learners.
We value intellectual curiosity,
respect, empathy, integrity,
and diversity.
Learn how our bilingual program can benefi t your child.
admissions@fasri.org
118 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2020