2025-26 RTS Career Readiness Program Application!

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Overview

The Ready To Succeed: Career Readiness Program is designed to unlock your potential by providing you with the coaching, connections, and community you need to launch your career and graduate. We are interested in learning more about you, your career goals, and how you think RTS can help you.


RTS Scholars receive: 
  • Scholarship Funds (current 2024-25 RTS Scholars receive a $5,000 scholarship || 2025-26 Scholarship Amount: TBD)
  • 1:1 Career Advisor 
  • Job and Internship Opportunities
  • A Community of Your Peers
  • Mental Health Resources


ELIGIBILITY
  • System-impacted background *Foster system / Foster care, Kin Gap Care, Adopted, Institutionalized group home, Legal guardianship, Wards of the court, Unaccompanied homeless youth
  • Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at a California-based institution for the Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 academic year. 
  • The program is designed to be a 3-year program, where we ideally begin to work with students after their first year of undergraduate studies until their graduation. Because of this, RTS has a strong preference for applicants who are pursuing a bachelor's degree with a target graduation date of Spring 2028 or later.

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APPLICATION TIMELINE 
  • Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Applicants will be contacted about the status of their application by March 2025. Interviews will take place in March - April 2025. Program participation for admitted scholars will start in Summer 2025 with Camp Ready.  

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APPLICATION LENGTH
Depending on how reflective you are and how much you choose to write, the application could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. You will be asked to submit your resume and transcripts. 

If you need to come back to this application later: Select "Save and Resume" at the top right. You will not be able to edit your answers once you click the "Submit" button and submit the application. You will be able to return to the application to pick up where you left off and/or edit previous responses until you submit the application or the deadline passes. || Application Technical Issues? Email: Taos@readytosucceedla.org

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VIRTUAL INFO SESSIONS AND OFFICE HOURS 
If you need support with your application, resume, and/or have any questions about the program, let's chat: calendly.com/rts-adri/appsupport  || Couldn't attend an Info Session? Watch the recording here [passcode: gt%!Bf91]

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Questions? Email: advisors@readytosucceedla.org 
Contact Info



example@gmail.com

example@school.edu


Demographics







Please select how you identify.














Regardless of the college you attend, do you consider yourself a Southern California resident? We are defining SoCal as any county from Ventura, LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego.

Regardless of the college you attend, do you consider your home base LA county? Note: LA county is more than the city of LA. It runs from San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys in the north, all the way down around Long Beach in the south.




Education Information

Even if you have transfer plans, what college are you currently at? For UCs or Cal States search "UC" or "CSU". 
 





Please note: Due to the structure of our program, RTS has a strong preference for applicants who are currently in their first year of their undergraduate studies, and/or are on track to graduate in Spring 2028 or later.


Please note: Due to the structure of our program, RTS has a strong preference for applicants who are currently in their first year of their undergraduate studies, and/or are on track to graduate from a 4-year university in Spring 2028.

Please briefly explain.



When to plan to start your new college as of now?

When to plan to start your new college as of now?



We know this can change, but as of now, what month do you anticipate graduating?

We know this can change, but as of now, what year do you anticipate graduating?


Please select using the first key word. We know this can change, but as of now, what is your current or expected major(s)? If you are undecided, please write "undecided."

Please select using the first key word. We know this can change, but as of now, what is your current or expected major(s)? If you are undecided, please write "undecided."

Please search using the first key word.


Do you qualify for federal financial aid: Grants and/or Loans?


At RTS, we consider you a first-generation college student if you're getting the first 4-year bachelor's degree in your household--even if you have a sibling who has received/is receiving one too.


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College and Career Details



(Formatting example: 4.0, 3.5, 2.0, etc.)







We know this can change, but what is your current plans after college?





A picture/headshot can help humanize your application and it can help the RTS Staff recognize and remember you! If selected to be a scholar, this headshot will also be used as your contact record picture in our data base. 
Please make sure it is a solo, clear picture of your face, from the top of your shoulders to slightly above your head.

PDF strongly preferred.                                                                          
Guidelines for Sharing Personal Experiences
We encourage authenticity and personal reflection in your responses. However, to create a safe and respectful space, we want to remind applicants that you are not required to share personal details about your foster care experience unless you feel comfortable doing so. Additionally, we ask everyone to be mindful of trauma sharing—the sharing of deeply personal or painful experiences in ways that may feel overwhelming for you and/or others to relive. 

****AI Reminders****
Using AI tools to help start your essay drafts is OK! However, remember that your essays should reflect your authentic experiences and unique personality - elements that AI cannot replicate. For the strongest impact, focus on conveying your personal motivations and background in your own voice rather than relying on AI-generated content. Your individual perspective and writing style will create more compelling and genuine responses.
Tell Us About Yourself




Short Answer Responses



The RTS Program!
Camp Ready is an in-person event for all new RTS Scholars. If admitted into the program, you will be asked to attend (It's lots of fun!). What city will you be living in for Summer 2025? i.e. Los Angeles, CA etc.

Our goal at RTS is to get you work and world ready. We do that by developing your career competencies, expanding your network, and building your experiences through:

  • 1:1 Individualized Career Coaching 
  • Exclusive Internship and Job placements
  • Networking opportunities with RTS professionals and RTS alumni
  • Targeted Financial Support (Scholarship)
  • Basic Needs advising to support mental health and wellbeing

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: If selected as an RTS Scholar, I am committed to my personal and professional development and agree to be an active participant in the RTS Program and complete the necessary requirements which amounts to at minimum, 2 - 4  hours a month – part of which includes: 
  • attend Orientation and Camp Ready
  • a check-in with an RTS advisor, 
  • attending any of the offered mandatory RTS workshops, 
  • and making progress on my individual career action plan and goals.

*Please note: there is flexibility with the above items as long as you are transparent, honest, and communicative with your RTS advisor should you be admitted into the program.







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