WHAT WE DO

Meet College is Real

Our Mission

College Is Real’s mission is to change the college-going culture in the City of Richmond in order to change the lives of our students and their families. 

Our Vision

We envision a world where every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to pursue and succeed in higher education and a meaningful career. By breaking down financial, academic, and societal barriers, we aim to create a pathway for success that leads from high school to college and beyond. At College Is Real, we are transforming lives, one student at a time.

Our Values

[We are driven by a set of core values that guide everything we do:]

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    Equity

    We advocate for equal access to education for all students, especially those from underserved communities.

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    Integrity

    We commit to transparency, honesty, and excellence in our programs and partnerships.

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    Empathy

    We understand the unique challenges our students face, and we approach each student with compassion and care.

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    Accountability

    We hold each student accountable for their actions as a student, representative of CIR, and community member.

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    Collaboration

    We believe in the power of community and work alongside schools, families, partner organizations, donors, and mentors to create lasting impact.

Our Approach

We take a holistic approach to college preparation, combining academic counseling, college tours, application assistance, scholarships, and career mentorship into a single, comprehensive program. By offering personalized, consistent support, we ensure students are fully equipped to navigate the complexities of higher education.

Our Impact

Since our founding, College Is Real has helped thousands of students attend top colleges across the country. The real impact goes beyond acceptance letters—our students are equipped with the tools, confidence, and support they need to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.

100%

of students are from Richmond’s three public high schools: De Anza, Kennedy, and Richmond High School.

80%

Over 80% of our students are from low-income households.

70%

of our students identify as Latinx, 20% African American, and 10% Asian American, Caucasian or multi-ethnic.

1St Gen

Most of the students are first-generation college attendees.

Colleges Our Students Attend

Our students have gained admission to top colleges and universities across the nation. Some of the prestigious institutions they’ve attended include:

  • UC-Berkeley_logo
  • UC Davis logo
  • UCLA logo
  • Standform University logo
  • Columbia University logo
  • Brown University logo
  • St. Mary's College of California logo
  • USC logo
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo logo
  • San Jose State logo
  • Sacramento-State_logo
  • UC Santa Barbara logo
  • San Diego State logo
  • CSU-Long-Beach_logo
  • Howard-University_logo

Testimonials

[Inspiring words from those whose lives have been transformed by College Is Real.]

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    The difference between CIR and other college preparatory programs is the way it operates. CIR is always seeking ways to improve and implement new ideas that will benefit past, current, and future students.

    — Destiney Norsouvanh, Richmond High Class of 2015, UC Santa Barbara Class of 2020 with a B.A. in Sociology and Education Studies Minor, Former CIR Program Director and Current CIR Board of Directors

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    I’ve always cared about my education, but when I got to high school I didn’t know what steps I needed to take to make it to college. College Is Real made that path clear. They provided me with the resources and the guidance that has made everything up until this point possible.

    — Miguel De La Cruz, Richmond High School Class of 2018, graduate of UC Santa Barbara in 2022 with a B.A. in Communication and a Sports Management Certification

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    I always knew I wanted to go to college, but I often felt that I didn't have the resources or the opportunity to go to a four-year university. My parents never went to college and didn't know how to help me in school, nor did they understand what I was going through.

    — Eva Oliveros, Sonoma State University

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    CIR supports long-term success by showing you the path to strive and be successful at an institution of higher learning. In addition, it sets you up with opportunities to network with individuals with similar aspirations and a solid support system.

    — Fabian Martinez, Richmond High Class of 2012, San Jose State University Class of 2017 with a B.S. in Kinesiology, Former CIR staff member

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    Much if not all of my academic and life success developed through my participation with College Is Real. As a disoriented teenager entertained by the fast “street” life, I was not interested in furthering my post-secondary education. However, College Is Real introduced a desire and the importance of completing college, and such support is responsible for my success at an elite university like University of California, Berkeley.

    — Rodrigo Corona Flores, Richmond High Graduate 2013 and UC Berkeley graduate 2017 with a B.A. in Social Welfare, and current CIR Board of Directors

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    We know that Zach and I aren’t going to have this platform forever, but it’s amazing to think of what a little bit of hope, or compassion, or even just an opportunity, can help somebody succeed. So, we’ve partnered with College Is Real to provide funding to start a program at Kennedy High School.

    — Julie Johnston Ertz, Two-Time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, Ertz Family Foundation