What is QuickStart to College?
“I feel more independent and confident in myself. I also feel more educated about the process.”
QuickStart to College (QTC) is a free summer camp program to uplift and encourage incoming high school seniors as they prepare for college selection, applications, scholarships, and financial aid processes. Students enjoy 4 days and 3 nights at WWU and visits from our friends at BTC, NWIC, SVC, and WCC to help them learn more about the various types of colleges available. Not only do we work hard, but we also have fun visiting Western’s Camp Lakewood (boating, kayaking, swimming, volleyball, paddle boats, etc.), enjoying local food, visiting the Rec Center, and doing various self-care activities. By attending QuickStart, our mentors and local college staff members will help students get prepared for milestones throughout their senior year, so they can confidently step into the path that lies beyond it.
“I’m a lot less worried and scared about applying to colleges and going through financial aid applications. It’s been really helpful learning about different websites that can guide you in this process, as I really didn’t know anything before I came to camp”
Students pose in a circle looking down at the camera shaping their hands to look like hearts
FuturesNW helps students who qualify for the College Bound Scholarship, are 1st generation, and/or BIPOC by recruiting them into our QuickStart to College program. The QuickStart program nearly doubles (43%) the possibility that attendees directly enroll in college compared to their low-income peers who don’t participate in our supplemental program.
FuturesNW earned the NQMS Gold Partner Award
FuturesNW recently received the Gold Badge from the National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS), earning us statewide acclaim for QuickStart to College’s adherence to the highest national standards in mentoring and our commitment to continuous improvement in supporting underserved youth.
Many of our QTC near-peer mentors were themselves participants in QTC just a few years ago! We are so proud of this achievement and will continue to uphold these high standards to best serve our students and families!
Adi was interviewed by Mentor WA to share more about her journey as a mentee, to mentor, to Sr mentor, and then lead mentor for the QuickStart program. Read the interview here (opens new tab).
QTC 2025
We are so grateful for our most recent cohort of students, mentors and staff who completed another year of QTC programming! Our blog post paints a beautiful picture of what students experienced, and we encourage you to read all about it here.
Students, mentors, staff, and board members pose for a silly photo at Lakewood before jumping into the water and enjoying some relaxation time.
We couldn’t do QTC without our incredible mentors and Staff!
A huge shout-out to Victor, Karina, Ximena, and our phenomenal mentor team who worked countless hours making this a memorable experience for students.
Mentors and FuturesNW staff post for a picture during mentor training
“I really liked that there was majority POC mentors, it made me feel like I could relate to them more and I liked how welcomed I felt.”
“Workshops were so helpful! Talking with professors and Financial Aid and essay workshops were 100% most helpful! Thank you SO much!”
2024 QuickStart Mentors and Staff. Not pictured, Atiana, Sabrin, Julian and Tiffeny
“I really enjoyed the experience and would love to help future students as a mentor”
QuickStart to College poster art and design by the amazing Eliana Vasquez!