GOALS Program (Goal Oriented Advocates Leaders and Scholars)
The GOALS GEAR UP Program serves over 180 students in grades 7 through 12 at Atlantic City and Pleasantville Public School Districts. We are actively recruiting new students from our partner schools! Please click ‘Apply Today’ to join our GOALS GEAR UP Program! Laptops may be borrowed from our accepted students to participate in virtual programming!
Mission
The GOALS GEAR UP Program (Goal Oriented Advocates Leaders and Scholars - Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Program) at Stockton University mission is to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GOALS Program serves over 180 students, 7th through 12th grade and first -year enrolled college students from the Atlantic City and Pleasantville Public School Districts.
Program Objective
To provide participants with a solid foundation to create a school-to-college pipeline designed to empower and equip students with skills and academic ability to successfully complete postsecondary programs leading to careers in fields, in which persons from minority and/or disadvantaged backgrounds are underrepresented.
GOALS GEAR UP have an Academic Year program and a Summer Enrichment program, which is designed to enhance students’ intellectual abilities in math, science, English, public speaking, and computer science. Also, an emphasis is placed on socio-emotional learning, cultivating self-esteem, and developing leaders who will be prepared to navigate postsecondary education and enter the workforce. The academic year program includes a collaboration with the target school to provide academic and career counseling, mentoring, Saturday Academy, which consists of instructional classes, assisting with college applications and financial aid forms, and visits to universities in the tri-state area.
GOALS GEAR UP Program at Stockton University - Atlantic City Campus is funded and supported by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, GEAR UP & Collebe Bound grants, Pleasantville Public School District, Atlantic City School District, and Stockton University.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Academic and Summer enrichment program on Stockton University-AC Campus
- Academic and career counseling
- Assistance with college applications and FAFSA completion
- Educational field trips and college visits for exposure to post-secondary education;
- Financial aid information workshops
- Standardized test preparation
- Mentoring
- Parental Activities
- Saturday Instructional classes
- Extensive "knowledge on" college admission process and assistance for all seniors
Students must attend one of the target schools listed
Atlantic City Public School District:
- Atlantic City High School
- Sovereign Avenue School
- New York Avenue School
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School Complex
- Uptown School Complex
- Richmond Avenue School
- Texas Avenue School
- Chelsea Heights School
- Pennsylvania Avenue School
Pleasantville Public School District
- Pleasantville High School
- Middle School of Pleasantville
GOALS GEAR UP Program Staff
Destiny Talley, Director
Destiny.Talley@stockton.edu
Roxana Perez Nieves, Lead Academic/Career Counselor
Roxana.Perez-Nieves@stockton.edu
Ty're Robinson, Academic/Career Counselor
Ty're.Robinson@stockton.edu
Johanna Holts, Program Assistant
Johanna.Holts@stockton.edu
Stockton 'GOALS GEAR UP Program'
Stockton University
3711 Atlantic Ave.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
609-761-1229
Senior Information
In New Jersey, students have access to a variety of postsecondary institutions including two-year community colleges, four-year college and universities and proprietary schools. These institutions provide highly diversified programs of study to meet the individual needs of students as you prepare for future careers.
GOALS Program will provide students with college readiness to ensure they are ready to enter and graduate from post-secondary education.
- At many institutions, the SAT/ACT test is now optional, but we encourage GOALS Program students to take this exam for academic scholarship consideration.
- Review your transcript to see if you have taken the necessary courses for admission to college. Work with your counselor to adjust your roster if necessary.
- Strive to maintain an “A” or “B” average.
- Continue visiting college campuses. Meet with college admissions officers whenever possible.
- Attend college fairs and admissions presentations in your area.
- Select 3-6 colleges or universities and complete applications to those schools in the Fall. Process all college applications through your guidance counselor.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in October.
- Discuss scholarship opportunities with your guidance counselor and College Access Coordinator.
- Research scholarships and apply for those that interest you.
- Make sure you visit your most interested universities and carefully review financial aid data, consider all variables involved before selecting your college.
- Keep abreast of any placement tests or orientation programs at your college. Don’t miss any important deadlines regarding enrollment and/or housing deposits.
Apply to schools that most suit your interests and your objectives. You can obtain applications by applying online through a college's web site or by The Common Application.
- Applying to College FAQs
- HESSA (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority)
- Application Essays
- Tips for Writing a Winning College Essay
- The College Admissions Secret (video)
- Behind the Scenes Look at College Admissions (video)
- Insider’s Guide to Admissions (video)
- Seven College Myths (video)
- The Common Application
- Scholarship information
Essential Scholarship Resources
- Fastweb Free Scholarship Matching Service
- FinAid’s Scholarships Section
- Search for Scholarships on the Web
- Beware of Scholarship Scams
- Education Tax Benefits
- Federal Student Financial Aid
Choosing a Career is a difficult task but utilizing the links below will help you discover more about your interests and skills while assisting with your decision making.
- Career Clusters
- CareerOneStop Pathways to Career Success
- CollegeBoard Career Browser
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Going To College In New Jersey
- Atlantic Cape Community College
- Bloomfield College
- Caldwell University
- Camden County College
- Centenary University
- Cumberland County College
- Drew University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Felischcian University
- Georgian Court University
- Kean University
- Mercer County Community College
- Monmouth University
- Montclair State University
- New Jersey City University
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Passaic County Community College
- Princeton University
- Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Rider University
- Rowan College At Burlington County
- Rowan College At Gloucester County
- Rowan University
- Rutgers, School of Health Related Professions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Saint Peter's University
- Salem Community College
- Seton Hall University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Stockton University
- The College of New Jersey
- Union County College
- William Paterson University