The History of Strive for College
2007
Strive begins
Michael Carter founds Strive for College from his freshman dorm room at Washington University in St. Louis. He creates a pilot that matches college students with high school students at a local failing high school. The school’s rate of graduating seniors going onto a four-year college or university grows from 3% to 89%.
Michael's dedication to college access is inspired by his Hispanic grandparents, who worked two jobs each so Michael's mother could be the first in their family to go to college. Michael's grandparents were the original Strivers.
Michael's dedication to college access is inspired by his Hispanic grandparents, who worked two jobs each so Michael's mother could be the first in their family to go to college. Michael's grandparents were the original Strivers.
2011
Strive expands
Strive’s in-person mentoring program is active on 20 college campuses across the country.
2012
Strive goes virtual
Michael sees that in order to reach all the students who want a mentor, Strive needs to go virtual. Michael creates UStrive, an online platform where Strive students and mentors can access tools that help them successfully navigate the college and financial aid application process and where they can safely communicate.
2019
Strive reaches over 1,100,000 students
Strive achieves its goal of reaching one million students: by the end of 2019, over 1,100,000 students from all 50 states have opted in for a Strive mentor.
2020
Strive launches a college persistence program
Based on Strive’s college access program, a new persistence program – funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation – facilitates mentors and students working together to ensure the student graduates from college and is prepared for career opportunities.
