The Reach High Scholars Program has established a program to help RHSP members defray the cost to them of fees incurred in (i) applying to summer programs, (ii) preparing for and taking standard college admission tests and (iii) applying to four-year colleges.

Summer Programs

RHSP members are encouraged to enroll in summer programs that offer academic enrichment such as those at Brown University, Phillips Exeter Academy, St. Paul’s School and other private boarding schools and major colleges. Because admission to these programs is competitive, students are advised to apply to least two.

St. Paul’s has no application fee and Brown has one, but waives it for RHSP members. Exeter and several other programs have application fees that are waivable under certain circumstances of financial need. RHSP members should first avail themselves of available waivers. Any student who is turned down or is not eligible for such a waiver can apply to the Program Director of RHSP for reimbursement of their summer program application fees on the following terms:

• The student must have exhausted all fee waiver possibilities as outlined above.
• Fees will only be reimbursed for applications to programs of at least two-weeks duration.
• The student must apply to at least two such programs.
• The student must apply for financial aid at each of the programs and must have been awarded aid by at least one of them.
• The student must actually enroll in one of the programs.
• 50% of the total of all application fees incurred by the student will be reimbursed.

SAT and ACT Tests

The College Board, which administers the SAT test, has a procedure for students to obtain fee waivers based on financial eligibility guidelines (such as participating in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch/National School Lunch Program at their school). Students who qualify for such waivers should avail themselves of this option by using forms provided by their high school.

The ACT also has a procedure for students to obtain fee waivers subject to certain conditions. Students electing to take ACT tests can obtain the appropriate forms and eligibility requirements from their high school.

Any student who is turned down or is not eligible for such a waiver can apply for reimbursement of their SAT and ACT test fees on the following terms:

• The student must have exhausted all fee waiver possibilities as outlined above.
• For SAT and ACT tests, the student must incur such fees on two different dates.
• 50% of the fees will be reimbursed.

College Application Fees

If a student qualifies for an SAT fee waiver, his or her high school can provide up to four forms to request application fee waivers from colleges. There is a long list of colleges that waive the application fee on this basis. Many also waive fees based on (i) the "Request for Application Fee Waiver" of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, (ii) for applications made on line or (iii) a request made directly to the college.

Any student who is eligible for a fee waiver by a college but is turned down or is not eligible for such a waiver can apply for reimbursement of their college application fees on the following terms:

• Fees will only be reimbursed for applications to four-year colleges.
• Fees will not be reimbursed for any college that the Program Director of RHSP deems highly unlikely to accept the student.
• 50% of the fees for a maximum of eight colleges will be reimbursed.

Procedure for Reimbursement of Fees

The student must furnish to the Program Director of RHSP a list of the fees to be reimbursed and a statement describing the reasons that the student is unable to pay them. The final decision on any fee reimbursement will be made by the Program Director or a member of the Board of Directors of RHSP. Reimbursements will be made by check mailed to the address furnished by the student.