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FAQs

  • Her Climb is a free, selective, and rigorous program that prepares underserved public high school girls in New York City for college, careers, and leadership. Students begin as rising sophomores and continue through high school, college, and early career transition.

  • Her Climb serves public high school girls from under-resourced and underserved communities in New York City who demonstrate curiosity, commitment, and leadership potential. Each student is recruited during the first year in high school; they enter Her Climb during the summer as rising sophomores.

  • Her Climb is designed for students with potential, curiosity, and drive.

     

    You do not need to be an A student to apply. Many strong candidates are students who are still finding their footing academically, have faced barriers, or have not always had access to the same opportunities as others.

     

    If you are someone who:

    • Is curious and wants to grow

    • Cares about your future and your community

    • Is willing to show up, try, and learn

    • Has ideas, questions, or interests you want to explore

    We encourage you to apply.
     

    If you are unsure whether you’re “qualified,” we encourage you to apply anyway. We care most about who you are becoming.

  • To apply, complete this short online form and upload a few materials that help us get to know you beyond grades or test scores:

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    • A resume (no worries if it’s short or informal!) — this helps us understand your interests, community involvement, and experiences so far

    • A 250-word personal statement answering: Why do you want to join Her Climb, and what do you hope to gain from the experience?

    • One teacher's recommendation

    • Select your preferred track — Business, Creative Arts, Journalism, or Tech

    • Your fall semester transcript (used to understand your academic context, not to screen for perfect grades).

  • We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications. That means we look at the full picture of who you are, not just numbers on a page. When reviewing applications, we consider:

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    • Your interest in learning and personal growth

    • Your voice and perspective, as shown in your personal statement

    • Your effort and engagement in school or community, even if grades are uneven

    • Your willingness to participate fully in a supportive, collaborative environment

    • Your potential


    Grades and transcripts help us understand your academic context, but they are not the deciding factor.  We value students who are motivated, curious, and willing to grow. Your potential matters more than your grades.

  • Students receive:
     

    • Year-round academic and enrichment programming

    • A three-week summer intensive

    • Mentorship aligned to one of four tracks: Business, Creative Arts, Journalism, or STEM

    • Exposure to professional, cultural, and academic spaces

    • Year-round stipends for engagement and participation

      • $750 in the summer; $100 per semester

    • Transportation, meals, and required materials

    • College scholarship

    • Ongoing guidance through college and early career transition

  • No. Her Climb is entirely free for students. We provide stipends, transportation, meals, and materials to ensure participation is accessible.

  • Students enter Her Climb as rising sophomores and remain through high school graduation, after which they continue to receive ongoing, tailored support through college and early career transition.

  • Students are referred by partner high schools and complete an application process. Selection is based on readiness, commitment, and alignment with the program, not prior access or advantage.

  • Students participate in:
     

    • A yearly three-week summer intensive, beginning in the summer of their rising sophomore year

    • Monthly programming during the school year

    • Year-round workshops, field experiences, and mentoring sessions
       

    Specific schedules are shared with students and families in advance.

  • Her Climb is based at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Select programming also takes place at partner institutions and professional spaces across New York City. 

  • Yes. Her Climb collaborates with organizations to provide mentorship, learning opportunities, and use of space. For more information, please email info@herclimb.org.

  • Public high schools can connect with Her Climb to learn more about referrals and student eligibility by contacting info@herclimb.org.

  • Access Weekends are two-day, on-campus immersions that bring Her Climb’s leadership, access, wellness, and sisterhood model directly to under-resourced public high schools across the nation.

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    Designed for schools with limited enrichment opportunities, mentorship pipelines, or wellness resources, the experience delivers a condensed version of Her Climb’s four-pillar program in a powerful weekend format. Students participate in leadership development, wellness grounding, career and college exposure, and hands-on learning across Her Climb’s four tracks: Business, Creative Arts, Journalism, and STEM.

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    Each Access Weekend also includes a dedicated educator session and a $5,000 Her Climb Access and Wellness Grant to help schools sustain leadership, wellness, and college access initiatives beyond the weekend.

  • Donors support Her Climb by funding cohorts, student stipends, programming, and long-term sustainability initiatives. Contributions directly support student access and opportunity. For more information or institutional giving, please email erika.freund@herclimb.org.

  • You can contact us at info@herclimb.org or follow Her Climb on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates.

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