Keep the college search student-centered. Consider interests, strengths, and values, and reflect on what truly matters to you—academic programs, campus atmosphere, available support and resources, and extracurricular activities that align with your goals for personal and professional growth.

Explore colleges where you can connect with classmates and faculty and engage in high-impact educational experiences that empower you to shape your future.

Focusing on what inspires and motivates you will help you find college communities where you will thrive.

Jumpstart or continue your college search with CTCL in 2026!

We’re bringing our information session and college fairs to 17 cities this spring and summer. You’ll learn how to keep YOU at the center of the search and have a chance to connect with admission officers from our distinctly different CTCL member institutions.

All events are FREE and open to the public.

We're also excited to invite High School Counselors, College Advisors, IECs, and college access professionals to join us for coffee and connection at a Counselor Breakfast & Roundtable program in Philadelphia (March 10), San Diego (July 30), or Dallas - Fort Worth (August 17).

Pre-registration for all events is encouraged.

Congratulations to the 2026 CTCL Scholars!

Belle Leal is a graduate of the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy – Lauralton Hall from Stratford, Connecticut. She will join the Class of 2030 at Clark University!

Escarle Lora de León is a graduate of Instituto Politécnico El Ave María from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She will join the Class of 2030 at Lawrence University!

Belle and Escarle join 25 previous CTCL Scholarship winners who are currently attending or have earned degrees from 18 different CTCL Member Institutions.

To honor the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of Loren Pope’s classic book and the 10th anniversary of the non-profit organization, Colleges That Change Lives established a scholarship for students who enroll at a CTCL member institutions. The first awards were given in 2016.