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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Dowding from Flushing, NY is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Dowding is requesting

Unlocking the Mysteries of College

My students need books on the college application process, college readiness, & guides to financial aid since many are the first in their families to go to college.

  • $399 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Dowding for her next project!

Help Ms. Dowding

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Dowding for her next project!

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Students

College opens the door to a world of possibilities, ideas, opportunities and success. My urban students, many the first in their families to finish high school let alone go to college, need the resources to compete in the ever-competitive application process and become college-ready.

My students live in New York state.

Many recently immigrated to the U.S. less than four years ago and have accomplished phenomenal growth in both acquiring a second language and learning new content while adapting to a new culture and country. Coming to this country for "a better life" often translates to students and their families as "going to college and having more opportunities." There is Ali, a refugee from Pakistan, who writes the verse of a poet. There is Maria, from Ecuador, who works full time in the evenings but pulls straight A's. There is Chen, from rural China, who is now interning at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. They will all be the first in their families to graduate high school and all dream of going to college. Unfortunately, as college admissions become more and more competitive, my students feel at a loss in understanding the complex nature of what goes into applying to college. Additionally, parents worry about how to fund college and expenses.

My Project

My school is working to create a comprehensive college-readiness plan in order to better assist students in understanding college, careers, and the application process. I am requesting a set of books- from reference books of U.S. colleges to application essay guidebooks to "survival guides" on what to expect freshman year- in order to create a college library that students will be able to explore, sit with, and assist them with finding the best path for them to higher education and beyond. I hope these books will also be used by teachers and advisers in order to lead discussions and small group activities that will expose students that higher education is attainable for ALL students and not just wealthy teenagers. These materials also include books that help parents understand college, financial aid, & what to expect when kids "leave" to go to college since this is new and scary to many families. I want to use this collection of books to inspire and empower my students.

College made all the difference in my life.

I went from being a shy kid unsure of my capabilities to someone confident and curious. As an educator, I see my role as making sure learning is seen by my students as a life-long process and that college is a way of broadening horizons. While college is not for everyone, I wish to being the opportunity of college to all of my students as an option and a chance to fulfill their dreams and gain a belief in themselves that anything is possible.

Ms. Dowding Flushing International High School Grades 9-12

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. Dowding

Flushing, NY View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

400 students impacted 2donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Dowding is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
College and Career Ready: Helping All Students Succeed Beyond High School David T. Conley • Barnes and Noble $19.11 1 $19.11
Career Adventure: Your Guide to Personal Assessment, Career Exploration, and Decision Making Susan M. Johnston • Barnes and Noble $29.11 1 $29.11
The College Handbook 2011 The College Board • Barnes and Noble $25.64 1 $25.64
The Best 373 Colleges, 2011 Edition Princeton Review • Barnes and Noble $14.73 1 $14.73
The Get It Together for College College Board • Barnes and Noble $10.22 1 $10.22
Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges Loren Pope • Barnes and Noble $10.94 1 $10.94
The Insider's Guide to the Colleges 2011: Students on Campus Tell You What You Really Want to Know Yale Daily News Staff • Barnes and Noble $15.72 1 $15.72
Paying for College Without Going Broke, 2010 Edition Princeton Review • Barnes and Noble $13.68 1 $13.68
1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know: (Like Buying Your Books Before Exams Start) Harry H. Harrison • Barnes and Noble $8.45 3 $25.35
Letting Go: Understanding the College Years Karen Levin Coburn, Madge Lawrence Treeger • Barnes and Noble $10.25 1 $10.25
The Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests The College Board • Barnes and Noble $12.95 1 $12.95
A Girl's Guide to College: Making the Most of the Best four Years of Your Life Traci Maynigo • Barnes and Noble $7.48 1 $7.48
The Gay and Lesbian Guide to College Life: A Comprehensive Resource for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students and Their Allies Princeton Review, Rachel Pepper, Jennifer Howd • Barnes and Noble $11.32 1 $11.32
Countdown to College: 21 'to Do' Lists for High School Valerie Pierce • Barnes and Noble $7.48 1 $7.48
College Admission Essays For D Woods • Barnes and Noble $16.23 1 $16.23
Latino Student's Guide to College Success Leonard A. Valverde • Barnes and Noble $37.96 1 $37.96
Latinos in College : Your Guide to Success Mariela Dabbah • Barnes and Noble $13.63 1 $13.63
Community College: Is It Right For You Susan H. Stafford • Barnes and Noble $7.49 1 $7.49
The Complete Guide to Writing Effective College Applications and Essays for Admissions and Scholarships: Step-By-Step Instructions Kathy L. Hahn, Colleen M. Loew • Barnes and Noble $17.82 1 $17.82

Materials cost

$307.11

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.61

Fulfillment labor & materials

$35.00

Total project cost

$346.72

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$51.81

Total project goal

$398.53

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $398.53

2 Donors

-$398.53

Donations toward project cost

-$346.72

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$51.81

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Dowding and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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