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At Future Forward, we're stronger together.
Check out stories and news to learn about what life is like at Future Forward.
Here’s what Gateway U students and partners are saying.
Univisión interviewed one of our founders, Eli Bildner. Hear about a scholarship program we supported enabling Bay Area Dreamers to earn a tuition-free bachelor’s degree.
Have you ever heard of a college program with no tests or required attendance that lets you gain a degree on your own time and in your own way? The Standard dropped by an open house for Rivet School last weekend, held at the Leadership Public Schools on Bissell Avenue, and discovered a group looking to help turn the traditional learning model on its head.
As a single parent who worked full-time as a teacher’s aide, Tamea Bishop was determined to improve her economic prospects by pursuing postsecondary education. Because of her busy work schedule and child care needs, it was hard for Tamea to find classes she could attend. Online learning seemed to be her best bet, but she didn’t own a computer and lacked some basic computer skills. But Tamea was fortunate. Through her employer in Richmond, California she learned of a new college program designed specifically to support working adults.
It sounds too good to be true: Start with a flexible online education—one that allows adult students to speed through the material they already know rather than plod through prerequisites semester by semester. Then, combine that with all the real-world supports that online degrees don’t offer, including a community of fellow students, a coach who meets with you face to face, a quiet study space, and maybe even a free lunch. All with a sticker price that is mostly covered by the federal Pell Grant for low-income students.
We’re also keeping an eye on hybrid colleges, including Da Vinci Extension, Concourse Education, Match Beyond and PelotonU, that provide access to accredited programs while providing intensive wraparound student support, digital learning (often competency based) and funding models that mitigate student debt.
Hybrid college is built to fit your life. The days of conventional classroom schedules — especially in the age of COVID-19 — just do not work for many young adults anymore. A blended format gets at the root causes for college stop-out.
“Not a lot of people went to college in my family, and I decided that I wanted more. I would like to be a role model for my daughters. At Future Forward, I'm fully supported 110%. I know that my advisors care about my success versus past colleges where I was just a student.”
“Future Forward is an amazing, convenient opportunity for me to finish my degree. Being able to study online on my own pace and time is very convenient for a working mom. My son started college, which motivated me go back to school too, to show my children that it's never too late to finish your degree.”
“This AA has enhanced my leadership skills and bridged the gap between patient care and administrative excellence. It'll help me apply my years of experience as an LPN into a new role. The program's focus on innovative solutions has equipped me with the tools needed to lead teams effectively and improve patient outcomes.”
“The Communications program has transformed how I present myself both on camera and in writing. It gave me the confidence to deliver compelling messages and taught me to craft clear, professional content. This growth has been invaluable in advancing my career in the field!”
“I can't say enough about how amazing the FFCT team is. When my schedule became crowded with overtime, I started doubting my ability to balance work and school. However, my coaches went above and beyond, checking in, helping with assignments, and assisting with time management. Their dedication helped me persevere.”
“My experience has been exceedingly positive. I learned at my own pace from the comfort of my home, with no rushing or due dates. Even with that flexibility, I completed all my projects ahead of schedule. If I had to start this journey anew, I would choose Future Forward again!”
“The flexibility of Future Forward allows me to gain the knowledge needed to pursue my passion for accounting while also dedicating time to hands-on experience in the workplace. The coaches' guidance and encouragement is also unparalleled, helping me persevere and keep moving forward!”
I also think people in my community stray away from bettering their education due to the worry or the reflection of their environment thinking that they will be left with a bunch of student loans they can't pay off by just trying to better themselves. This program eliminates that worry because you have a coach that explains everything to you thoroughly and supports students being able to finish and have as little debt as possible.
The program gave me a new outlook on my education. I can now see myself earning my degree, something I thought was out of reach for me. The issues I thought would hinder me from being able to continue my education were financial difficulties and time. My coach was extremely helpful she helped me fill out my fafsa application so I was approved for financial aid and can earn my degree at a reasonable cost with no debt. With my work schedule I didn’t think school would be possible, but now I feel motivated and excited about the future.
After high school, I made 4 attempts at getting a college degree and did not succeed. I originally had a passion for forensics and my career path shifted. Over time, while navigating through life, I did not have proper direction and counsel to reaching my aspirations. Now with Future Forward, I have a reliable source of support, encouragement, and motivation to endure the journey towards acquiring my associates degree. These days, I feel more confident, more organized, and more strategic in the direction my life is headed toward my career goals.
Future Forward CT is an amazing and convenient opportunity for me to go back to school and finish my degree. Been able to study online on my own pace and time is very convenient for a working person or someone in charge of a family. My oldest son has started college which motivated me go back to school too, to be able to obtain a better job and to show my children that it is never too late to finish your degree.
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“Not a lot of people went to college in my family, and I decided that I wanted more. I would like to be a role model for my daughters. At Future Forward, I'm fully supported 110%. I know that my advisors care about my success versus past colleges where I was just a student.”
“Future Forward is an amazing, convenient opportunity for me to finish my degree. Being able to study online on my own pace and time is very convenient for a working mom. My son started college, which motivated me go back to school too, to show my children that it's never too late to finish your degree.”
“This AA has enhanced my leadership skills and bridged the gap between patient care and administrative excellence. It'll help me apply my years of experience as an LPN into a new role. The program's focus on innovative solutions has equipped me with the tools needed to lead teams effectively and improve patient outcomes.”
“The Communications program has transformed how I present myself both on camera and in writing. It gave me the confidence to deliver compelling messages and taught me to craft clear, professional content. This growth has been invaluable in advancing my career in the field!”
“I can't say enough about how amazing the FFCT team is. When my schedule became crowded with overtime, I started doubting my ability to balance work and school. However, my coaches went above and beyond, checking in, helping with assignments, and assisting with time management. Their dedication helped me persevere.”
“My experience has been exceedingly positive. I learned at my own pace from the comfort of my home, with no rushing or due dates. Even with that flexibility, I completed all my projects ahead of schedule. If I had to start this journey anew, I would choose Future Forward again!”
“The flexibility of Future Forward allows me to gain the knowledge needed to pursue my passion for accounting while also dedicating time to hands-on experience in the workplace. The coaches' guidance and encouragement is also unparalleled, helping me persevere and keep moving forward!”
I also think people in my community stray away from bettering their education due to the worry or the reflection of their environment thinking that they will be left with a bunch of student loans they can't pay off by just trying to better themselves. This program eliminates that worry because you have a coach that explains everything to you thoroughly and supports students being able to finish and have as little debt as possible.
The program gave me a new outlook on my education. I can now see myself earning my degree, something I thought was out of reach for me. The issues I thought would hinder me from being able to continue my education were financial difficulties and time. My coach was extremely helpful she helped me fill out my fafsa application so I was approved for financial aid and can earn my degree at a reasonable cost with no debt. With my work schedule I didn’t think school would be possible, but now I feel motivated and excited about the future.
After high school, I made 4 attempts at getting a college degree and did not succeed. I originally had a passion for forensics and my career path shifted. Over time, while navigating through life, I did not have proper direction and counsel to reaching my aspirations. Now with Future Forward, I have a reliable source of support, encouragement, and motivation to endure the journey towards acquiring my associates degree. These days, I feel more confident, more organized, and more strategic in the direction my life is headed toward my career goals.
Future Forward CT is an amazing and convenient opportunity for me to go back to school and finish my degree. Been able to study online on my own pace and time is very convenient for a working person or someone in charge of a family. My oldest son has started college which motivated me go back to school too, to be able to obtain a better job and to show my children that it is never too late to finish your degree.
