BC Bound: High School Equivalency to Degree Program

What Is BC Bound?

BC Bound is a program that allows qualified, driven students who have earned their GED or TASC high school equivalency certification to enter Brooklyn College as full-time freshmen. The rigorous program includes tutoring, special courses, workshops, dedicated staff, and events to help students succeed in an environment of higher education.

BC Bound is a full-time day program. Classes run Monday through Friday, typically 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Students are enrolled in a 12-credit Learning Community specially designed to ease their transition into Brooklyn College. Class sizes remain small enough that professors can provide individual attention and students get a chance to connect with one another.

To continue at Brooklyn College after the first semester, students will need to pass English, Math, and a Freshman Seminar workshop focusing on academic and socioemotional support to prepare for the rigors of your first term in Brooklyn College and beyond. Students must also maintain an overall grade point average of 2.00 or better. Students who are not successful in earning the grade of C or better in at least English or math may be counseled on their options at other colleges.

BC Bound is funded by the CUNY Black Male Initiative (CUNY BMI). All programs and activities by CUNY BMI are open to all academically eligible students, faculty, and staff without regard to race, gender, national origin, or other characteristic.

Our Mission

Our mission is to give qualified individuals who have earned their high school equivalency certification access to advanced education at a four-year, senior college.

Is BC Bound Right for You?

Are you:

highly motivated?
able to commit to a full-time, day program?
able to attend all pre-semester events?

Have you:

earned a GED/TASC or other high school equivalency certification?
met with a BC Bound staff member for an interview and follow-up academic assessment?

The students in our program range in age from 18 to 60. They come from diverse backgrounds, and many are first in their family to attend college. Their areas of interest run the full gamut from fine art to pre-law, from pre-med to theological studies, from computer programming to political science.

What Are the Steps to Apply?

To schedule an interview with one of our team members, e-mail us at bcbound@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

The Program

As a full-time student, you will be enrolled in the 12-credit BC Bound Learning Community. The curriculum for the Learning Community consists of the following:

Elementary Algebra (MATH): 3 credits. This math class is a required general education pathways course. This math class is a flexible option relevant to most majors offered at Brooklyn College.
English Composition (ENGL): 3 credits. This class is required for all first-semester Brooklyn College students. The BC Bound section helps students get comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions at the college level.
Bi-weekly Academic Workshops: Foundations is a class that helps students learn both what it means to be a good student (study habits, test-taking skills, time management) and to familiarize freshmen with the resources at Brooklyn College.
Bi-weekly Socio-emotional Workshops with the Social Work Interns: Each week, students are required to meet with the BC Bound interns. These workshops give students a chance to go in depth with topics such as stress management, interpersonal skills, and time management, and to give students an opportunity to bring up their own topics for discussion.
General Education: 3 credits. Brooklyn College is well-known for its general education curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the liberal arts and sciences. For the first semester, BC Bound students are assigned a general education class that fulfills the college's requirements.
Elective: 3 credits. Students may choose an elective in their intended major or use this as an opportunity to explore a topic or activity they wish to learn more about. Electives cover areas as diverse as women's studies, swimming, visual arts, mass media, and more.
Tutoring: BC Bound students are required to do at least 20 hours of tutoring over the course of a semester. To facilitate that, tutoring periods are included in the weekly class schedule.

Resources and Services

What are the exclusive resources for BC Bound students?

Thorough and Comprehensive Orientation: Pre-Orientation is a required pre-semester event designed to help students transition into life at Brooklyn College. A lot gets packed into this orientation!
BC Bound Academic Advising: BC Bound has its own academic adviser assigned to work one-on-one with BC Bound students to guide them through registration, course requirements, and thinking about a major. Students are required to meet with the academic adviser three times per semester.
Targeted Tutoring: BC Bound has a dedicated tutor who is assigned to meet with the group weekly. Other tutors are assigned as needed for groups and individuals.
BC Bound Interns: Social-work interns are assigned to work with BC Bound students. The interns coordinate with on- and off-campus services to help connect students to resources ranging from veterans affairs to legal services. Students are required to meet with the interns individually on a monthly basis and are welcome to meet with them for ongoing individual and group counseling as requested. The interns also run the bi-weekly workshops in the BC Bound Curriculum.
Peer Mentoring: A peer mentor is assigned to the BC Bound Learning Community to offer guidance from an experienced student's perspective.