VILLANOVA INITIATIVE FOR ENGAGING WOMEN (VIEW)
CHANGING LIVES, ONE GIRL AT A TIME
Villanova Initiative for Engaging Women (VIEW) prepares talented girls from select high schools in the Philadelphia School District for admission and persistence in college while providing the skills needed to succeed in their upper-level education.
About VIEW
Our VIEW students participate in a four-year program of intense academic achievement in English, Global Citizenship, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and Visual Literacy. The program partners with Villanova's School of Business to provide exposure to careers in business. The program is enhanced with advanced computer and informational skills along with continuous exposure to cultural enrichment.
Applications will be opened in October 2024.
SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
- 10-month program (September-May)
- Includes on and off-campus workshops
- Intense eight-week SAT Prep and Summer Program
SUMMER PROGRAM
VIEW offers a two-week residential program at Villanova during the summer where the VIEW students are invited to experience "College 101." During this time, they will:
- Follow a college-like schedule
- Participate in academic classes to enhance knowledge and skill
- Engage in activities that cultivate their minds
- Trips
- Community Service
Along with the school year program, these two components support achievement while also familiarizing students with the demands of college. Small classes of no larger than 20, and a counselor ratio of 6 students to 1, provide the support necessary for individual attention.
The mentoring program connects students to VIEW on a daily basis throughout the school year.
Prospective applicants should:
- Maintain strong grades:
- Academics: As and Bs with an exception allowed of one C
- Conduct: All 1s and no more than 1 rating of 2
- Make a three-year commitment
- Have no excessive lateness or absences
- Be in the Ninth grade
- Demonstrate a positive attitude
- Be willing to step outside the bubble to meet new people and experience new adventures
The application process opens annually in October.
Our VIEW graduates have gone to the following Universities and Colleges:
- Arcadia University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Carnegie Mellon
- Cheyney University
- University of Chicago
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Drexel University
- Duquesne University
- Holy Family University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Kalamazoo College
- Lafayette College
- La Salle University
- Lincoln University
- Louisiana State University
- Millersville University
- Morgan State
- New York University
- North Carolina A&T
- Penn State University
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- Princeton University
- Rosemont College
- Shippensburg University
- University of the Sciences
- Susquehanna University
- Swarthmore College
- Temple University
- Ursinus University
- Villanova University
- West Chester University
- Widener University
Formerly known as RISE (Rosemont Initiatives in Student Education), VIEW was founded in 1997 by Robert J. Mulvihill who was a professor at Rosemont College. In the spring of 2010, the organization moved to Villanova where it is housed in the Center for Access, Success and Achievement. Since its inception, the program has worked to support the college aspirations of Philadelphia high school girls. The move to Villanova allowed VIEW to enhance and develop a successful program by helping underrepresented and first-generation girls from selected public high schools. With more resources available, VIEW prepares young women for successful college admissions and academic achievements.
