Applications for 2026–2027 are open!
Rising Senior Deadline: April 30
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Rising 8–11 Deadline: June 1
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How Do I Apply?
Welcome! BRYC’s application form includes sections for both students and guardians. We recommend first previewing the application, then composing your answers in a Word document. To avoid losing progress, it’s best to submit the online application in one sitting.
Please Note: In order to submit the application form, you must be logged into a Google account. Create a Google account.
Please see the Eligibility and FAQ sections below for answers to common questions, or reach out to the recruitment team ([email protected]) for direct support.
Not sure yet if BRYC is right for you? Please submit a student inquiry form, and we’ll reach out to chat. Know a student who could benefit from BRYC? Please submit a referral form and we’ll make sure they hear from us.
Am I Eligible?
BRYC has only two eligibility criteria for applicants:
- You will be in grades 8-12 in 2026–2027
- Your family’s annual gross household income is less than $65,000
BRYC will make exceptions to the income threshold for students who demonstrate that they “have a need for BRYC.” If a student from a family reporting gross annual household income over $100,000 is admitted, BRYC may request a participation fee. BRYC is free for students who meet the income criteria.
Who Can Help Me?
Please direct all email inquiries to [email protected].
Forrest Middlebrook Jr.
Director of Fellow Recruitment
Phone & Text: (225) 283-1083
Marcus Washington
Director of Operations
Phone & Text: (520) 409-0205
Keiron Jackson
Fellow Recruitment Coordinator
Phone & Text: (225) 228-0041
6 Numbers That Prove You Should Join BRYC
Fellows say: “I’m glad I’m in BRYC.”
Avg ACT score gain while in BRYC
Fellows say: “BRYC cares about me.”
Scholarship aid awarded to BRYC Fellows
BRYC Alumni on track to graduate college
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
APPLICATION
How does the application form work?
Click the “Apply Today” button above to access BRYC’s 2026–2027 application.
- In order to submit the application form, you must be logged into a Google account. Create a Google account.
- In the application form, please input student and guardians emails that you check regularly, as this is how our team will contact you about your application.
- We strongly recommend previewing the application before you begin and reading all guidance on this page.
Application Components
- Student contact, demographic, and school information
- Student transcript or report card (document upload)
- Highest ACT scores (document upload; rising seniors only)
- Brief introduction video
- Three short essay questions
- Guardian contact information
- Family and household income information
- Scheduling, transportation, and campus placement policies
Note: BRYC uses academic information to prepare program materials for you. Your grades/scores will NOT impact our decision about your enrollment. If you’re having trouble accessing your grades, ask your Guidance Counselor for help.
Do I need to complete the application in one sitting?
We encourage applicants to draft their responses to the one-paragraph prompts in a Word document before beginning the application form. Preview the application.
After previewing the application, we recommend that applicants sit down with their guardian and complete the form in one sitting. Please plan to spend at least 30 minutes completing the application.
Note: This form may save progress, but only if you are logged into a Google account.
Do I need to take the ACT?
Yes. BRYC requests ACT score information from rising seniors to aid us in preparing postsecondary recommendations for you. If you are are a rising senior and have NOT taken an official ACT, please contact [email protected] for next steps.
Note: We strongly encourage all rising seniors to take the school-based ACT in March 2026
Note: Rising 8–11th-graders are not required to take an official ACT test before applying.
What are the video introduction guidelines?
To get to know our applicants, BRYC asks students to create a brief introduction video. This is not a test of your videography skills! We genuinely want to learn more about the person you are and the person you want to become.
Video Introduction Guidelines:
- Your video introduction should be 30–60 seconds.
- Tell us your name, grade, and school.
- Tell us one thing you want BRYC to know that will help us get to know you.
- Examples: Something you care about, enjoy doing, are proud of, or feel is a key part of who you are.
- Record the video in horizontal (landscape) format using a phone, tablet, or computer.
- Film in a quiet space with a plain background so we can clearly hear and see you.
- Perfection isn’t the goal — being yourself is.
Do I need to reapply to BRYC every year?
No. However, returning Fellows and Guardians must complete BRYC’s end-of-year survey in April/May to confirm enrollment for the coming school year.
Remember: Once you are in BRYC, you are held to a high standard. For Fellows to remain in good standing with BRYC, you must attend at least 80% of BRYC programs and complete other grade-specific program expectations as directed by your program manager.
What if I run into issues with the application form?
We’re here to help! If you have questions, please call or text:
- Mr. Forrest: (225) 283-1083
- Ms. Keiron: (225) 228-0041
- Mr. Marcus: (520) 409-0205
You may also reach us at [email protected].
ELIGIBILITY
What are BRYC's eligibility requirements?
Any student who will be in grades 8–12 in 2026–2027 is eligible to apply for BRYC.
BRYC does prioritize serving students from under-resourced families, and the majority of BRYC families report an adjusted gross income less than $65,000. However, students from families with higher household incomes are welcome and encouraged to apply and explain their interest in and “need for” BRYC in the application. Please see thebryc.org/eligibility for an infographic illustrating what it means to “have a need for BRYC.”
To ensure BRYC remains free for those with greatest need, BRYC will request a participation fee from families reporting an adjusted gross income over $100,000. Please see the Income Verification section for more information.
Why have BRYC’s eligibility requirements changed from previous years?
In previous years, BRYC applicants were required to meet minimum GPA and ACT score requirements. Recognizing that these metrics had potential to exclude students who would benefit from BRYC, we no longer use GPA or ACT scores to determine admission. We do continue to request this information when available in order to best prepare program materials for Fellows.
BRYC is still a rigorous program with high expectations for attendance, conduct, and class participation. Regardless of current grades, applicants can look forward to being challenged and growing their understanding of the learning process.
INCOME VERIFICATION
Why does BRYC need to know about my finances?
BRYC prioritizes supporting students and families who are most in need of our services. Before accepting new Fellows, we ask families to provide information to help BRYC determine if students come from financially-advantaged households. We appreciate your cooperation!
Note: All rising seniors must complete income verification regardless of the income reported in the application form so that our counselors can prepare your postsecondary recommendations.
What is the income threshold for participating in BRYC?
BRYC Fellows typically come from households with an adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less. However, students from families with household incomes above $65,000 are welcome and encouraged to apply. There will be an opportunity in the application to explain more about why your student “has a need for BRYC.”
What if our household income is higher than the typical threshold?
If a family reports an adjusted gross income (AGI) over $100,000, BRYC will request further documentation to verify your income status. The following documents are acceptable:
- Preferred: Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ
- Documents proving you are receiving any of the following”
- Unemployment
- Social Security Disability
- Social Security SSI
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Subsidized housing
- If your child is enrolled in THRIVE Academy, we will accept their enrollment letter.
- If your family does not qualify for governmental assistance and you did not file taxes for 2022, 2021, or 2020, you may submit your most recent pay stub.
If BRYC determines that the student’s AGI is over $100,000, BRYC may request a fee for participation.
Do I need to provide financial information for all the adults in my household?
Yes, but only if your family reports an adjusted gross income over $100,000. If so, BRYC will request further documentation to verify your income status. Documentation for all guardians who live in the physical household and whose income contributes to supporting the student is required.
Why is there a fee for certain families? I thought BRYC was free!
Since its founding in 2009, BRYC’s programs have been free of charge, with the exception of minimal fees for special activities like college tours. This is reflective of our mission to provide under-resourced students with equally high-quality college access programming more affluent families have the means to pay for.
In BRYC’s 16 years of serving the Capital Region, we have learned that income is one of several variables impacting equitable access to higher education. While BRYC will remain focused on and free for lower-income families, we do not want to overlook students who experience other disadvantages in the college admissions process. We will consider applications from students of any income level, and families with an adjusted gross income over $100,000 will be asked to pay a participation fee. To ensure BRYC remains accessible to the students who need it most, we will limit the number of spots available to higher-income families.
Guardians can email [email protected] or contact the recruitment team to discuss any concerns about the participation fee or BRYC’s other income policies.
How does BRYC protect my sensitive financial information?
We really appreciate your cooperation with our process and uphold the highest standards of confidentiality. We keep all documents in our secure, encrypted system that only authorized personnel can obtain. Please do not mail original financial documents to BRYC.
LOCATIONS
Where is BRYC located?
In 2026–2027, BRYC’s after-school programs will serve students in two locations:
- BRYC Downtown: 460 N 11th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
- BRYC Airline: 14141 Airline Hwy, Suites A&B, Baton Rouge, LA 70817
How do I know which location I will attend?
All students will be assigned to BRYC Downtown or BRYC Airline based on their school or home address. BRYC’s aim in making these assignments is to ease the burden of transportation for students and families.
Can I request a specific location?
Yes, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to grant your request. Location assignments are based on the student’s home/school address and class sizes. We will make every effort to ensure location assignments are not a burden for students and families.
What if a family has students in different grade levels?
We will make every effort to assign all siblings to the same location.
BRYC PROGRAMMING
How much does BRYC cost?
BRYC is free. We just ask for Fellows’ and families’ commitment. There are two exceptions. First, families who report an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or higher may will asked to pay a participation fee. Second, there may be special activities, like college tours, when we ask families for a small fee to cover some expenses.
When do I come to BRYC?
Fellows come to BRYC one day per week (Mon, Tues, Wed, or Thurs). Your assigned program day depends on the school you attend. BRYC does provide transportation from most schools to to Fellows’ assigned campus. Programs begin late afternoon and extend into the early evening. Please note that guardians are responsible for picking up their Fellows when programs end.
Note: You may request to change your program day if classroom space/size allows, but you may need to provide your own transportation to BRYC.
How important is it for me to attend my mandatory weekly programs?
To get the most out of BRYC, you need to be here. Fellows must attend at least 80% of their weekly mandatory programs in order to remain in good standing with BRYC. Fellows with lower than 80% attendance are at risk of being dismissed from BRYC.
Can I attend BRYC virtually?
No. BRYC has discontinued virtual programs.
Does BRYC provide transportation?
Yes! BRYC provides transportation by bus or van from most schools to our campuses on certain days of the week. Fellows board BRYC transportation at a designated time after school dismissal. At the beginning of each semester, guardians submit a form to reserve their Fellow’s seat. Fellows who are licensed drivers may also park in BRYC’s lot.
Note: If you request to change your program day, you may need to provide your own transportation to BRYC.
Note: BRYC does not provide transportation home after programs. Guardians must pick up Fellows at 7:15pm.
Can I be in BRYC and still participate in sports and other extracurricular activities?
Absolutely! BRYC Fellows are involved in every extracurricular activity you can think of. If you have other activities or commitments, we just ask that you work with us to ensure that you can balance those and BRYC.
Will BRYC help me pay for college?
BRYC covers most of a Fellow’s fees for ACT registration; ACT score reports; and college and scholarship applications. We also provide Fellows with funds to help with their college transition. BRYC offers exclusive competitive scholarship opportunities for Fellows interested in healthcare, business, or legal fields. Otherwise, we help Fellows find and secure their own financial aid.
If I'm in BRYC, am I guaranteed a scholarship?
No. At this time, BRYC offers annual competitive scholarships for Fellows interested in healthcare, business, or legal fields. Otherwise, we help Fellows find and secure their own scholarships! The harder Fellows work, the more success they have getting scholarships.
What happens to my BRYC status after I graduate high school?
Once Fellows graduate high school, they become Alumni. BRYC’s persistence team provides Alumni with resources to stay on track, graduate, and move onto their careers. Alumni can continue to count on BRYC for life.
