The Academic Discovery Program (ADP), a special admissions program at La Salle University, provides free support services for students whose records indicate that they could benefit from extra academic assistance and who also meet certain criteria of financial need.
Partially funded by Pennsylvania Act 101, the ADP helps students:
Students who are selected to participate in the Academic Discovery Program must attend a free, six-week, credit-bearing pre-college summer program, taking courses in mathematics, composition, study skills, and critical thinking. During this time, ADP students participate in classes, workshops, and individual tutoring sessions geared to strengthening their writing, mathematics, reading, and study skills. Students also participate in individual and group support sessions intended to increase self-confidence, improve study habits, and clarify career goals.
During the academic year, students take courses from the standard curriculum, but are assigned a counselor, tutors, and an academic advisor to support them in their efforts. As much as possible, each student’s program is tailored to his or her individual needs.
Please contact us to see if you qualify for our ADP program.
In 1971 Governor Milton Shapp signed legislation which authorized the establishment of programs at Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities to assist students whose records might indicate they need a little extra help at first to succeed in their studies.
Although each program is unique to the individual college, most Act 101 programs include a tutoring component, a counseling component, and various activities to help the students adjust to the demands of college life.
The ADP provides students with a wide range of services and employs a full-time counselor and a full-time academic advisor to work with students to help them achieve their personal and academic goals. In addition, the academic advisor supervises professional and peer tutors who are assigned to each incoming new student.
Counseling (both group and individual) and referral services are provided throughout the year by the ADP counselor. Students can also take advantage of the services offered by La Salle’s Counseling Center.
ADP staff members assist students in planning their academic programs. The academic advisor meets with each ADP student at least twice a semester to review the student’s academic progress and to assign students to appropriate tutoring or counseling services, to clarify requirements of the La Salle curriculum, and to help with course selection for the upcoming semester.
Tutoring is available at no cost to all ADP students. Tutoring addresses basic skills like reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as content specific areas such as accounting, psychology, economics, philosophy, and the like. Each student’s tutoring program is tailored to meet individual needs.
To be eligible for admission to La Salle University through the Academic Discovery Program, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
| Time | ADP | Applicant |
|---|---|---|
| Fall of senior year of high school | The ADP Director visits Philadelphia high schools to inform students about the program and its benefits. | Complete the ADP application (in full), and return it to the ADP for consideration. Additional applications may be requested through the ADP office. |
| December, January, and February of senior year of high school | The ADP Director conducts one-on-one interviews with applicants and reviews the applications. | Applicants are invited to ADP for some preliminary skills testing, an interview, a tour of the campus, and lunch. |
| March 15 | Complete and submit FAFSA.* | |
| Late Spring of Senior Year (April and May) | ADP sends out conditional acceptances for student applicants. The acceptance is conditional upon data that is determined by the FAFSA form. Students who meet the criteria will be offered acceptance into the program and students whose financial information does not meet the criteria will have their conditional acceptances rescinded. |
The ADP was a supportive and motivating program that assisted me in reaching a long-awaited goal. Through the caring and expertise of the staff, I became more self-directed and self-disciplined, qualities which have been an asset in both my personal and professional life.
The ADP was a supportive and motivating program that assisted me in reaching a long-awaited goal. Through the caring and expertise of the staff, I became more self-directed and self-disciplined, qualities which have been an asset in both my personal and professional life.
The ADP enabled me to have a rewarding college career. Both the counseling and tutoring services give students an academic edge.
The ADP provided me with the encouragement and motivation to excel not only in the classroom but also outside the classroom.