HELP THEM STEP INTO TOMORROW
Give your teenager a clearer path to college — and the confidence to start moving toward it...
College is full of opportunity — but making good decisions requires understanding both how to get in and how to pay for it.
96.3%
Of Puerto Rico high school seniors submitted the FAFSA in 2024–25.
Puerto Rico had the highest reported submission rate in the U.S. Department of Education table.
$31,880
Average 2025–26 out-of-state tuition and fees at a U.S. public four-year college. That’s before housing, meals, travel, books, and other expenses.
47%
Of bachelor’s degree recipients at public and private nonprofit colleges graduated with debt in 2023–24. Among borrowers, the average debt was $29,560.
The College Jumpstart:
A stronger start for everything that comes next.
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In 4 interactive hours, students work through the admissions and financial sides of college planning—so they leave with more confidence, better questions, and practical next steps.
Designed to turn uncertainty into action.
Students won’t just sit through presentations — they’ll work through real questions, exercises, and decisions they can continue using after the workshop.
What Your Teen Will Walk Away With:
A clearer sense of direction.
They’ll think more intentionally about what they want in a college, what matters most to them, and which schools may be worth exploring.
Two Workshops. One Stronger Start.
The College Jumpstart brings together two of the biggest parts of the college process: getting in and figuring out how to pay for it. Students move through two interactive sessions designed to help them make better decisions, ask better questions, and leave with work already started.
Part 1: How to Stand Out
Students explore what colleges actually look for, how their experiences and activities can strengthen their application, how to begin telling their story in their own voice, and how to think about college fit beyond rankings and name recognition.
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They’ll work on:
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Understanding what colleges evaluate
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Taking a closer look at their activities and involvement
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Brainstorming ideas for their personal statement
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Identifying what matters most to them in a college
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Finding realistic next steps to strengthen their profile
Part 2: What College Costs
Students learn how to look beyond the price shown on a college website and understand what attending may actually cost. They’ll explore financial aid, scholarships, work-study, family contributions, loans, and how those pieces can fit together.
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They’ll work on:
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Understanding sticker price vs. real cost
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Estimating the first-year cost of college
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Building the beginnings of a funding plan
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Understanding grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans
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Comparing financial-aid offers and future loan payments
Designed for Where Your Student Is Right Now
Whether your student is just beginning to think about college or already narrowing down schools, The College Jumpstart is designed to meet them where they are and help them move forward with more clarity.
Just Starting Out?
For students who know college is somewhere in their future, but are not quite sure what they should be doing yet. They’ll begin to understand what colleges look for, what matters when choosing a school, and what they can start doing now to prepare.
Starting to Get Serious?
For students beginning to think more intentionally about activities, applications, majors, scholarships, and the kinds of colleges they may want to explore. They’ll leave with clearer priorities, stronger questions, and practical next steps.
Getting Ready to Apply?
For juniors and seniors who are starting to turn ideas into real decisions. They’ll take a closer look at their college options, how they present themselves in an application, what different schools may actually cost, and how to compare opportunities more thoughtfully.
Meet Your Guides
Two perspectives.
One shared goal: helping your student feel more prepared for what comes next.
College Admissions & Student Strategy
Amanda Rhoden
With more than 20 years in education, including 17 years as an English teacher, Amanda Rhoden has spent her career helping students find their voice, build confidence, and move forward with purpose.
After relocating to Puerto Rico, she recognized that many talented students were navigating the college process largely on their own. Future Bound grew out of that experience — with a mission to make expert, personalized college guidance more accessible to students in Puerto Rico and across the U.S. Her approach helps students see the college process not as a checklist to survive, but as an opportunity to better understand who they are, what they want, and how to communicate that with confidence.
College Costs & Financial Readiness
Lucciano Diaz Skoff
With more than a decade of experience spanning financial education, entrepreneurship, and economic development, Lucciano Díaz has built his career helping people better understand money, business, and the decisions that shape their future.
As a certified personal finance coach, educator, and author of Freedom in Credit Cards, Lucciano is passionate about making financial concepts practical and easier to navigate. His work with students, entrepreneurs, and families across Puerto Rico has reinforced a simple belief: better information can lead to better choices — and those choices can create opportunities for years to come.
More than getting accepted.
The College Jumpstart helps students make better decisions — before, during, and after the application process.
Ready to Jumpstart your teenagers future?
They don’t need to have their entire future figured out. They just need a stronger place to start. The College Jumpstart gives students the guidance and tools to begin moving forward with confidence. We intentionally keep the workshop small so students can participate, ask questions, and get more from the experience. If this feels like the right next step for your student, start with the application below.
NEXT Workshop Details:
Date: November 14, 2026
Time: 10:00AM -2:00PM
Location: Forward Learning
3009 Av. Alejandrino, Guaynabo, San Juan 00969
Who It’s For: High school students
Format: In person, two 1.75-hour interactive sessions with break + lunch in between
Application Process:
Investment: $349
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Participation begins with a short application so we can better understand where each student is in the college process and what they hope to get out of the workshop.
After the application is reviewed, accepted students will receive an email with next steps and a private payment link to confirm their spot.
Submitting an application does not reserve a seat.Registration is confirmed only after acceptance and payment.
The College Jumpstart Application
We’re excited to learn more about your student!!!
This short application helps us understand where they are in the college process, what they are hoping to get out of the workshop, and how we can make the experience as useful as possible.
Please note: Submitting an application does not guarantee or reserve a seat. Accepted students will receive an email with next steps and a private payment link to confirm their participation.