Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies

The Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies (AISS) is a comprehensive two-year after school and summer enrichment program, which provides 20-24 high achieving students from the Santa Ana Unified School District with,

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Career Awareness

• College Readiness (SAT/ACT testing preparations, university and scholarship research, advanced math tutoring, and writing workshops)

• Life Skills/Cultural Capital (leadership, time management, personal and professional presentation, and manners)

The journey includes over 180 hours (50 to 60 workshops) of hands-on learning a year and culminates as each student successfully develops a polished educational business plan, which includes a personal and a college profile, a resume, research of top 10 universities and scholarships, creation of 10 essays with 2 personal statements, a contact card and an implementation plan.

Need for the AISS Program
The Santa Ana Unified School District is the 6th largest and one of the lowest socio-economic communities in California. About 95% of the students are Hispanic, 91% participate in Federal free or reduced-price lunch programs, and many of those who do attend college are the first in their families. The challenges these students face—applying to the appropriate universities, selecting a proper STEM career path, lack of educational and social preparation for a higher education, lack of resources—are difficult and in many cases foreign to their families. Without the guidance and support from AISS, students risk failing to make the transition from education to a successful career.

AISS Success
• 100% of recruits have attended a university/college
• Over 600 acceptance letters
• 94 university acceptance letters, including MIT, Yale, UCLA, Stanford, Columbia and Richmond University in London

Words from our Alumni
“Through the lessons bestowed on to me by my mentors and by AISS, I feel I am prepared to face any difficulty that may come my way.”
Edgar Sanchez 
MIT – Biological Engineering, PhD
UC Davis – Biomedical Engineering
AISS Class of 2003, Santa Ana High School

“AISS provided some financial support as well as a laptop that is helping me get through college. The program also helped me become aware of all the career opportunities that await a person who has a degree in the sciences.”
Zuleima Avalos
UC San Diego – General Biology
AISS Class of 2011, Saddleback High School

Please support the 23 highly motivated economically disadvantaged students in the AISS Class of 2015.