Our Impact Campaign

Try Harder!’s Impact Campaign re-centers students at the heart of the college admissions journey.

Click here to access our Student Workbook PDF!

Even before the pandemic, students at "high-achieving schools” were named “at-risk” youth. The teen years, including the specific experience of the college admissions process, are a pivotal moment in the shaping of a young adult’s ethical, social, and emotional capacities.

Researchers found that kids with “excessive pressure to excel,” just like children exposed to poverty, trauma, and discrimination, have elevated levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems. 

Our campaign sparks deep discussion between students, families, school communities, counselors, tutoring centers and admissions officers. We provide tools to reduce stress and reframe how we collectively define success. Our impact activities promote college readiness that prioritizes wellness and DEI while strengthening family relationships. Right now, there’s an unparalleled opportunity for families to reconnect and recalibrate around the issues of education, race, and identity. Change cannot wait. The moment is now. 

Download our impact report (PDF) here and check out our campaign goals and activities below.