PASE Network News

Did you know that CUNY has free application season for New York high school seniors? New York City public high school seniors are able to apply to CUNY schools for free now until November 16, 2026. Starting next week on October 15, 2026 and running through November 16, 2026, all New York State high school seniors can apply to CUNY for free. Head to the CUNY Admissions page to start your application. 

Dorill Initiative is a revolutionary civic arts and cultural institution that advances At-Promise Youth and Families through rigorous arts education, leadership development, and civic action, creating pathways to creativity, opportunity, and belonging across New York City. Their 10-week Saturday Arts Dorill Fall session runs from October 10, 2026 – December 19, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the Lower East Side. The program will offer various types of arts, including dance, spoken word,  drama, media, visual arts, and more, alongside holistic student support. Students ages 10-18 are encouraged to apply. Applications are open until October 9, 2026 via their virtual registration form.  

The Octavia Project will be offering a free afterschool program this fall, and applications are open. Octavia Project Afterschool will be held in person at the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, in Brooklyn. It will run on Thursdays, 3:15 PM - 5:30 PM, from October 22, 2026 – December 10, 2026.  This workshop series is open to young women and trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive youth in 7th-9th grades. In this workshop series, youth will explore conservation and urban ecology, get hands-on outside, and do creative art & writing projects. Applications are due by October 18, 2026 via the virtual application on the website. Reach out to meghan@octaviaproject.org with any questions.

Reel Works’ free intensive filmmaking and workforce readiness workshops support and prepare New York youth with essential insights and skills needed to make their films or work in the media industry. Reel Works students receive hands-on training, learn from professional filmmakers, and use professional equipment to make festival-worthy films. Currently, Reel Works is highlighting four upcoming opportunities: The Doc Lab, an introductory documentary filmmaking workshop for high school students; Fall Supported Lab, a 3 month experimental filmmaking workshop for neurodivergent participants ages 15-21; Narrative Lab, an intermediate filmmaking workshop for participants ages 14-18; and Narrative Fellows, an advanced fellowship focused on craft specialization for young filmmakers ages 17-21. All programs have application deadlines in early October and November, and you can reach out to mariam@reelworks.org with any questions.   

The Morgan Stanley Finance Academy is a highly selective five-month virtual career development program from November 2026 - March 2027 for current high school seniors across the United States. Through skill-building sessions, mentorship, and exposure to professionals across Morgan Stanley, students will gain insight into finance careers and how to prepare for success in the industry and expand their network. In addition to live virtual sessions, participants will have an opportunity to collaborate on a project competition to pitch to a Morgan Stanley client. Read more about the eligibility criteria and apply via the virtual application by October 2, 2026.