At the beginning of every academic year, the Coordinator of the SPECIAL SCHOLASTIC ASSISTANCE SEARCH joins forces with the Guidance Counselors of local private and public high schools and the College of The Bahamas, to identify the top graduating students who are academically and emotionally ready, to study abroad.

The aim is to assist high caliber students who will act as excellent ambassadors for the Bahamas and enrich life at the institutions they will attend through their academic prowess, cultural diversity and fine character. It is also to heighten local awareness of financial assistance available from colleges in North America for international students.

The criteria to be a part of the SSAS requires students to have achieved, or having the potential to attain:

•GPA 3.5 or above (3.3 at COB).
•Minimum SAT score of 1100.
•8 BGCSE's with at least 5 A's.
•Three or more advanced level subjects such as A Levels, AS or AP with grades A, B or C.

Each student is interviewed by an independent panel and assessed for:

•Academic Potential
•Potential for Success at College/University
•Self-expression (Communication Skills, Assertiveness, etc.)
•Motivation (Enthusiasm, Drive, Ambition, etc.)
•Career Goals and Plans (Sense of Direction etc.)

Approximately 60% of the candidates interviewed are accepted into the program.

Profiles, based on interviews as well as from the detailed application form and essay, school reports and other relevant information, are sent to institutions in which a student has expressed an interest, or to whose attention the Coordinator would like to bring a candidate, in the hope of initiating mutually beneficial relationships.

Students work closely with the Coordinator to find the 'right' institution and to find funding for their education, if necessary and possible, from institutions offering such aid. Not all of the candidates need financial aid but many do. Many are also eligible for merit scholarships, and the Coordinator assists by ensuring they are aware of opportunities that might exist. The Special Scholastic Assistance Search functions separately from the Scholarship Programs of the Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc. and The Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation.

The applications of SSAS participants are sent by courier to the relevant institutions without any interference on the part of the Coordinator. It is up to the candidates to impress each Admissions Committee with their worthiness and suitability to be selected as prospective members of a student body.

Over 100 institutions of higher education in North America annually await these profiles and work closely with the SSAS to find financial assistance for Bahamian scholars. This group includes prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Beloit, Lehigh, Macalester, Vassar, and Richmond, to name but a few. Since its inception in 1992, The Special Scholastic Assistance Search Program has helped over 200 Bahamian students secure more than $7 million in scholarships and financial aid from the Colleges and Universities they attend.