Program Offers New 'Reality' for College Hopefuls

San Diego Union Tribune -- The man who steers homeless teens and ex-gang members to the Ivy League is expanding to La Jolla, Solana Beach and suburban San Diego.

Christopher Yanov and his nonprofit Reality Changers will debut a spinoff operation in the fall, marketing to paying clients who can tap the expertise navigating college applications that has earned the organization national recognition.

The program works because of a rigorous five-year commitment that includes three-hour weekly tutorials, preparation for the SAT college admissions exam and summer classes at University of California San Diego. The organization’s constitution asks a lot of its students, starting in the eighth grade for some. They are expected to maintain a 3.0 grade-point average, complete 50 hours of community service a year, and pass random drug tests. (Full Story)