GES 2008 alum Garrett Neiman is juggling running an independent nonprofit, SEE College Prep with finishing his senior year at Stanford University.  In October, Neiman and SEE co-founder Jessica Perez spoke at the annual College Board Forum held in New York City.  New York Times education writer Jacques Steinberg called their speech “refreshing real world advice” in NYTimes.com’s The Choice.  Neiman spoke to GES about his organization:

What is SEE College Prep?

We are the largest non-profit organization focused on SAT prep in California, and the second largest in the country. Our programs have served more than 500 educationally disadvantaged high school students, and will expand this upcoming summer to serve 650 students at 20 program sites across California. During the academic year, our team of 15 prepares for the upcoming summer. We had about 20 paid staff and more than 50 volunteers involved with our programs last summer.  We expect that number to double this coming year.

What did GES offer you?

When I came to GES, SEE College Prep was an idea. I think I told myself at the time that I knew what I was doing, but I really didn’t. The mentorship and camaraderie I experienced at the summit was phenomenal, and really opened my eyes to how big the world really is. It was so valuable to be immersed in an environment where our projects were the primary focus.

How did GES prepare you to continue with SEE College Prep?

The main thing that GES offered was a group of people who were equally passionate about changing the world. Whether they were speakers, staff members, or delegates, everyone was extraordinarily committed to doing what they could to help. Everyone was so supportive, and seeing other projects that were further along than mine was truly inspiring. After the conference, we also participated in the Global Giving Fundraising Challenge for GES participants. We raised just under $5,000 and earned a permanent spot on Global Giving. I didn’t realize it at the time, but we wouldn’t have had enough money to even make it through our first summer if it were not for the access we had to Global Giving.

What have some of your greatest challenges?

We have had to grow up very quickly.  It is also difficult to maintain quality at scale, and it’s been a challenge to systematize the various processes that enable our programs to be successful. Every few months I encounter a huge learning curve. The most recent was learning the ropes of professional fundraising; the current task is to build a Board that offers us the many different kinds of support that we need.

What about your greatest successes?

The majority of our students tell us that their SAT teacher is one of the best teachers they ever had and that their SAT tutor was the best mentor they ever had. In the spring, we placed second in the BASES Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, Stanford’s premier social venture business plan competition. Recently, we’ve attracted coverage in BusinessWeek and the New York Times. I’m also very proud of our revenue model which allows us to cover the majority of our expenses with revenue we generate ourselves.

What are your plans for next year?

I will graduate from Stanford in June and have accepted an offer with McKinsey & Company in Los Angeles.  However before I join them in January 2011, I will pursue a merger with Let’s Get Ready, a non-profit of its kind that offers SAT preparation and college preparation programs to nearly 2,500 low-income high school studente each year. Such a move has tremendous value because it offers a way to sustain our efforts and share innovations that will beneift thousands of students each year in New England; it would also offer Let’s Get Ready a much smoother entrance into California and an opportunity to bring their work onto the national state. Once the merger is complete and I transition to McKinsey, I will serve on Let’s Get Ready’s National Board of Directors, where I will chair their California Advisory Board.

What advice to you have to anyone else with their own project?

No matter what, never give up. A lot of luck has come our way and enabled the small things we have been able to accomplish.  And never forget that as exciting as these projects might be at times, we are looking to solve real problems that affect real people. Every bit of effort really does matter.

Check out the advice they gave to counselors and other attendees at the College Board Forum.