Low Income Students

My Dartmouth Fly-in Experience…

— Tuyen Nguyen, St. Petersburg High School IB Program (St. Petersburg, FL)


Day-By-Day Schedule

When preparing for my trip, I received an email from my Dartmouth Bound Leaders (DBLs). My DBLs were Chase and Ale, and their email was far from the norm. It was full of different colored text that rhymed like a poem. Otherwise known as the Dartmouth Blitz, this type of email is one of the many quirky traditions at Dartmouth. 

My trip consisted of three days. 

Day 1

The first day was the day of arrival. Most students were dropped off at the Boston-Logan International Airport, where we would meet up with Eric and Laura from Dartmouth. We would be led to the Dartmouth Coach, where we traveled 3 hours to Boston, MA to Hanover, NH. Dartmouth Bounders arrived throughout the day. When we arrived, we walked to Richardson Hall to receive our room assignment, keys, and program materials, which included a Dartmouth map, water bottle, and bag. I would recommend bringing an umbrella because the weather was rainy throughout the day and the weather in Hanover is unpredictable. Overall, we had lots of free time on our first day, as it was just a day for arriving at Dartmouth. I got a single dorm and I had time to explore the campus with other bounders. At dinnertime, I met my DBLs and my small group. My DBLs were nice and informative, and they provided a great deal of insight into student life and traditions of Dartmouth. We also had a welcome ceremony where we met the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. 

Day 2

On the second day, we had breakfast with our group at 8:00 am. We ate at Foco, more formally known as Class of ‘53 Commons Dining Hall. Another Dartmouth tradition was eating a Foco Cookie, which is a delectable cookie from the dining hall. After that, we had a mock class with a professor. I got to sit in a class about urban gardens. We talked about the research and findings the professor was working on. Then, we had an information session where we learned about the place, people, and programs that make Dartmouth distinctive. Throughout the session, we were able to ask lots of questions. 

We broke into groups again to go on a campus tour. My favorite building was the SECS building, otherwise known as the engineering building. I love the nature and rustic feel of the buildings throughout Dartmouth’s campus. There was a genuine down home feeling and the students were interactive and nice. Everybody in Dartmouth loves to use acronyms and made-up words, which is what makes the culture at Dartmouth so uniquely tight-knit. 

Afterwards, we had lunch with professors, an information session going over Dartmouth’s D-Plan, a financial aid overview, and posed for a group photo. I liked learning about Dartmouth’s unique D-plan, which consists of four academic quarters each year. The plan allows lots of flexibility in choosing the quarters you want to attend class, go on vacation, conduct research, or pursue internships. Although you are required to take a summer quarter, the ability to take time off school at different times of the year can help you stand out when applying for internships because you will not be restricted to only being able to work in the summer. 

The financial aid overview was also helpful. I got to ask lots of questions and I learned a lot about the mindset that Dartmouth has towards financial aid. Their philosophy is to provide students with as much aid as possible. We had dinner and a daily group meeting with our DBLs. I loved eating and talking with the DBLs in our group because we got to hear about their personal experiences at Dartmouth. Our DBLs also took us on a walk around Occom Pond. The nature was lush and the neighborhood houses were huge. The campus and surrounding community is peaceful and tranquil. We also got to see some deer along the way! The nature that you are surrounded by in Dartmouth is like no other. We had an outdoor movie that night where we see millions of stars across the beautiful Dartmouth sky. You are expected to be in your residence hall by 10:30 pm, however, I had lots of time to talk with other bounders and I felt that I was in a group that I belonged to, as many of our bounders were FGLI or people of color.

Day 3

On our third day we had breakfast with our DBLs and attended an admissions case studies session. It was a bit disappointing. Although we were able to meet and talk to admissions officers, they were vague in what they were looking for in a prospective Dartmouth student. A positive is that they heavily emphasized their positive attitudes when going over sample applications. It seemed that the admissions officers were always trying to find reasons to accept students to Dartmouth rather than find reasons to reject students. The goal of the admissions officers is to see if you are truly a good fit for Dartmouth, hence their reason for hosting a fly-in program for prospective students. 

My advice for students applying to Dartmouth is to not only research the school and the programs, but research the community and their traditions. The Dartmouth community is very strong, and Dartmouth wants to admit students that can contribute positively to their sense of community. Dartmouth is friendly and welcoming, and they are looking for students that are willing to try new things. In fact, one of Dartmouth’s required activities is to choose a class that helps you explore the area, whether that be mountain biking or hiking. 

We had an essay workshop with the admissions officers where we brainstormed essay ideas based on the things that were important to us. After that, we had lunch and a college interview workshop. You had lots of freedom in where you wanted to go, so I used my extra time to explore the Baker-Berry Library. The college interview workshop covered the interview part of the Dartmouth admissions process. It was informative as it walked us through the process of our interview and things to do and not to do. Interviews from Dartmouth are limited as they are done by alumni that are available in your area. If you don’t get an interview, it is not a bad thing as they probably just don’t have enough people to interview you. However, if you o get an interview, it is a great chance to express yourself and connect with Dartmouth on a more personal level. 

After that, we had a resource fair at the Hanover Inn, where we got to explore student organizations at Dartmouth. There was a Questbridge stand, and I got to talk to a student that went through the Questbridge process. After that, we had free time. I was able to explore the town of Hanover, which is  small and quaint, and go into shops. Finally, we had the Gary Love ‘76 Dartmouth Bound Founder’s Dinner at the Hanover Inn. We celebrated our time on campus with the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid and we were able to eat with an admissions officer. I was able to talk to her and ask many questions. After that, we had one last group meeting with our DBLs and then I spent the night in the resident hall Common Ground talking with other people. 

Throughout the whole trip, I was able to talk to many bounders and students and learn things. I met kids my age that I related to, and we shared our thoughts on colleges and our aspirations. I still keep in contact with these students.

My Advice

Throughout the trip, I was aware of the attitudes of students and staff at Dartmouth. Again, they have many unique traditions and their very own Dartmouth culture. A student that attends Dartmouth is unique in their own way, but they are their true self. Being your true self is the kind of student that Dartmouth looks for, as your passions can most clearly shine through in your application. If you are passionate about something, I encourage you to write about it or emphasize it in your essay. Additionally, in my Dartmouth Bound essay, I emphasized my Vietnamese immigrant and FGLI background. Dartmouth, along with other schools, love diversity, and they are always more than willing to give you opportunities. I recommend researching the school and seeing if Dartmouth sounds like a good match for you. If so, ask yourself why, and write about that in your essay. 

— I’m Tuyen Nguyen, a member of the Pinellas County School Cohort in St. Petersburg, Florida

My Caltech Fly-in Experience…

— Tuyen Nguyen, St. Petersburg High School IB Program (St. Petersburg, FL)

Caltech Up Close

Through my participation in the College Planning Cohort Program, I was guided in applying to 3 fly-in programs (Penn PEEP, Dartmouth Bound, and Caltech Up Close). Caltech was the last of the 3 fly-in programs and the fly-in that I enjoyed most because we were put into groups with the admissions officer(s) assigned to our region and we were able to talk to them and ask lots of questions. Caltech is also a beautiful campus and the program provided a lot of freedom to explore the campus and the community. In the program, I roomed with a “host,” (i.e., Caltech student). Caltech offers eight houses (i.e., dormitories) to live in, and in my case, I stayed with my host in Page House. Through my nights there, I was able to experience the different personalities of each house and I was able to talk to current students in the common room and explore other houses.

Day by Day Schedule

Before my trip, I was provided the name and contact information of my host, to whom I was able to reach out. My host was a first-year and was from China. We had shared interest in the UPenn M&T Program. While she was not offered admission to the UPenn program, she was offered admission to Caltech. My host had a roommate who also hosted a Caltech Up Close participant from Illinois. So during my visit, there were 4 of us in the room. 

Following is the daily schedule for my three-day visit, with my departure from California and returning to Florida on the 4th day. 

Day 1

On the first day, my plane landed at LAX in the afternoon and I was driven in a private car to the Caltech campus. When I arrived, I was greeted by admissions officers who helped me with my luggage, gave me my information, and presented me with a Caltech goody bag. The bag contained a pencil sharpener, a pencil, a notepad, my departure bus information, a shirt, a water bottle, and a brain-shaped stress ball. I was also greeted by student volunteers, who were friendly and I was able to talk to them about their majors and interests. After our initial reception, we walked to the B122 Gates Annex, which is the food court. Their food court is relatively small compared to other schools, because they don’t have as nearly as many students as a larger university. The typical class is around 200 students, while the entire undergraduate population is only 1,000 undergraduates. Caltech has an additional 1,400 graduate students, which overall, is a smaller student body than many 4 AAAA high schools. At the Gates Annex, I connected with other Caltech Up Close participants and after we ate, we explored the entire campus. The campus was quiet and peaceful. The whole vibe is not that crowded and more of a low key vibe. One interesting feature of Caltech is its turtle pond. They have ponds in a part of campus and there are so many turtles that bask within the pond. The campus overall is clean and spacious. While I was there, I was able to see current students going to class, but it was not so overwhelmingly crowded. A lot of people tend to hang out in the area near the Gates Annex to eat and socialize. There is also another eating place nearby called the RedDoor and a lot of people socialize there. 

Later on, we met in Bechman Mall, which is a place in the Caltech campus, to break up into our groups and meet each other. The groups were divided by region and I felt that the small groups allowed us to bond with other Up Close participants from our region. I met all the 3 other high school students from Florida and we were an inseparable group throughout our time at Caltech. Overall, each region had a similar amount of students. The student group included a wide variety of people and I wouldn’t say that the officers were looking for a particular group other than students that showed an interest in STEM. After that, there was a student-led tour, where we were able to see the campus and ask questions. After the tour, we gathered to meet our hosts and go to the admissions house to grab our luggage and a sleeping bag that they provided. I had another CUCer with me so this was another opportunity for us to create connections. We had dinner in Bectel Dining Hall and sat for a session called “Caltech Up Front: Honest Breakdown of Caltech” at the Gates Annex. Afterward, the admissions officers surprised us with boba (which is a bubble tea). Throughout the trip, it was evident that the school had spent a lot of time, energy, and money on us CUCers. Clearly, fly-in programs are exceptional all-expenses paid opportunities to visit and get to know schools. The airfare and other travel-related expenses to bring students from our region to Florida alone would have amounted to a significant amount of money.  

The facilities in Page House were shared showers and bathrooms on each floor separated by gender. The house was quite large. There were two stories and it was very spacious. The houses are almost like a maze in a way because there’s lots of hallways and different rooms and stairs. The dorm was normal-sized, around 6-8 feet wide and 15 feet in length. The dorm room sizes varied by houses and dorm rooms. Other dorm rooms I visited were larger. I don’t know exactly how many rooms and students, but there were an indoor and outdoor common area and kitchens on each floor. One thing that stood out was the attention that the Caltech organizers gave to details. They collected a form from each participant of our room preferences and our career/academic interests. They used the information that we provided to match us to our host student. My host had similar experiences and interests which allowed me to talk to her and ask a lot of questions about the things that were important to me in making my college choice. She was interested in STEM and business at the same time and was interested in Penn’s M&T program. To me, this meant that Caltech was doing more than simply bringing us to campus, but was intentional in cultivating a set of experiences that would help us to determine if Caltech was the right fit for us and the right campus community to begin our journey after high school. This concludes my first night since I slept early because I was exhausted from the day’s activities. 

Day 2

On the second day, we woke up early and had breakfast at Bechtel Hall. In the first part of the day, we sat for informational seminars. Throughout the entire experience, our admissions officers were with us and were available to talk to us. Following breakfast, the formal session began with a keynote address by Dr. Hosea Nelson, a professor and chemist, who shared his inspiring story. He was a high school dropout and worked a construction job. However, he went back to school, where he eventually received a Ph.D. in chemistry. He landed a teaching job at Caltech and turned down two job offers to work at Tesla because he loved chemistry and pursuing research instead. We learned about the CORE at Caltech. The CORE at Caltech is a core curriculum that allows students to have an equal playing field. It has required classes that all students must take and includes humanities classes along with a strong blend of STEM classes. During your first year at Caltech, all classes are pass/fail. We also had a student panel where they discussed their personal experiences with research and internships. We were able to explore their research in a fair. The morning concluded with lunch and then we traveled to Santa Monica Beach by buses for fun in the sun. On the beach, I explored the water and played volleyball and was able to ask a lot more questions from my admissions officer and get to know more about my fellow Floridians. We concluded the day with a fancy dinner on the beach and then went back to campus. The dinner was on a balcony overlooking the beach where we were served tacos along with drinks like horchata (Mexican-style horchata is the most commonly known variety in the US. However, horchata actually originated in Spain, and there are various types of horchatas throughout the Spanish-speaking world). I made friends with a student from another house, Fleming, so I was able to explore a new house and spent the balance of the evening walking around the campus. Fleming’s house is a lot different from Page because its hallways are made out of stone and looks older than Page House. In contrast, Page looks like an air-conditioned facility. Flemings looked like a maze and was practically a maze with different stairways and houses. I think there are three stories with one story being underground. There is a library in Flemming along with a laundry room. The dorms are really nice and spacious and it’s like stepping into another world.  

Day 3

On the third day we explored NASA’s infamous Jet Propulsion Lab. This was a very early morning, but a highlight of the trip. Since the JPL is an extension of Caltech, lots of students are able to receive internships at the lab. It is approximately 10 minutes away from campus. We explored different places and learned about the different technologies used in JPL. We also had the opportunity to look at the white room, which is a massive sterile room used to build rockets, and the control room of the launching of the rockets. After JPL, we returned to campus to attend mock lectures. I had a mock lecture with Professor Antonio Rangel on Bayesian Statistics. Overall, the lecture was interactive and we were able to ask lots of questions. We collaborated with other students to solve math problems, which I feel is reflective of Caltech’s teaching philosophy. I only attended one lecture but there were three available. After that, we had lab tours and I explored the biology lab. I really liked this part of the visit as I was doing research in biology and saw a lot of connections between what I was currently doing in high school and the opportunities I would have at Caltech. Afterwards, we had some downtime that my friends and I used to explore the gym and rock climbing facilities. It was also really easy to talk to faculty members, and my friends talked to the coach about their sports and were able to attend a track practice. Afterwards, we had an admissions and financial aid session and closing remarks and downtime. 

What We Learned About Admissions and Financial Aid

The session reinforced much of the guidance learned in the Cohort. Caltech emphasizes taking the most rigorous classes that are available to you. This not only means classes available at your high school, but through your school district, dual enrollment program, or through your state’s virtual school options. They are test blind because their research indicates that admitted students who submit test scores and those who do not submit test scores perform similarly academically. Consequently, during the Caltech admissions review process, instead of test scores, they look for: creativity, curiosity in STEM, resilience, a collaborative spirit, and an outlet (something else that you do when you are stressed). These traits come from Caltech’s rigorous academics and the admissions formula that they use has been developed by identifying the type of students who thrive at Caltech. They are looking for students who not only are interested in STEM, but are also resilient enough in their approach to their academics to handle the curriculum. In my opinion, one of the best things about Caltech is their Honor Code. This allows students to take-home tests and engage in collaboration, even on homework, as a means of achieving shared academic growth—the exact type of collaboration that would be expected in the workplace after entering your post-college career. An important tip that the admissions officer shared is not to write about how you struggled in STEM classes or that you do not like STEM. Instead, if you struggled with STEM classes, you should focus on how you overcame any challenges or obstacles. Caltech also accepts extended portfolios such as for research, visual arts, performance arts, etc., to submit as supplements to your application. 

Since less than 50% of applicants submit research, having a research portfolio could provide you with a competitive edge. They also require two letters of recommendation, The first LOR must be from a math or science teacher who can provide insight into your math or science skills. The second LOR must be from a humanities teacher where you engaged in intensive writing. This teacher should speak strongly about your writing skills. They also allow one optional teacher recommendation. Last year, there were 103 CUCers, 89 of whom eventually applied for admission to Caltech. 47 (52.8%) of the CUCers who applied were admitted. In my group this year, there were around 200 CUCers. Caltech expects to offer admission to about 50 of the CUCers who apply, so the admissions rate of CUCers will likely be lower. 

The college research activity in the cohort curriculum providing guidance in researching a school’s Common Data Set (see below) was consistent with what we were learning from admissions officers. However, there were that we learned from admissions officers as a result of the fly-in experience were:

While the CDS indicates that Academic GPA is “Important,” the admissions officers stressed that grades in STEM classes are “Very Important.” They also provided insight into some of the big reasons that Caltech rejects applicants: low grades, lack of effort (as revealed either in the transcript or through recommendations), making false statements on their application, or simply having no more available space in their freshman class. In 2023, of the 16,626 students who applied to Caltech, only 672 were offered admission. 167 students were placed on the waitlist and 15 were eventually admitted from the waitlist. My biggest takeaway from listening to the admissions officers was to show that you can not only change the world but that you are committed to making the sacrifices required to do so, because attending Caltech requires lots of sacrifices. In their admissions process, they are looking for students who demonstrated (through their essays, recommendations, transcript, leadership, and service) a “never enough” mentality.

— I’m Tuyen Nguyen, a member of the Pinellas County School Cohort in St. Petersburg, Florida

My Williams Fly-in Experience…

— Jayla Jones – Lake City Early College High School (Lake City, SC)

In a previous posting, I talked about Juliana, the 2022 Class Valedictorian from my high school (Lake City High School – Lake City, SC), as the first student in the history of our school district to be offered admission to Williams College, and of my being the first student in the history of our school district to be invited to Windows on Williams (WOW), the Williams College Fly-in Program! Pictured below is a picture of the two firsts in my school district—Juliana (pictured on the left) and me, standing in front of the Williams College sign in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Learning about fly-in programs as a high school sophomore, and then actually attending one as a high school senior, is quite the experience. As a high school sophomore completing the college research module in the online cohort curriculum, I had no idea of the magnitude of completing the fly-in program unit and the impact it would have on my college trajectory. Learning about the Williams College fly-in program was just another one of those little known facts that I had never heard of and that no one in my school has any real understanding of. Through this article I hope to not only share my Windows on Williams (WOW) fly-in program experience, but to contribute my experience to the amazing cohort curriculum so that future cohort students from my small town community will see the opportunities for themselves.

Day 1

I was admittedly nervous on the first day of my trip. Realizing that I was going to travel alone to a place I have never been created nervous anxiety, but I was excited for the new experience. Navigating the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina airport, and my connecting flight at the Charlotte, North Carolina airport was nothing new, so that part was smooth sailing. After my arrival into the Albany, New York airport, I made my way to baggage claim, collected by bags, and spotted a Williams representative and seven other students waiting for the shuttle to campus. During the 45-minute ride, looking through the shuttle van’s windows reminded me of home. The mountains in the distance, and farms and small houses lining both sides of the road, gave me a cozy feeling reminiscent of driving through the rural South Carolina low country. I did not realize that Williamstown, where Williams College is located, borders New York and Vermont so passing the Welcome to Vermont sign was an unanticipated experience. 

I arrived on campus at the Weston Hall Admissions building where I was warmly greeted by Carolina Echenique, the Williams College Associate Director of Diversity Recruitment. Carolina, who is over the entire program, greeted each student by name. That moment was a precursor to the entire weekend—while each of us were honored to have received an all-expenses paid invitation to Williams, the nation’s top ranked liberal arts college and one of the most well known colleges in academia, we would spend a weekend in which the staff and students of Williams College appeared equally honored to host us.

As I walked into the building, Pam Shea, an Admissions Assistant, also greeted me my name and shared how she had enjoyed working with me and finalizing my travel arrangements. As I was getting lunch, Ed Bianchi, the Associate Director for Campus Programs and the admissions representative for South Carolina and North Carolina region, introduce himself. He was from Darlington, South Carolina and recounted his experiences with his father driving to my small town of Lake City, South Carolina for barbecue. In the short amount of time being on campus there were already three people who knew my name, introduced themselves, and made me feel like I was already a part of the Williams College community.  

My student host, Yoheidey (aka YoYo) and her friend Sam, escorted me to my first class. Not only were YoYo and Sam friendly, they were black students and excited to share their experiences as people of color (POC) at Williams—experiences that I was eager to hear about. 

My first classroom experience was Intro to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. This was it! The cohort unit introducing liberal arts colleges and their conversational communities was happening right in front of me. The students and the professor were interacting. Students were sharing their opinions and the professor was engaging them in deep levels of thinking and learning. It was amazing. Everyone took their turn speaking, always respectful, but highly opinionated. Each student had their own thoughts and ideas and every student attentively listened to the ideas of others and eagerly shared their own thoughts and ideas. The small class size was an intimate setting, like sitting in a family room having a conversation with relatives. While I admittedly had never given thought of taking a women’s studies class, I found myself enthralled with the discussion and left eager to return as a student so that I too, could become part of the conversation.

Abby, the other WOW student whom YoYo was hosting, had also chosen that class. While waiting for YoYo, Abby and I talked about where we attended school, how we found out about the fly-in program, and our future aspirations. I had come 840 miles to find someone with whom I could share both my experiences and aspirations. That’s pretty much how the day was going. YoYo served as our tour guide, pointing out the beautiful and historic buildings: Sawyer’s Library, Paresky’s Dining Hall, and the residential buildings. YoYo lived in Williams Hall or Willy’s Dorm, built in 1911 and named after Colonel Ephraim Williams who fought, and died, in the French – Indian War (also known as the Seven Years’ War). Abby and I spent the day with YoYo, who was kind enough to answer all of our rapid fire questions about the school, financial aid, clubs and affinity groups, and candidly shared her personal experiences of applying to Williams, being offered admission, and having no regrets about her college choice.

Later that night, a dinner was hosted in our honor at the Williams Inn where we had the opportunity to sit at any table where we could talk to an admissions ambassador and current student. Remember, Williams is a conversational community where you talk in classrooms, during walks across campus, and in the dining halls. Thinking, learning, growing, and experiencing was in itself, an amazing experience. Abby and I sat with Christopher Flores, a first-year and first gen student who is such a passionate advocate for Williams that he should be their main spokesperson. He shared the duality of his experiences as both a first-year and first gen. He candidly talked about his background as a low-income student from Arizona and he even shared some of the personal statement essay from his Common Application. 

After dinner, we attended a Jamboree of performances by ten clubs. While they were all very talented, my favorite performances were the Williams College Purple Rain A Capella; Aristocows, an a cappella group performing Disney music; The Williams College Step Team (Unlocking the Story of Step); and NBC: Williams College’s Hip-Hop Dance Team. For me, having lived my entire life in rural South Carolina where everything is pretty much in black and white, it was amazing to see the diversity reflected in each of the clubs and through each of the performances. There were amazingly talented students from throughout the country and from across the world represented. While hip-hop, step, and R&B may have had their origins in black culture, they were being appreciated and performed by students from a litany of sociocultural experiences. What an amazing end to an amazing first day, or so I thought.

Rather than finding my way to a welcoming bed, YoYo took Abby and me to a hang out with other WOW participants and current Williams’ students. Everyone in the room was a POC (person of color) and had their own perspective of the Williams College experience. One student talked about how Williams was not even one of her top three college choices, which included Howard and Cornell, both of which she was offered admission. However, with Howard’s financial aid package falling far short of meeting her financial need and Cornell’s competitive and culturally isolating environment, she found Williams to offer the perfect campus community and the financial aid was the best that she was offered. A common expression articulated by all students was to “milk the cow,” which means Williams expects student to take full advantage of their amazing financial aid opportunities, which covers tuition, fees, room and board, books, health insurance, summer storage, and registration fees and travel to attend conferences. The Williams College core belief is that no student should be limited in their learning, campus engagement, or personal growth due to their financial situation. Whatever your family’s financial circumstances at home, once you become part of the Williams College community, you are expected to pursue your aspirations and immerse yourself in all of the amazing opportunities at Williams. 

Sorry, I need another moment of self reflection. If I was not in the cohort, had not completed the units on liberal arts colleges versus research universities and the unit on fly-in programs, I would not be in this moment. If Mr. and Mrs. Wynn had not provided continual encouragement and pushed me to apply to each of the fly-in programs, including reminding me of the deadlines, I would not be in this space with these people, listening to their stories, and being able to see myself making a similar journey.

Day 2

After a restful night’s sleep, I joined Abby and YoYo for a 7am breakfast in the Driscoll Dining Hall—a campus favorite. Walking around campus I could really tell that fall was in the air. The brisk morning chill only gradually warmed throughout the day. If I choose to attend Williams’ the weather will definitely be an adjustment to the temperate low country weather of South Carolina. After breakfast, Abby and I were off to the first class of the day. Since my first class was not until 10am, I joined Abby in her Quantum Physics class. My high school did not offer physics and I have never taken a physics class through my school’s dual enrollment program. So this was my first experience in a physics class. One of the seniors in the class, a female who is an Astrophysics major, spoke to us in an incredulous tone, “You guys chose to sit in a 9am Quantum Physics class?” While I would have never chosen to sit in on this class and had no idea what was going on, the professor was incredibly passionate about the topic. Although I cannot envision ever taking the class, I enjoyed the experience. I then attended my scheduled class, Intro Psychology. I am currently taking dual enrollment psychology, so I was eager to see if there was a noticeable difference in my current dual enrollment class and a Williams College class. There were a lot of first-year students and the class was the largest of all of the classes that I had experienced. While the professor was covering material similar to what I have covered in my psychology class, it was quite a different experience. In my current online psychology class, the professor does not give lectures. Everything is learned through the readings and assignments. This class, like each of the Williams’ classes I had experienced, the professor talked and students engaged in discussing the topic, raising questions, and embracing their role in this conversational community.

After the class, I walked with Sam back to the dorm to relax a bit until it was time to attend the QuestBridge lunch. During lunch, the Questbridge students shared how they matched to Williams through the QuestBridge process. Although I am a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar, I have received so much guidance through the cohort that I did not see the value in applying to colleges through QuestBridge. As I learned through the cohort curriculum, and which was reaffirmed by the financial aid officers at Williams, the financial aid package that I would receive through a QuestBridge College Match would be no different than the financial aid package that I would receive by applying directly to the college.

After the QuestBridge luncheon, I had a conversation with an admissions ambassador, who was an English major. As a future English/Journalism major, this was a perfect opportunity to learn about her experiences in the English Department. She not only answered all my questions, but gave me her email address and encouraged me to reach out to her at any time.  

With some free time, this was the perfect time for me to wander around the campus and to catch up with Juliana—a first-year student from my high school who had also participated in the cohort. As the first students in our school district to be offered admission to Williams and to be invited to a Williams fly-in program, we wanted to take a picture in front of the Williams College sign to present to our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Laura Hickson. We were only able to share that moment because Dr. Hickson brought the college cohort program to our school district.

After taking the picture, Juliana talked about how much she is enjoying Williams and the academic resources she has used to assist in her academic success. While Juliana graduated as our 2022 Class Valedictorian, she spoke candidly about the academic challenges at Williams and invaluable experience of attending the 5-week residential, fully funded, Summer Science Program, which helped prepare her for the academically intense Williams College experience. She quickly learned that this amazing opportunity came with equally amazing expectations. Teaching and learning are inextricably tied together. Engaging in a conversational community is about expressing viewpoints rooted in facts, albeit the history of the women’s movement throughout the world or discussing quantum physics and the nature of atoms and subatomic particles. Juliana and I agreed that this was a long way from Lake City, South Carolina—and it was not a matter of distance, it was a matter of consciousness. It was not long before Juliana and I exchanged good-byes with her going off to finish homework and me going off to my next class.

My last class was Poetry and Politics. This class was also a small class where another WOW student and I had the opportunity to talk to students prior to the beginning of class. Consistent with my overall Williams experience, students who were open and eager to share their experiences, talk about their aspirations, and respond to my questions. This was my favorite class. I enjoy analyzing literature and poetry, and while I only sat in on one English class, I think the English Department is a perfect fit for me. 

My final session of the day was the mandatory Admissions and Financial Aid information session. Carolina, the Associate Director of Diversity and Recruitment, and our hostess for the weekend, and Ashley Bianchi, the Director of Student Financial Services, gave an insightful presentation on everything Williams has to offer and their generous financial aid policy. One of the students raised the question, “As a WOW participant, what are our chances of being offered admission to Williams?” As Carolina responded, “While the overall admissions rate at Williams is less than 10 percent, the admissions rate for WOW students, who subsequently apply for admission is nearly 100 percent,” I could hear Mr. Wynn telling us why we needed to apply to fly-in programs as a means of building a relationship with colleges, and thereby significantly increasing our changes of being offered admission. But, going from a less than 10 percent chance of being offered admission to a near 100 percent chance of being offered admission—amazing! Needless to say, “amazing” is the adjective that most appropriately describe my WOW experience. 

After the session, Abby and I went back to the dorm, where we exchanged stories about our day until it was time for dinner. A professor was seated at each table with a name card for their subject. Since there wasn’t a table with an English professor, I sat at a table with Dr. Greta Snyder, a visiting Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Similar to how all my conversations with current students, WOW participants, and admissions ambassadors, the table talk with Dr. Greta was insightful and provided further insight into my educational experience should I chose to attend Williams. 

The final event for the night was a party hosted by the BSU (Black Student Union). Students in attendance were mainly POC and the party lasted well past midnight. The party was still going strong when Abby and I bowed out to get back to the dorm to prepare for our early morning departure from campus. 

Departure Day

My Williams College experience was AMAZING! Francis Marion, South Carolina State, Claflin University, Benedict College, Clemson, the University of South Carolina – Columbia, and Florence-Darlington Technical College are the top college choices in my community. I have never had a teacher, counselor, student, or community member ever mention Williams College and you would be hard press to find a single person, even a social studies teacher, who knows where Williamstown, Massachusetts is located. Without the opportunity of attending WOW, Williams College would be no more than the #1 college on the US News and World Reports Liberal Arts College Rankings—something to learn about, but not realistic to aspire toward. My fly-in experience left me knowing that not only can Williams College be a school that I can aspire toward attending, but that the conversational community, educational environment, and diversity of experiences are everything that I am looking for in my future college—a perfect fit. 

I am looking forward to attending the Carleton and Bates fly-in programs (I was wait-listed for Bowdoin) and to see how they compare to Williams. At the risk of being redundant, I must reiterate that I never realized how important it was for me to complete the cohort Fly-in Program unit. And now, after having traveled 840 miles to Williamstown, Massachusetts, a trip that would be otherwise unaffordable, to learn that just having been invited to the fly-in program virtually guarantees that I will be offered admission should I apply, is an amazing opportunity. 

If you are a cohort student, my advice to you is that while there is an immense amount of work that you must put in to build your body of work and to become a competitive applicant for being accepted into these programs, Mr. and Mrs. Wynn are providing you with step-by-step guidance into unimaginable opportunities. They are opening the door and all that you have to do is to walk through. I just spent an amazing weekend with amazing students, professors, and administrators at one of the most amazing schools in the world. As we go through life, we frequently recount the moments that contributed to turning points in our life. For me, receiving the invitation to WOW was one of those moments. 

— I’m Jayla Jones, a member of the Florence School District 3 College Planning Cohort and future journalist.

My College Cohort Journey…

— Jayla Jones – Lake City Early College High School (Lake City, SC)

I attend Lake City Early College High School in Lake City, South Carolina. I am a first-generation, African American student from a lower-income family living in a high poverty community. However, neither my circumstances or household income define who I am and I have always had lofty career aspirations for my future. Yet, as I began high school, it was at the end of freshman year that I reflected, “How am I going to achieve my goals?”

Little did I know that this self-reflective question would be answered as a high school sophomore. When my school and life were in a state of perpetual disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I received an email from my guidance counselor about a program that helps students with college planning. I knew right away that this was something I needed—where else was I going to learn what I needed to ensure the best college and scholarship options? In fact, what were the best college and scholarship options for students like me? 

The first meeting intrigued me so much that I knew that the program was God sent. Like most students, I entered the program thinking of the whole college planning process in a single-minded way. I was a “good student.” I got good grades. I had a high GPA. I participated in some after school activities. I was all set, right? Wrong! I had the notion that I was going to apply to highly selective schools like NYU, Syracuse, or even Columbia. However, I quickly learned that it would take a lot more than good grades and participating in some after school activities to get into these types of colleges (NYU Receives 100,000 applications). Through the curriculum, I learned to align my day-to-day efforts with my long-term college and career aspirations and through my discussion group, I learned to be intentional in my efforts and to overcome my tendency to procrastinate. These were the firsts of many epiphanies.

Through each meeting, lesson, and monthly discussion, I learned that what I thought I knew about college planning was not correct in the slightest. I had to adjust to not only absorbing this new information and reorienting my thinking, but learning about who I was and the changes that I needed to make in myself to have the greatest college and scholarship opportunities. At the beginning, I had thoughts of “This is too much work” and “Why is this even important? I already know about myself and what I want to do.” Even with these plaguing questions, I continued to complete the work and engage in the monthly discussions.

Not long after beginning the program, I began internalizing things that I never thought I needed to. I learned about my gifts and talents and how to align them with my leadership and service today, and career aspirations for the future. While I learned about such programs as QuestBridge and the Gates Scholarship, I learned so much more about colleges that were looking for students like me and offering full scholarships to first generation and lower-income students to diversify their campuses. 

Perhaps the most important thing that I learned as a high school sophomore was how to make a difference in my school and community as a high school junior. It was these actions—those learned through my cohort participation that placed me onto a different college trajectory than most of my peers. I initially began the program with a large group of students from my school. However, it was not long before one by one, they began dropping out of the program. I must admit that I was perplexed. Like me, they were high achieving students with big dreams and aspirations. Yet, they became fixated on the work and not on expanding their college and scholarship opportunities. While I tried to encourage others to join the cohort and invest in themselves, I accepted that we are not all on the same pathways or share the same future aspirations.

While I was the only remaining sophomore from my high school participating in the cohort, I was not alone. At the virtually monthly meetings I was surrounded by academically accomplished students from throughout the country like Omar, from Georgia who was also selected for the Yale Young Global Scholars Program and the 5-week LEDA Program at Princeton University. And Collin, a student in the IB Program at St. Petersburg High School in Florida who attended the AI4ALL 3-week Computer Science Summer Camp at the University of Maryland – College Park, and has applied to the Swarthmore fly-in program. 

Unlike students in other parts of the country who only get to work with Mr. and Mrs. Wynn once per month, our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Laura Hickson, contracted with the Wynns to work with our school district on Tuesday and Thursday each week during my sophomore year and Monday – Thursday each week during my junior year. With their hands-on guidance, together with the monthly curriculum, I was introduced to amazing opportunities. Last year, most of the seniors participating in the cohort in our school district received full scholarships. Juliana, our class valedictorian, received a full scholarship to Williams College. Most students and teachers at our school have never heard of Williams College because Juliana is the first student in the history of our school district to be offered admission to Williams. The full scholarship that she received from Williams is valued at over $360,000. As I sat in our high school gymnasium listening to her valedictorian speech announcing that she had received a full scholarship to Williams College, the top ranked liberal arts college in America, I thought about how blessed I was to have received the email from my counselor inviting me into such an extraordinary program.

Well, now I am a senior and it is my turn. I have learned that the cohort is more than a college planning cohort journey has taught me that it is more than a college planning program. The program is guided by the 3 pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service. I have embraced these pillars and intentionally built my résumé through scholarship, leadership, and service. After establishing a chapter of the National English Honor Society at my high school, serving on the cohort your leadership board, serving as an intern and mentor at a college planning boot camp for middle school students, and creating a blog, I have made on impact in my school and community and I am reaping personal benefits.

As if this was not enough, while Juliana is the first student in the history of our school district to be offered admission to Williams College, I am now the first student in the history of our school district to be invited to the Williams College Fly-in Program! I know that few, if any, of the students at my high school have ever heard of these schools, because prior to joining the cohort I hadn’t either. 

There are so many more opportunities for me to share, but this is already a long article so check in on this space next month and I will tell you about my Yale Young Global Scholars Experience.

— I’m Jayla Jones, a member of the Florence School District 3 College Planning Cohort and future journalist.

Student Profile – Omar Dixon, Jr.

Student Profile

Jocelyne L. (St. Petersburg High School)

Hello, I’m Jocelyne. I serve on the youth leadership board with Omar, a high school junior from Paulding County, Georgia. Omar is the Social Media Manager for our program. He is an incredibly hard worker and is having an incredible college-bound journey. He joined the cohort program as a high school freshman after reading an article about Kimberly Hadaway, a College Planning Cohort alumni who graduated from his high school. He thought that it was amazing that she had been offered 6 full scholarships to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country. However, what caught his eye in the article was that Kimberly, like himself, was a student of color from a single-parent, lower income family. He believed that if a student like him earn multiple full college scholarships, that he too, could seize the opportunity.

Kimberly’s story inspired him and her accomplishments motivated him to join the cohort and to commit himself to following all of the guidance offered by Mr. and Mrs. Wynn—after all, they were the experts who guided Kimberly. One of the first messages that resonated with him was that colleges are looking for more than just grades and test scores, so he committed himself to pursuing leadership opportunities and engaging in meaningful community service. He served as a College Planning Cohort intern and discussion group leader before applying for a position on the youth leadership board. He immediately had a community impact on the board through his mentorship of other first generation students and as a content creator for several video projects.

The projects that Omar has worked on have not only benefitted others and expanded the community outreach of the program, but have given him opportunities to, in his words,

Develop a ‘body of work’ to which I can refer in essays and interview that distinguish me from other applicants.” Clearly, the community impact that he has had through his leadership and service in our program has not gone unnoticed. He has been selected as a Yale Young Global Scholar, QuestBridge Scholar, and most recently, a LEDA Scholar. In his perspective: “It has been a mind blowing experience for me because it just shows that all the goals I set in 9th grade, and the pathway that I have taken due to the helpful, insightful, and crucial guidance from Mr. and Mrs. Wynn have come to fruition.”

Omar’s story is more than a success story, it is a story of believing that the example that Kimberly provided for him, that through his success, he can provide such an example from other students. Omar notes,

The cohort curriculum is full of the success stories of other students and provides a roadmap to the type of classes, grades, test scores, leadership, and service that can lead to full college scholarships. Rather than looking at these incredible students and saying, ‘I can’t be like them,’ everyone student should say, ‘Thank you for showing me the type of student that I should become if I want to be awarded a full college scholarship!

I believe that Omar has followed Kimberly’s example and that he is providing an example for others to follow. As Mr. and Mrs. Wynn frequently say, “Trust the Process.”  I am inspired by how his incredible perseverance, and the cohort’s guidance, have driven him to be intentional in his actions to become a scholar in multiple prestigious programs. While Omar joined the program in hopes of being offered at least one full scholarship, he is now on a pathway to multiple full scholarship opportunities. We look forward to a followup article about Omar’s journey this time next year! 

As a current 9th grader, I am looking forward to sharing my own college-bound story in 2024. However, as the president of the youth leadership board, I am looking forward to submitting articles about our many cohort students and their accomplishments. Like my older sister, I am not only grateful to be participating in a program that is guiding us along pathways to full college scholarships, but supporting and encouraging us to grow into leaders who seek to have a community impact.

Watch this space…I’m Jocelyne

On Her Way to Johns Hopkins

On Her Way to Johns Hopkins

Jocelyne L. (St. Petersburg High School)

Hello, I’m Jocelyne. I would like to tell you about my older sister, Joanne. My sister, a senior in the IB Program at St. Petersburg High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been offered admission, together with a full scholarship, to Johns Hopkins University. Johns Hopkins is one of the most selective schools in the US and is ranked #9 on the US News and World Reports National University Rankings (tied with Northwestern). Not only is Johns Hopkins her top choice school (where she will major in biology), but the scholarship is a huge blessing for our family. The only things not covered by her scholarship are indirect costs, such as travel expenses and personal expenses.

My sister became involved in the cohort in her sophomore year after hearing me go on and on about how wonderful the program was. At the time, I was in the 7th grade and had just completed the Pinellas County Schools College Planning Boot Camp for Middle School Students. As a seventh grader, I could not join a cohort, but she could—and she did!

In interviewing her for this article, she noted,

Through my participation in the cohort, I learned so many things that I would not have learned anywhere else such as the differences between liberal arts colleges and research universities, where I should apply Early Decision versus Regular Decision, and the financial aid policies of all of my top choice colleges. Knowing that Emory, Rice, Stanford, Duke, UPenn, and the University of Chicago would have all offered comparable institutional scholarships, there was no need to apply regular decision to ‘see if I could get in’ when I had a clear top choice—Johns Hopkins. So after being offered admission, via Early Decision to Johns Hopkins, I withdrew all of my other applications.

My sister also mentioned that the information regarding financial aid, The Net Price Calculator, and how different colleges had different financial aid policies, provided clear guidance as to the colleges with the best financial aid policies for students from lower income families. As she researched and learned, she was able to create a plan personalized for her that helped with the next steps when applying for the college of her choice. Not only did the information provided through the online curriculum greatly expand her understanding of the college admission and financial aid processes, but she received amazing support from fellow cohort members, advisors, mentors, and alumni. Some of the college interns—Sydney Soskin (University of Chicago), Peyton Wilson (George Washington), and Loren Tsang (Williams College—to name a few, supported her in the process as they helped her understand the college admissions process and figure out if the college of her choice was a good balance between her aspirations and the educational opportunities offered. With their advice and answers to her questions, my sister was able to discover that Johns Hopkins was truly the college meant for her. However, prior to arriving at this realization, she had to figure out what type of college she wanted to pursue. The cohort provided insight into the nuances between liberal arts colleges and research universities, and which type of school provided the best fit to her body of work and benefited her the most with their opportunities. When she opened the email, “Congratulations, we are pleased to offer you admission to the Johns Hopkins University Class of 2026”my sister’s friends and our family were delighted to hear the great news. Although, we were not surprised, we were incredibly proud and amazed with the scholarship of $280,000 over four years! 

I asked my sister what she would say to Mr. and Mrs. Wynn, the creators of the College Planning Cohort Program, and to Dr. Lewis Brinson, the Pinellas County Schools Minority Achievement Officer who brought the program to our school district:

Thank you so very much, your help has been a huge part of my college planning process and I would not have made it this far without you. Not only did you help me apply to college, but you helped me grow as a person!

As a current 9th grader, I am looking forward to sharing my own college-bound story in 2024. However, as the president of the youth leadership board, I am looking forward to submitting articles about our many cohort students and their accomplishments. Like my older sister, I am not only grateful to be participating in a program that is guiding us along pathways to full college scholarships, but supporting and encouraging us to grow into leaders who seek to have a community impact.

Watch this space…I’m Jocelyne

Need-based Financial Aid

Need-based Financial Aid

Having worked with hundreds of students through our College Planning Cohort Program, and having reviewed hundreds of Financial Aid Award Letters, we have gained first-hand insight into the array of financial aid policies across the college admissions landscape. Students and parents typically believe that the EFC (Expected Family Contribution), as computed by the U.S. Department of Education, after processing a student’s FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), is the amount that parents (or independent students) are required to pay toward the costs of attending college.

Many institutions will play on the naiveté of students and parents by providing intentionally misleading Financial Aid Award Letters, which suggest that students with ‘0’ or low EFCs will not pay anything toward their college costs. The most common practice involved in this deception is to list Federal Student Loans under the caption, ‘Awards,’ or using such language as, “We are pleased to offer.” while also failing to disclose the estimated Cost of Attendance.

As a result, students and parents assume thousands of dollars in student loan debt as a means of reaching their ‘0’ EFC. Any remaining financial aid gap is oftentimes closed with a combination of small scholarships such as, Achiever’s Scholarship, Trustee Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship, etc., which are not renewable after the student’s first year. To register for second-year classes, students simply take out more student loan debt and the process continues year after year until students reach their federal student loan maximums, at which time, many students simply stop attending college.

So what does ‘Need-based’ financial aid really mean?

Need-based financial aid simply means that a college will assist in meeting a student’s full financial need, based on either the EFC, as generated by the FAFSA, or the financial need as determined by the CSS/Financial Aid Profile. However, the means through which a student’s financial need is met will vary widely from being met with generous need-based institutional scholarships and grants, to being met with thousands of dollars in student loans. In this regard, there are institutions that have ‘no-loan’ financial aid policies, where student loans are not considered as part of their financial aid formula, and other institutions where student loans represent the most significant part of their financial aid formula.

How do I identify the institutions that offer the most generous institutional scholarships and grants?

Go to the US News and World Reports college rankings and the colleges with the most generous need-based financial aid policies are atop the rankings and among the most selective institutions to which a student can be offered admission. For example, Williams College is the top ranked liberal arts college in the United States and has the most generous financial aid policies that we have experienced through our students. Students with demonstrated financial need receive free books, assistance with their health insurance, transportation, and other unexpected costs associated with attending Williams College. Amherst College, the number two ranked liberal arts college is nearly as generous. Our students with demonstrated financial need have received institutional scholarship offers from Amherst College covering overing 94 percent of the $72,000 per year estimated Cost of Attendance (after application of the US Pell Grant).

Students and parents must carefully research colleges long prior to submitting applications if students are to position themselves for being offered admission to institutions with the most generous need-based financial aid policies. We have listed institutions, of which we are aware, with some of the most generous need-based and institutional scholarship programs:

Top liberal arts colleges: Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Swarthmore, Middlebury, Pomona, Carleton, Claremont McKenna, Davidson, Washington & Lee, Colby, Colgate University, Harvey Mudd, Smith, Vassar, Grinnell, Hamilton, Haverford, Wesleyan University, and Bates.

“Williams has one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country, thanks to generations of gifts from alumni, parents, and friends. It allows us to award more than $50 million a year in financial aid to more than half of all Williams students. Our financial aid program is based entirely on need, and we meet 100 percent of every student’s demonstrated need.  We are committed to working with you and your family to make a Williams education affordable.”

We aim to ensure high-achieving students from all backgrounds realize a Colby education is accessible regardless of their families’ means,” said Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Matt Proto. “Colby has many ways of expressing this commitment, most notably that we meet the full demonstrated need of admitted students using grants, not loans, in financial aid packages. This cost estimator is another tool for families to see that a Colby education is possible.”

The Ivy League: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.

“Princeton has a long history of admitting students without regard to their financial circumstances and, for more than a decade, has provided student grants and campus jobs — not student loans — to meet the full demonstrated financial need of all students offered admission.”

Top national universities: University of Chicago, MIT, Stanford, Duke, CalTech, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Rice, and Vanderbilt.

“Providing for college is one of the largest single investments a family will make, and we strongly believe that a Vanderbilt education is well worth the investment. Opportunity Vanderbiltreflects our belief that a world-renowned education should be accessible to all qualified students regardless of their economic circumstances.”

“We make three important commitments to U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens to ensure that students from many different economic circumstances can enroll at Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt will meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need. Instead of offering need-based loans to undergraduate students, Vanderbilt offers additional grant assistance. This does not involve income bands or “cut-offs” that impact or limit eligibility.”

How many colleges should I apply to?

Because financial aid policies so widely vary by institution, the rule of thumb for students who qualify for need-based financial aid, is to apply to as many selective institutions as possible, to which the student is a strong candidate for admission, so that they student and their parents will have many financial aid award letters upon which to base their financial college choice.

The devastating impact of making the wrong college choice

 

Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HDCDP?

Study at Harvard– Students accepted into this program are simultaneously accepted into Harvard Debate Council’s summer residential program at Harvard College.  This exclusive educational experience provides unmatched future advantages to our students.  The HDCDP board is raising scholarship funds in an effort to cover each student’s tuition, room & board, and travel.

Enhance college application & professional resume – Academic achievement is not enough for top-tiered colleges & universities; they desire students with leadership acumen.  HDCDP students gain exclusive leadership experiences that will enhance their college application and build their professional resume.

Pre-collegiate training – In Atlanta, students will acquire advanced enrichment through a rigorous academic program in which they will explore content higher than what is available in a traditional high school setting.  From January thru June, students will undergo intensive training by Harvard instructors in preparation to study at Harvard College in July.


WHAT DO WE DO?

HDCDP is an Atlanta-based diversity pipeline program designed to raise the young social & political voice in urban Atlanta and matriculate African-American students into the Harvard Debate Council’s summer residential program at Harvard College in Cambridge, MA.  We accomplish this goal through accelerated education and interactive field experience.  HDCDP seeks to develop the young social and political voice through our 3 pillars:

1.) Scholarship: An incubator for academic excellence– Our goal is to train citizens and leaders of the world, which requires global consciousness. Students will explore international issues through a rigorous curriculum centered on critical thinking, research, analysis, and academic debate.  Students are taught by Harvard instructors, during which they identify, cultivate, and use their voice in matters of social and political justice.

2.) Leadership: A launchpad for young leaders – The fact that young people do not have a vote in elections does not mean they shouldn’t have a voice. This program provides exposure to the challenges that confront today’s voting public through unique non-partisan experiences engaging in local politics and community activism in the city of Atlanta.

3.) Culture: A hub for cultural pride – We seek to cultivate cultural ambassadors that reform the meaning of scholarship into one that is appealing and accessible to black youth.  We endeavor to foster a sense of cultural pride through the exploration of African-American history, leadership, and erudition.  Our charge is to develop students that will embody the principle, “Lift as you climb” – ascending the ranks of social status while reaching back to pull others up, too.

Harvard Debate Council

 

Minority Scholarships and Engineering Scholarships for Minorities

NACME STEM Minority Scholarships Overview

NACME is responsible for more than $4 million in scholarships awarded annually to underrepresented minority (URM) students, with more than $1.6 million awarded in NACME’s funded scholarships and $2.4 million more through our partner institutions’ in-kind support. In 2016, NACME expects to support approximately 1,300 underrepresented minority engineering students.

NACME Scholars (Block Grant) Program

Through the NACME Scholars Program, NACME provides block grants to colleges and universities that, in turn, award the money to talented African American, American Indian, and Latino students enrolled in engineering programs as part of their financial aid packages.

The NACME’s Scholars (Block Grant) Program provides minority college scholarship support in the form of a lump sum grant to partner institutions who enroll students from three sources – first year students identified by NACME or the partner universities, transfer students from two-year colleges, and currently enrolled students who have completed at least one year of engineering study.

University Eligibility

Academic institutions that wish to participate in the scholars grant program must demonstrate a commitment to minority student success that is evidenced in their recruitment, admission, retention, education, and graduation (RAREG) of African American, American Indian, and Latino engineering students.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for the NACME Scholars Program students must enroll in an engineering program at a partner university, be a URM, and maintain a minimum required GPA (from 2.5 – 2.8). For Fellowships, GPA requirements differ according to the fellowship. Click here for more details about underrepresented minority scholarships (African American, American Indian, and Latino) and other special scholarship programs for minorities.

Academic performance criteria for NACME support differs somewhat for each student stream.

  • High school seniors must be accepted by the university’s college of engineering (at the end of the freshman year, NACME assumes a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0).
  • Currently enrolled students must have completed a calculus, physics, or chemistry course, earning at least a “B,” and be accepted into engineering.
  • Two-year community college transfers, i.e., those accepted for their third year of engineering study, must enter with at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA on a scale of a 4.0 and an Associate Degree in engineering science (or the equivalent program of study).

For more information about the NACME’s Scholars (Block Grant) Program contact Dr. Chris Smith, Director, Scholarships and University Relations, at 914-539-4316, or email at  scholars@nacme.org.

Payment Distribution

NACME distributes grant payments in two installments each academic year. Under the scholars program, each entering freshman scholar is eligible for $12,500 for up to five years. Two-year transfers and currently enrolled sophomores and beyond are eligible for the identical annual support for up to three years. Scholarship amounts may vary based on the scholar’s financial need to cover the cost of education.

Reporting Requirements

The academic institution provides NACME with a report at the end of the grant period that includes graduation and retention rates as well as biographical information, GPA, and dollar amount of support for each NACME Scholar.

Expectations for Continuance

Partnership agreements are reviewed at the end of five years. Grants are renewed annually to compare institutional performance against established enrollment and graduation goals. NACME expects evidence of continuous improvement toward parity. Such indicators of success would include in the aggregate rising GPAs, reduction in retention rate between NACME Scholars and comparison group (e.g., other minority engineering students or non-minority engineering students), and stable or decreasing time to degree.

NACME In-Kind/Associate Programs

We also encourage universities and colleges not already engaged in our NACME Scholarship Programs to provide in-kind scholarship support to underrepresented minority engineering students attending your school.

Fellowships (Special Scholarships)

The NACME Fellows Program was created to provide an opportunity for individuals and companies interested in establishing a named minority scholarship program in support of NACME’s mission to increase the representation of underrepresented minorities in engineering. This will be accomplished by ensuring that more engineering scholarships for minorities are available.

For more information about how to apply for a fellowship, contact Dr. Chris Smith, Director, Scholarships and University Relations, at 914-539-4316, or email at scholars@nacme.org. For specific information on how to establish a fellowship e-mail, scholarships@nacme.org.

Current NACME Fellowships and Endowments

George Campbell, Jr. Fellowship in Engineering
Dr. George Campbell, Jr. served as NACME’s president and CEO for 11 years. This scholarship honors Dr. Campbell’s service to the mission and vision of increasing the representation of underrepresented minority students in engineering. One student is selected in the sophomore year. The recipient is awarded $5,000 for up to three years. The minimum grade point average required is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Sidney and Katherine Friend Scholarship
Joint endowment established between NACME and Polytechnic University. One first-year student is selected and supported for a maximum of five years. The recipient is awarded $2,500 each year. The minimum grade point average required is 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.

William Randolph Hearst Endowment Scholarship
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation supported the creation of this endowed scholarship. Two students are selected in either the first or second year. The recipients are awarded $2,500 each for up to four years. The minimum grade point average required is 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.

Phillip D. Reed Undergraduate Endowment Fellowship
Philip D. Reed endowment fellowship is made possible through an endowment from the Philip D. Reed Foundation. One student is selected in the sophomore year. The award provides $5,000 for up to three years.

The Bechtel Undergraduate Fellowship Award
The Bechtel Undergraduate Fellowship Award is financial support program that encourages and recognizes high academic achievement of students interested in pursuing a corporate career in a construction-related engineering discipline. The award is accompanied by internship and mentoring opportunities. Two students are selected in their junior year. The recipients are awarded $2,500 each for up to two years. The minimum grade point average required is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

NACME Contact

For more information about the NACME’s Scholars (Block Grant) Program or how to apply for a fellowship, contact Dr. Chris Smith, Director, Scholarships and University Relations, at 914-539-4316, or email at scholars@nacme.org.

Additional Minority Scholarship Resources

Scholarships.com – A listing of scholarships for minorities.

Finaid.com – Information about scholarships and fellowships for minority students. Native American students should also visit the Financial Aid for Native American Students page.

U.S. Department of State – Scholarships, financial aid and student internships.

 

NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers:

  • Scholarship support
  • Paid research training at the NIH during the summer
  • Paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation

In order to determine if you meet the financial need eligibility guidelines, the UGSP encourages all students to complete the Exceptional Financial Need (EFN) form and submit it to your financial aid office. This form can be filed prior to completion of the online application. Since your eligibility will have to be updated with your 2017 financial aid application data, completion and submission of this form is for informational purposes only. If you choose to submit the form prior to application, please notify the UGSP at ugsp@od.nih.gov, and we will contact you after your university has indicated your eligibility. However, if you do not receive notification of eligibility prior to the application opening date, we encourage you to go ahead and begin the application process.

SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT

The NIH UGSP will pay up to $20,000 per academic year in tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses to scholarship recipients. Scholarships are awarded for 1 year, and can be renewed up to 4 years.

RESEARCH TRAINING AT THE NIH

For each full or partial scholarship year, you are committed to two NIH service obligations. The obligations are actually benefits of the UGSP, providing you with invaluable research training and experience at the NIH.

  1. 10-week Summer Laboratory Experience. After each year of scholarship support, you will train for 10 weeks as a paid summer research employee in an NIH research laboratory. This employment occurs after the receipt of the scholarship award. Each scholar will work directly with an NIH Principle Investigator or an NIH postdoctoral fellow, who will serve as mentors.
  2. Employment at the NIH after Graduation. After graduation, you will continue your training as a full-time employee in an NIH research laboratory. You must serve 1 year of full-time employment for each year of scholarship.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You must meet all of these requirements in order to be eligible for admission into the UGSP.  Please take a moment to use our Eligibility Wizard.

  • U.S.A. citizen or U.S.A. permanent resident
  • Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution located in the United States of America
  • Undergraduate University Grade Point Average of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0-point scale or within the top 5 percent of your class
  • Having ‘Exceptional Financial Need’ as certified by your undergraduate institution financial aid office – see table below (updated 8 November 2017).
Persons in Family
(Includes Only Dependents Listed on Federal Income Tax Forms)
Family Income Level
(Adjusted Gross Income for Tax Year 2016)
Federal Register: Volume 81, Number 15, 25 January 2016, Page 4036
Family Income Level
(Adjusted Gross Income for Tax Year 2017)
Federal Register: Volume 82, Number 19, 31 January 2017, Page 8831
1$23,780.00$24,120.00
2$32,040.00$32,480.00
3$40,320.00$40,840.00
4$48,600.00$49,200.00
5$56,880.00$57,560.00
6$65,160.00$65,920.00
7$73,460.00$74,280.00
8$81,780.00$82,640.00
More than 8 Persons$8,320.00 for Each Additional Person$8,360.00 for Each Additional Person

You are not eligible for the UGSP if any one of the following items pertains to you:

  • You are a high school senior
  • You have been awarded an undergraduate degree
  • You are enrolled in an advanced degree program, such as a master’s degree
  • You are unable to fulfill the payback requirements

APPLICATION INFORMATION

The Application for the 2018-2019 academic year is now open.  To learn more about the application process and requirements, review the videos “How to Apply to the NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program” and “How to Find an NIH Mentor“.  Your university must also determine whether you meet the required exceptional financial need (EFN) criteria.  To do so, download the EFN form, complete the top section and submit it to the financial aid office at the university you will attend during the 2018-2019 academic year.  Your university will determine your eligibility and forward the form to us.  We strongly advise you to complete the application while waiting for your university to determine your eligibility.

KEY DATES FOR ADMISSION CONSIDERATION IN FALL 2017-2018 ACADEMIC YEAR

(Dates updated 1 November 2017)

  • January 2, 2018 – Application Opens
  • March 15, 2018 – Application Deadline
  • March 30, 2018 – Letter of Recommendation Deadline
  • May 11, 2018 – EFN Form with 2016 Tax Year Information Deadline
  • Mid-June 2018 – Invitations to Phone Interview Distributed
  • Mid-July 2018 – Phone Interviews for Admission
  • Late-July 2018 – Selection of Scholars

This program is administered without discrimination on the basis of age, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other nonmerit factors.

NIH is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities.  NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.