When the Supreme Court of the United States eliminated race as a factor in college admissions, they rendered the already weak hand held by underserved students even more on shaky ground.
The Ruling’s most immediate impact is felt by high schoolers. Hopefuls desiring to pursue a college education this winter, next spring, and next fall’s term.
Competition for entry was already stiff. Students from underserved communities compete with America’s wealthiest families to get into highly desirable colleges and universities. Harvard and Princeton accept less than 4% of applicants according to BusinessInsider.com.
To beat those odds, ultra wealthy parents spend big-time to secure one of those coveted seats at a prestigious Ivy League school. Companies exist to assist them. We’re all familar with an acting couples legal troubles for paying for their kid to get a sports scholarhship at a prestigious CA school in a sport she didn’t play.
Companies exist to improve students chances of acceptance from the academic approach as well.
College Entrance Counseling for the Well-Heeled
These “college counseling” companies earn up to $1 million or more to shepherd a wealthy student successfully through the college entrance process beginning as early as the 7th grade.
Parents often offer to pay more for exclusive attention, or particularly devious Parents try to pay to shut out other potential student competitors. These counseling companies provide mentorship, tutoring, and send reminder texts to students to turn in their history report.
With no way to compete with this type of college above all else mentality, students from nonenriched schools find themselves at an almost insurmountable disadvantage. Covid and poor performing urban schools only add to the nonenriched students hurdles to a brighter future.
The stakes are high. College degree holders earn on average $1.2 million more than the noncredentialled. Sixty years of Affirmative Action created the middle class and elevated quality of life for millions. Today’s students deserve that same opportunity.
ESSAY ASSAY
ESSAY ASSAY is a pilot program from One Up All Foundation, a public school education focused nonprofit and co-sponsored by the WRITING FOR BUSINESS Lesson Series. The program is launching this fall into select metro New York City schools.
The goal is to help strengthen non-enriched student college essays a free with expert review from a volunteer professional.
Essay Value Soars
The Entrance Essay si among the few post-academic levers available to improve a nonenriched student’s chance of acceptance into college. Reference Letters, extracurricular activities, and alumni parents being others.
Even aptitude tests like the SAT no longer carry the same weight at some schools. The entrance essay therefore has never been more important.