The college admissions process is under the microscope in the days after news broke that wealthy parents, an enrollment advisor, athletic coaches and exam administrators allegedlyconspired and committed crimesto get children into elite universities.
Federal court records unsealed in Boston on Tuesday accuse 50 people — including actressesLori Loughlin, 54, andFelicity Huffman, 56 — of taking part in a nationwidecollege admissions cheating scam, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. From doctoring photos to allegedly paying up to $6 million in bribes, the lengths to which parents allegedly went to get their children into prestigious institutions — including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, University of Southern California and UCLA — were revealed in 204 court pages of federal court records.
“I’m appalled, but I’m not surprised,” says Eric Sherman, a former Columbia University admissions officer who now serves as principal counselor toIvyWise, a New York-based independent educational consulting firm.
Sherman tells PEOPLE he thinks the scandal is “keeping with the national narrative” that “wealthy people control the levers of power and they also construct those levers of power.”
“I’m hopeful that the result of this will be positive, but we have to go through these ugly revelations to move toward greater equity,” adds Sherman.
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Here are eight of those organizations trying to bridge the gap:
Bright Prospect
The Pomona, California, non-profit seeks to provide comprehensive counseling and consistent support to “high potential, low-income students” in high school, guiding them through the college admissions process and their college years. Bright Prospect pairs students with mentors who work with them directly and even presentsscholarship opportunities.
OneGoal
National College Access Network (NCAN)
The NCAN, based in Washington, D.C., supports organizations that work with underserved students. Working with states, schools, businesses and more, NCAN’s goal is to provide college access providers with tools to service disadvantaged youth through training and webinars. NCAN aims to support organizations that provide students with “pre-college advising” on the admissions process and even financial aid, according to the NCAN website.
Carrie Warick, director of policy and advocacy at the NCAN,toldGood Morning Americathat students benefit when they have an adult helping them through the college process. “Be proactive about finding an adult,” Warick said. “There are plenty [who will help]. Students need to just ask and find the right person.”
Equal Opportunity Schools
The Seattle, Washington-based foundation works with school districts to help students with low-income backgrounds get into Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs — which can help increase a student’s chances of college acceptance. EOS has helped more than 540 schools identify disadvantaged students who qualify for AP or IB classes, according to its website.
I Have a Dream Foundation
The I Have a Dream Foundation is a charitable trust out of New York City that gives “individualized social, emotional, and academic support to young people (‘Dreamers’) from low-income communities from kindergarten all the way through college, along with guaranteed tuition support,” according to its website. Its programs have operated in 28 states, Washington, D.C., and New Zealand, servicing 18,000 students.
College Possible
United Negro College Fund
The UNCF bills itself as the “largest and most effective minority education organization,” and has become a legendary staple in the black community since its founding in 1944. With a focus on serving black students, the UNCF offers scholarship, internship and fellowship programs and serves over 60,000 students at 1,100 schools, according to the UNCF website. The Washington, D.C.-based organization awards about $100 million to more than 10,000 students through its many scholarship programs each year.
Gateway to College National Network
Based in Portland, Oregon, the Gateway to College National Network works to help former high school dropouts complete their diplomas and pursue a postsecondary credential, according to its website. The organization also provides consulting services to help education leaders support students within community colleges.
source: people.com
