College advisors pledge to act aggressively in securing opportunities for Black and Hispanic students, despite recent affirmative action limitations
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Title: Navigating the New Admissions Landscape: TeenSHARP Tackles the Aftermath of the Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Ruling
Striding into a bustling community center filled with high school seniors, Atnre Alleyne, the passionate CEO of TeenSHARP, a non-profit preparing underrepresented students for higher education, offers words of guidance to the crowd. These students, predominantly Black or Hispanic, question their chances at top-tier colleges following the court's ruling against race-conscious admissions.
"You gotta ace the academics, but you also gotta become leaders! Fight for social justice in your schools!" Alleyne exclaims.
Alleyne and his team field queries from students, tackling subjects ranging from early decision deadlines to scholarships. With the new admissions landscape, their determination to foster a new generation of leaders is stronger than ever.
"I want them to bust through those doors, so they come back and toss open more doors!" Alleyne declares.
Successful alumni of the 14-year-old program, gathered here, recount their academic journeys, culminating in full scholarships at institutions like the University of Chicago and Wesleyan University, where the annual estimated costs approach $90,000.
Previously, highly selective colleges stood as beacons of hope and economic mobility for underrepresented students, who often lack legacy connections or access to expensive private counselors. Yet, before the ruling, Black and Latino students were underrepresented at these institutions, while the college degree gap between Black and white Americans continued to widen.
Some students view the court decision as a message that they don't belong, especially if they manage to gain admission; they worry they'll stand out even more.
"I was really bummed about it," Jamel Powell, a high school junior from New Jersey participating in TeenSHARP, says about the affirmative action ruling. "This system has helped many underrepresented minorities get into these Ivy League schools and excel."
Since the ruling, schools have re-evaluated their diversity commitments while adhering to the law. Students puzzled over whether mentioning race in their essays will aid or hinder them.
Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority decision lawmakers wrote that race can only be considered within the context of the applicant's life story, essentially making essays the only opportunity for students to discuss their race and ethnicity. Yet, Edward Blum, the conservative activist who brought the case before the court, has threatened further legal action, vowing to challenge any essay topic he deems as a "subterfuge for divulging a student's race."
Department of Education guidelines state that schools cannot favor students based on their race, but they are free to consider characteristics related to students' individual life experiences, including race.
Tackling the essay challenge, the National Association of College Admission Counseling has issued similar guidance, while the Common App introduced new essay prompts that include one about students' "identity" and "background."
As the impact of the ruling on student demographics remains unclear, school counselors require training in essay crafting and the delicate balancing act of addressing race. With an average of over 400 students per school counselor, individualized advising is scarce.
That's why non-profit advising groups like TeenSHARP fill the gap, offering personalized guidance to hundreds of students each year. TeenSHARP's team of three advisors work intimately with approximately 140 students, including 50 seniors who apply to up to 20 colleges to maximize their chances.
Yet, more assistance is needed. That's why TeenSHARP's leaders rely on their network of over 500 "Sharpies," alumni who are ready to help current students.
Emily Rodriguez, a TeenSHARP senior who attends Conrad Schools of Science in Wilmington, decided to address race head-on in her college essays: She wrote about her determination to avoid playing the role of the submissive Mexican woman.
Alleyne and Poladko work with students from their first year of high school, offering a comprehensive guide through the entire college application process, much like expensive private counselors, albeit free as a non-profit organization.
They met as graduate students at Rutgers University and founded TeenSHARP after helping Alleyne's niece apply to colleges from a large New York City public high school. Astonished by the complexity and inaccessibility of college admissions, they committed their lives to helping more students.
The pandemic and family obligations led Alleyne and Poladko to temporarily relocate from Wilmington to Poland, where Poladko is taking a sabbatical from TeenSHARP. Despite the distance, Alleyne travels from Warsaw to Wilmington to meet with students in person, often at the community center downtown that once housed their offices.
TeenSHARP students are aimed high, encouraged to look beyond local schools with lower graduation rates and fewer resources. College presidents and admissions officers at schools like Boston College, Pomona College, and Wesleyan, along with both Carleton and Macalester Colleges in Minnesota, welcome TeenSHARP applicants.
In the end, it is crucial that students embrace their stories and unique experiences. They should find inspiration in alumni like William Garcia and Alphina Kamara, who have excelled in elite universities with the support of TeenSHARP.
Related:1. Colleges decry Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, but most have terrible records on diversity2. Why aren't more school counselors trained in helping students apply to college?3. The newest benefit at top companies: Private college admissions counseling4. Beyond the Rankings: College Welcome Guide5. Colleges' Affirmative Action Decision Shrinks Access Gaps for Minority Students6. How the Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action Could Affect Historically Black Colleges and Universities7. Experts predict lasting effects if the Supreme Court bans race-conscious affirmative action
- In the face of higher education's growing inequality, TeenSHARP, a non-profit focusing on leadership and social justice, is striving to bridge the gap for underrepresented students.
- Alleyne emphasizes the importance of not only excelling academically but also becoming leaders who fight for social justice within their schools.
- With colleges re-evaluating their diversity commitments and students questioning whether discussing race in essays might aid or hinder them, guidance from organizations like TeenSHARP becomes increasingly essential.
- As schools navigate the aftermath of the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling, personal growth and education-and-self-development remain crucial elements of college admissions.
- A successful TeenSHARP alumnus, Jamel Powell, reflects on the ruling's impact, expressing concerns about the reduction of opportunities for underrepresented minorities in higher education.
- The Department of Education's guidelines state that schools cannot favor students based on race but can consider characteristics related to students' individual life experiences, such as race.
- Guidance from organizations like the National Association of College Admission Counseling and the Common App highlights the importance of essay crafting and embracing one's identity and background.
- As online learning and lifestyle changes transform the home-and-garden landscape, students grapple with the challenges of writing compelling college essays in the digital age.
- The pandemic has led to migration and a relocation for Alleyne and Poladko, founders of TeenSHARP, who continue to offer personalized guidance to students despite being based in Poland.
- Career development, policy-and-legislation, and general-news outlets have covered the ongoing impacts of the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision on underrepresented students.
- Uncertainty surrounds the impact of the ruling on student demographics in colleges, necessitating further training and support for school counselors in essay crafting and the delicate balancing act of addressing race.
- Keen awareness of the importance of learning, skills-training, and innovation drives TeenSHARP's mission to provide personalized guidance and a comprehensive approach to college admissions and beyond, enabling students not only to navigate the tumultuous waters of war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, accidents, and fires but also to succeed in their career goals and entertainment pursuits.
