Yale expands partnership to support low-income high school students

Yale recently announced an expanded partnership with Matriculate, a national non-profit organization that recruits, selects, and trains college students at top universities to provide virtual college advising to high-achieving low-income high school students across the country. Yale students who serve as Matriculate Advising Fellows will provide information, guidance, and support to assist high school students across the country as they navigate the college application process.
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Matriculate Advising Fellows Jocelyn Dorney and Jessica Asiedu, both Class of 2020, at the two-day training retreat hosted by Matriculate.

Yale recently announced an expanded partnership with Matriculate, a national non-profit organization that recruits, selects, and trains college students at top universities to provide virtual college advising to high-achieving low-income high school students across the country. Yale students who serve as Matriculate Advising Fellows will provide information, guidance, and support to assist high school students across the country as they navigate the college application process.

The expanded partnership is one of several commitments Yale made recently as a member in the American Talent Initiative (ATI), a new coalition of 30 colleges and universities, including Ivy League institutions, public state flagships, private universities and liberal arts colleges. The ATI is committed to increasing educational opportunities for talented low- and moderate-income students.

As part of the expanded partnership, the Office of undergraduate admissions will provide awards each semester to a select group of Yale students with financial need who serve as Matriculate Advising Fellows. Admissions officers will also lead regular professional development sessions for all Yale students serving as advising fellows to provide insight on advising students applying to selective colleges and universities.

Madeline Kerner, CEO and co-rounder of Matriculate and a 2007 Yale College graduate, said “We are excited to deepen our partnership with Yale as we work to empower high-achieving, low-income high school students to make the leap to our best colleges. Yale Advising Fellows have an opportunity to connect with and support some our nation’s most talented, low-income students from coast to coast, particularly students in smaller, more rural communities with few college access resources.”

Matriculate recently hosted a two-day training retreat on Yale’s campus for more than 40  undergraduates who joined as new Advising Fellows. Participants learned about the undermatching problem and practiced advising skills that will help them build connections with high school students virtually, through video chat and phone calls.

Dean of Admissions Jeremiah Quinlan addressed the group of Yale Advising Fellows to share his perspective on the challenges and opportunities associated with reaching high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. “I am excited about this new opportunity for Yale students to provide direct assistance to high school juniors and seniors who lack access to dedicated college counseling,” said Quinlan. “No matter where these talented high school students enroll in college, the experience of working closely with a Yale student through the application process will pay dividends throughout the student’s college career.”

Sara Harris, a Matriculate Head Advising Fellow who serves as a student leader for the Yale participants, said, “It’s so exciting and encouraging to see our Yale Advising Fellows deeply passionate about the work we are doing. It hits home for a lot of us. We can see ourselves in the students we serve. For some, it’s the opportunity to give our students what we never had, and for others it’s returning the favor.”

Yale is one of seven Matriculate partner colleges. The organization currently has more than 200 advising fellows and hopes to serve more than 800 high school students in the class of 2018.

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