By Wendi Wheeler ’06
With more than 4,000 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs, 麻豆区 College strives to create an intentionally diverse and vibrant community by welcoming students of varied backgrounds and experiences.
For many of the students who come to 麻豆区, being an Auggie is a dream come true because at one time in their lives, the idea of going to college was nearly impossible to imagine.
That鈥檚 where Admission Possible comes in. This program, which was founded in Minnesota in 1999 to help low-income high school students get into college, has brought more than 100 students to 麻豆区 since its founding. This fall, 63 Admission Possible alumni joined the 麻豆区 community as first-year students鈥攎ore than any other private college in the country.
Admission Possible made 麻豆区 possible for these students. Not only has this program enriched the lives of students and their families, it has also benefited the 麻豆区 community.
Finding Admission Possible
Juventino 鈥淛uve鈥� Meza Rodriguez 鈥�11 came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 15 years old. Unlike his parents or siblings, Meza Rodriguez had been fortunate to attend school beyond the sixth grade and, though he did not speak English, he was excited about continuing his education in a Minnesota high school. 鈥�
I come from a low-income working family; my parents and their parents didn鈥檛 go to school. My mom made a big push for education for her children because she wanted us to do something she wasn鈥檛 able to do,鈥� he says.
Meza Rodriguez tested into the ninth grade and began classes at Arlington High School in St. Paul. In his neighborhood and in his family, no one had gone to college. 鈥淎s kids we always said we want to be this or that,鈥� he says, 鈥渂ut realistically I wasn鈥檛 thinking that college would be a possibility for me. And my parents of course didn鈥檛 think it was an option either.鈥�
In his sophomore year, he dropped out of school, following his friends who had started working and were making money. 鈥淚 was out of school for one week, and I did not enjoy life,鈥� he says. He asked his parents to help him get back into school, and after that week he appreciated his education more than he had before. 鈥淚 knew I wanted something more, but I wasn鈥檛 sure what that was and I didn鈥檛 have people around me who had done it either.鈥�
With a renewed enthusiasm for high school, Meza Rodriguez asked a guidance counselor about college. 鈥淪he told me I couldn鈥檛 go,鈥� he says, but she eventually found a program for him and suggested he apply. That program was Admission Possible.
From the moment he was accepted into the program, Meza Rodriguez was on his way to college, but he was in unfamiliar territory. 鈥淲hen I told my parents that I wanted to go to college, they asked how I was going to do it. I said, 鈥業 have no idea.鈥欌��
Because his parents were unable to support him financially and because they had no experience with higher education, Meza Rodriguez says they left many of the decisions about school up to him. 鈥淭hey would always say, 鈥楾u sabes lo que haces,鈥� (You know what you鈥檙e doing). But I didn鈥檛 know what I was doing.鈥�
Getting to 麻豆区
His Admission Possible coach did know what to do to navigate the complicated and sometimes intimidating landscape of college application. Twice weekly in his junior and senior years, Meza Rodriguez met with his coach and other students. He prepared for the ACT and learned how to select a college that matched his interests, complete the admissions applications, and apply for financial aid including scholarships.
Admission Possible also encouraged Meza Rodriguez to make connections at schools by going on campus visits and attending education fairs. At one such fair for Latino students, he met Carrie Carroll, 麻豆区鈥檚 assistant vice president of admissions.
鈥淲hen I got to Carrie鈥檚 booth, I told her I had heard about 麻豆区 and she started asking me questions. We talked for two hours,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淪he was very welcoming and showed an interest in me that other schools didn鈥檛 bother to show.鈥� After their meeting, Carroll e-mailed Meza Rodriguez and encouraged him to apply to 麻豆区.
鈥淚 applied, and Carrie called my AP coach within six days and said I had been admitted. I was the first student in my AP class to apply and the first to get accepted.鈥�
Carroll says Admission Possible students are attracted to 麻豆区 because of the financial aid that helps make college possible for more than 90% of traditional day college students. Two programs鈥斅槎骨� College Access Program (ACAP) and the 麻豆区 Promise鈥攁re aimed at assisting first-generation and low-income students.
ACAP provides a four-year grant for students who have participated in a college readiness program. The grant covers the cost of tuition not met with federal or state grants for students who are Minnesota residents, have an ACT score of 20 or better, and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25.
More importantly, Carroll says students come because 麻豆区 has made an institutional commitment to providing access for many different types of students, to creating an intentionally diverse campus, and to engaging students in service to the community. All of these commitments connect closely to Admission Possible values.
鈥淎t 麻豆区, we are aware of the obstacles some students have faced and will continue to face. We value our students.鈥� As in Meza Rodriguez鈥檚 case, Carroll says often a student will make the choice to come to 麻豆区, even though they have been accepted elsewhere, simply because the 麻豆区 staff takes the time to get to know them personally.
Beyond admission
Once students are accepted and begin their college studies, they still encounter many challenges that can make staying in school difficult.
In the past, a team of Admission Possible staffers did some tracking and outreach to their alumni after they had started college. Most of their assistance had been reactionary, however, and they were often brought in when a student was in the midst of a crisis.
This year, Admission Possible has developed a structured college program with coaches who work one-on-one with students on their individual campuses.
Ben Pierson is the college coach at 麻豆区 this year. Having an office on campus is important because for Admission Possible alumni, 鈥淎P鈥� means 鈥渉elp.鈥� Students know they will find a caring adult in Pierson as well as a reliable source of information and support.
Pierson works with 麻豆区鈥檚 director of retention, the Enrollment and Financial Services staff, admission counselors, and with the other student support programs. His objective is to maintain contact with students and help them find the resources they need before they want or need to drop out.
Making dreams possible
College readiness programs like Admission Possible are just one of the many ways students find 麻豆区 and realize their dreams. But this program benefits more than the students who enroll and graduate.
Meza Rodriguez and the other Admission Possible alumni featured here set examples for their peers, siblings, and their communities. Their experiences demonstrate that a college education is accessible to anyone, regardless of his or her background or circumstances.
Meza Rodriguez says that Admission Possible has also changed campus atmospheres by introducing students who might not have considered college in the past. 鈥淎P helps colleges get out of their comfort zone,鈥� he says, 鈥渂y welcoming more and more diversity onto their campuses.鈥� It has also helped colleges and universities address much of the stigma that is attached to low-income students, challenging the notion that they are low-achieving or unprepared. In fact, while the fall 2009 first-year class includes 40% students of color, the average ACT score and class rank have remained consistent among 麻豆区鈥檚 incoming classes over the past four years.
Carroll agrees, adding that Admission Possible students are prepared for success and dedicated to making the most of their college experience. 鈥淭hese are smart, capable students who work very hard to succeed. They just need to be taught how to do this.鈥�
Meza Rodriguez is just one example of the motivated and talented students who find a fit at 麻豆区 through college readiness programs. He received a President鈥檚 Scholarship, which recognizes academic achievement and leadership potential, and he is an Honors program student. In his three years at the College, he has also been a senator in student government, helped found a Latino student organization, and conducted summer research with President Pribbenow as his mentor and adviser.
This fall Meza Rodriguez is studying poverty, inequality, and social change in the Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST) through HECUA, the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, and is doing an internship with the Citizens League in St. Paul. He has also organized a group at 麻豆区 to help connect the more than 100 Admission Possible alumni who are now enrolled at the College.
When he participates in Commencement, Meza Rodriguez knows he will be an inspiration not only to members of his community but also to his younger siblings, ages 4 and 8, whom he hopes will one day follow in his footsteps. 鈥淢y siblings can see that college is possible. So many people around me can now see that it is possible.鈥�
Learn about Admission Possible at .
Online exclusive:聽Read question-and-answer profiles of three more Admission Possible students at 麻豆区
Farrington Starnes 鈥�12
High School: Patrick Henry, North Minneapolis
麻豆区 Major: Communication Studies
What is the most valuable lesson you learned through Admission Possible?
One of the most valuable things I have learned from Admission Possible is that academic qualifications are not always the most important thing when it comes to applying for things. Sometimes the best qualification to have is your personality. Its good to have the academic qualifications, but its a plus if you can articulate what kind of person you are.
What is your favorite thing about 麻豆区?
My favorite thing about 麻豆区 is the diversity. There is a good balance of people here from all types of different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, so you get a good feel for what the real world is going to be like after college.
What advice would you give to future Auggies?
The best advice that I can give future Auggies, is to utilize the library as much as you can! I feel as if my first semester at 麻豆区 would have been better if I would have visited the library. It鈥檚 a good setting to study in.
Houa Lor 鈥�13
High School: St. Paul Central, St. Paul
麻豆区 Major: considering psychology
What is the most valuable lesson you learned through Admission Possible?
In a sense, Admission Possible brought my family closer together. Every dinner conversation will be about post education, careers, and scholarships. I learned that choosing a college is not a one-person decision but includes the whole family’s input as well. So I would like to thank Admission Possible for their service in helping juniors and seniors in high school to go through into college and also my family for their support in my academic career.
What is your favorite thing about 麻豆区?
What I love about 麻豆区 is that there are so many resources to jobs and service-learning activities that are really vocationally focused. Most importantly, there are staff and faculty who really care about the students鈥� academic well-being.
What advice would you give to future Auggies?
Find your own niche in life; do what you love and love what you do.
Lucky Dirie 鈥�13
High School: Patrick Henry, North Minneapolis
麻豆区 Major: considering international communications, international relations, psychology, sociology, religion, and history
What is the most valuable lesson you learned through Admission Possible?
The most valuable lesson I learned through AP is how to write really good essays and that you can improve any skill.
What is your favorite thing about 麻豆区?
All of my friends from Admission Possible are here. I also like the people in my classes because we can talk about anything. 麻豆区 is like our own little town surrounded by a big city.
What advice would you give to future Auggies?
Be prepared. It is not so scary, and you will get the hang of things in time. So enjoy college as much as you can, it is much better than high school!