Students of Color for College: Our Free Conference Designed for Students Like You

I’m going to tell you something you already know: Applying to college is stressful. 

Deciding what colleges you’re going to apply to, figuring out how to get your best score on the SAT or ACT, trying to somehow explain to admissions who you are in only a five-paragraph essay — it’s an overwhelming amount of tasks to take in, complete, and exceed at. 

As a student of color, it can be even more challenging. I’m not just speaking from experience; there are plenty of statistics to back it up. Whether it’s the disproportionate amount of Black students that have access to college-readiness courses, the fact that only 25% of merit-based scholarships go to people of color, or the fact that the majority of first-generation students are students of color, there are plenty of barriers that make the college application process more difficult for students of color. 

That’s why I’m excited to announce our first-ever conference designed specifically for students of color and their families! 

Our upcoming Students of Color for College conference was designed for BIPOC college applications and their families to access resources that they may not have otherwise - completely for free. 

I have pulled together some of the people I respect most in the industry, along with students to help give you some real testimonials of their experiences, so that you can feel more confident as you start your college search and begin working on applications. 

As a pillar of S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting, we want to make higher education accessible to everyone. 

When I graduated high school, I became the first student from my school to attend Princeton University. It was something that our school was very proud of. And while I am proud of myself for getting into an Ivy League university, looking back I wish it wasn’t such a revolutionary moment.

I wish that it was more of a regular occurrence that students like me were accepted to a high-ranked university; it’s part of the whole reason that I ended up starting S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting and built a clientele of 91% minority students. 

But I know that a conference like this wouldn’t just be revolutionary for teen-me. 

Here is what Stephanie Secaira, our Assistant College Counselor, had to say about what this conference would mean to her: 

“When I think back to high school Stephanie, I remember my grand dreams of going to college. However, being first-generation, low-income, and Latina posed many roadblocks. My friends and I were unsure of where to start in the process, and we had little confidence in our ability to do some research. My parents wanted to help but were confused about the process themselves. If I had seen myself represented in college admissions and received advice on their journey to college like the Students of Color of College Conference, I would have felt much more supported and motivated early on. There is no better feeling than being supported and rooted for, and you do not have to go through this alone!” 

And Kalen Cobb, one of our Associate College Counselors, has this message to attendees:

“To have known that there was help--help that looked like me--would have reduced the weight of applying to college. My parents did their best to support me but a lot of the work fell on my shoulders without many people to turn to. My supporters at school were often white and came from a higher SES background and didn't always understand where I was coming from or why I had to make the decisions I did. I am so thankful that this conference can open doors to new possibilities for many students! You are ‘college material’; You do belong. You can be all that you can be.”

If you’re interested in a college conference that’s built for you, register for the virtual Students of Color for College conference on April 9 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. EST!

I hope to see you and your family there, and I hope that this conference will take some of the stress out of your college application process.

Like Kalen said: You are “college material.” You do belong. You can be all that you can be.