In October 2022, Megan Thee Stallion hosted Saturday Night Live the week before Chicago Scholars’ annual Onsite College and Leadership Forum. In a brilliant sketch, SNL spoofed inspirational urban educational dramas and the racism underlying many adults’ approaches to under-resourced students. In the sketch, Ego Nwodim portrays a substitute teacher determined to uplift her new students, saying: “You are not dumb…Maybe everyone in your life thinks it’s high school, then the streets, then prison. But not me…Now don’t be embarrassed, how many of you can read?” Puzzled student Megan Thee Stallion jumps in, explaining, “Miss, this is an honor’s level physics class…this is a STEM school. We all had to take a college-level test to get in here.”  

While we can laugh when stereotypes are lampooned on late night television, in the real world, these biases have consequences for high achieving students. Nationally, first generation college students are significantly under-represented at selective colleges. They are also less likely to graduate than their non-first-generation peers. At Chicago Scholars, we recruit academically ambitious first-generation and low-income students to be the first in their families to complete college and become Chicago’s next generation of leaders. Scholars are highly capable students, with an average high school GPA of 3.6 and many taking rigorous high school courses, including AP classes, IB curriculum, and credit-bearing college courses. More than 90% of Scholars are students of color. 

Through our annual Onsite College and Leadership Forum, Chicago Scholars’ students (whom we call Scholars) are some of the first students in the country to apply and be admitted to the nation’s top universities. Academic match, or – meaning the student’s academic qualifications as compared to a school’s rigor and selectivity, – is a key pillar of our college counseling curriculum. Given our Scholars’ high academic potential, we strongly discourage “under matching,”, meaning attending a college whose academic rigor and admissions standards are significantly below the student’s qualifications. To evaluate Scholars’ college lists, we use an adapted match rating system that was initially developed by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the To and Through Project. The rating takes into consideration the real admissions rates of CPS students at each institution compared to the students’ high school GPA and standardized test scores. 

Those who don’t work in college access spaces might be tempted to ask, “What is the harm in undermatching? Shouldn’t we encourage students to apply where they are guaranteed to get in?” Data on our Scholars’ success demonstrates exactly the harm of undermatching: The more selective the college a Scholar attends, the more likely they are to graduate. 

The following table shows the graduation rate of Chicago Scholars by the competitiveness rating of the college: 

Table 1:  

Nearly all Scholars are a match for “highly competitive” or “most competitive” institutions. While some students may be drawn to less competitive institutions for personal or financial reasons, they are much less likely to be successful there. An analysis by Brookings found this same pattern for first- generation students nationwide. While first-generation students at all types of institutions had lower graduation rates than their non-first gen peers, the graduation gap between the two groups grows wider as schools grow less selective.  

Undermatching also increases the risk that a student will transfer or stop out entirely, making it much less likely they will graduate on –time: 83% of Scholars who remain at one institution graduate with a Bachelor’s degree within 6 years, compared to just 39% of those who transfer. 

Table 2: 

Our data show that few Scholars transfer out of academic match or reach institutions. Yet the risk of a transfer increases the less rigorous the institution. Scholars are least successful at open enrollment institutions, particularly 2-year colleges. Most Scholars who begin at a 2-year institution do not earn a Bachelor’s or even Associate’s degree. Instead, these students – many of whom succeeded in college-level coursework throughout high school – stop out of higher education entirely. 

There are several causes underling this trend. In general, more competitive institutions have higher overall graduation rates. These institutions are also more likely to have endowments and other financial resources to support low-income students. It is also possible that students see more value in the coursework and on-campus experience of more competitive institutions.  

Our data also demonstrate that Scholars are more successful when they leave home. Overall, 81% of those who attend college out of state graduate on time, compared to 72% who remain in Illinois. That is why we encourage all Scholars to apply to at least one out of state college. An important factor behind this gap is that Scholars are unlikely to undermatch out of state. Those who leave Illinois tend to enroll at rigorous colleges, whereas those who stay in Chicago or attend a public university elsewhere in Illinois are likely to undermatch. While leaving home can be challenging, ultimately students are more successful as a result.  

Let’s not be like Nwodim’s substitute in the SNL sketch, whose classist biases limited the potential she saw in each student. That sketch closes with the increasingly vocal students pressing Nwodim’s character on her racist assumptions until finally she pulls the fire alarm to flee the classroom (unlikely for the real-life Nwodim, who holds a STEM degree from University of Southern California). As our Class of 2028 prepares for Onsite this year, we want them to dream big and showcase their talents to the world. Of the more than 600 high school seniors that will interview with colleges at Navy Pier on October 24th, some are sure to be future political leaders, college faculty, c-suite executives, and entrepreneurs. College may be just one step on their leadership journey, but the choices students make this year can vault them to success later in life. Scholars have already demonstrated intelligence, grit, and leadership. Rather than limiting their college options, it is up to us to nurture their dreams. 

Sources:  

• Exploring Equitable Public Higher Education Funding Models in Illinois: Toward Adequately funding Universities and Supporting Students by Frank Fernandez, Xioadan Hu, and Matt Capaldi. https://partnershipfcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PCC_ExploringEquitableReport_Final.pdf 

• Academic Performance and Adjustment of First-Generation Students to Higher Education: A Systematic Review by Maria Jose Lopez, Maria Veronica Santelices, and Carmen Maura Taveras 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2209484#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20their%20persistence,%3B%20Engle%20%26%20Tinto%2C%202008%3B 

• First-Generation College Student Face Unique Challenges by Dick Startz.  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/first-generation-college-students-face-unique-challenges/  

• Here’s what you need to know about SNL’s newest cast member, Ego Nwodim by Esme Douglas. https://ew.com/news/2018/09/21/snl-ego-nwodim/ 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2209484#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20their%20persistence,%3B%20Engle%20%26%20Tinto%2C%202008%3B 

Hello! My name is Andrea Regina Esperon, and I am a rising Junior at Boston University majoring in Public Relations (Class of 2025).

I started my journey at Chicago Scholars as a Scholar. Within my first couple weeks in the program, I learned one important lesson that has stayed with me ever since. My Year 1 Mentors taught me to always seize an opportunity thrown at you, even if it means taking risks. Their lesson that ‘life is too short’ really stood out to me and I’ve adopted this mentality in everything I do. During my senior year of high school, I was a part of the Chicago Scholars Ambassadors program, and formed part of the social media and marketing committee. As a member, I learned how to use media and technology to promote the Chicago Scholars program to the Chicagoland community.

When researching internships, I was looking for something that embodied the same level of collaboration and intensity as the Ambassador program. That is when I found the Chicago Scholars Mentorship and Coaching Internship. Being an Intern, this past summer has taught me how to navigate a professional work environment, the importance of team building, and the power of the Chicago Scholars Core Values. I’ve learned how to use my creativity to benefit and build relationships between the Scholars, Mentors, and Staff.

Chicago Scholars has been a huge part of my life. To name a few, the Mentors and program has provided me with much needed support in the college application process and transition to college. I am beyond grateful for all my experiences and cannot wait for what the future of Chicago Scholars holds.

Congratulations to the class of 2023. For those like me, completing undergrad marks the ending of a 20-year academic odyssey. On one hand, I am elated at the achievement. On the other hand, I mourn the end of my academic career.

Graduating from college feels different than completing other grades. From middle school to high school there was always a clear objective: Make it to the next grade. College also has a clear objective: Graduate and get a diploma. For most of my life, there has always been a clear purpose. Everything was already laid out for me. The path to take was already paved.

If you are anything like me, school has been the single most important task of your life.  I have always been good at academics, and I am not sure if I am good at anything else. The opportunity to explore the different things life has to offer was never presented to me in short, school has been my life, and now that it is over, I feel like I have lost my purpose.

As a first-generation student, graduating college is seen as the pinnacle of achievement. I have always relied on the encouragement from my family, friends, and community to achieve what none of them had before. Now that I have graduated, I am going further than anyone in my family.  As I reflect on these things a realization hits me: graduating undergrad represents the completion of a 20-year phase in my life. A phase in which I relied on authority to guide my action. Now I must take accountability for my own life, and the weight of that responsibility scares me.

I believe it is important to embrace fear and change. Achieving a lifelong dream is an accomplishment. It is also valid to mourn the ambition, drive, and direction it gave you. Purpose does not have to stay the same. Sometimes things feel pointless, like just floating in the middle of nowhere. In moments like this it is important to give yourself grace and compassion. Start small, perhaps your purpose today is to apply for three jobs daily, make breakfast, take a walk, spend time with loved ones. They may not seem as grand as graduating college, but it is important to take time and celebrate your victory before going to the next step. Even if it feels like you are just going through the motions, each action you take will bring you to the next phase in life. For now, my purpose is to express the highs and lows of post-grad life.

Purpose is more than a task to complete. Graduating college is more than getting a diploma. Focus, drive, dedication, and discipline are all important skills that were practiced there. Make a list of the skills you have gained. The lessons you have learned and the revelations you have made about yourself and the world. Amidst these things is the recipe for your new purpose.

Chicago Scholars’ dedication to uplifting and aiding first-generation and people of color (POC) Scholars in Chicago is most visible through their pre-college initiatives. As a Scholar, I can say that the college application and decision process can be quite strenuous, but I was fortunate to have my CS mentors and staff with me every step of the way, even after I matriculated at Denison University.

During the academic year, it is easy to get lost in the hustle of studying and extracurricular activities and forget about applying for internships or summer pre-professional programs. Internships during undergrad are essential, as they can help determine what career paths are open to you after college. As a first year student, it was even harder for me to look into internships because I had switched my major. With a plethora of internships and programs out there, it can be hard to narrow down your options and determine what makes the most sense for you. An example of this is deciding between paid or unpaid internships, relocation, or notable vs. lesser-known internships. 

It’s important to think about internships early in your academic career. The CS team introduced me to Emerge, a unique paid internship that builds on pre-existing soft and hard skills, to simulate the possible challenges they may face in the workplace, through unique activities like Growth Labs at partner companies, resume and interview workshops, and 1:1 coaching. Emerge gives students the opportunity to network with leaders in a variety of industries. As a Scholar, I felt drawn to Emerge’s promise of skill building in a professional environment. I have learned transferable skills in the marketing field that I intend to apply throughout my college experience and eventually in my legal practice. 

Jermal Ray, a rising sophomore studying architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, joined Emerge to seek opportunities for personal and community growth. Being part of a driven community of young people and supportive mentors is a highlight for him. “Emerge unleashed the passion to set new frontiers, opening doors to awareness, expertise and a strong entrepreneurial spirit through myself.”  Jermal states. This summer, Jermal is interning with The Walsh Group, a leading company in the construction sector. Jermal plans to use his experiences from this summer to add onto his professional and personal goals of growth and aspirations of being a CEO in the future. 

Lily Gonzalez is a rising sophomore at Oberlin College, majoring in mathematical economics with a minor in statistical modeling and a concentration in business. Lily said she joined Emerge because “as a first-generation student, exposure to different internships and opportunities come rarely and I felt that the Emerge program would be a great way to help bridge that gap.” Lily is currently interning at Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC., an alternative real estate firm headquartered in Chicago. Throughout the program, Lily gained technical skills, added to her resume, found a mentor, and built relationships across a variety of industries and sectors while building meaningful friendships and corporate partnerships. Lily recently pitched a capstone to a panel of judges, where her group (IOR Solutions) was chosen to present at the Emerge closing ceremony! 

Emerge is part of the CS mission to guarantee that all Scholars will have an internship before they graduate from college. Programs such as Emerge contribute to personal and economic growth in minority communities, through internships which are essential for increasing your options in the job search after college. Studies have shown that students are 15% less likely to face unemployment post-grad when taking part in an internship during undergrad. By providing access to internships, Emerge helps close the opportunity gap and create a more equitable future.  

Zandie Lawson is a 2023 Emerge Scholar and a member of the Chicago Scholars Class of  2026. She is currently a student at Denison University.