In The New York Times Magazine cover story, Paul Tough addressed the obstacles facing disadvantaged students head on.
“If you want to help low-income students succeed, it’s not enough to deal with their academic and financial obstacles. You also need to address their doubts and misconceptions and fears. To solve the problem of college completion, you first need to get inside the mind of a college student.”
We would go one step further and say that, to increase diversity on campuses, you need to get inside the mind of a high school student. And that requires a partnership between colleges and organizations in the communities where students live.
For low-income and first-generation students, just deciding to apply to a competitive college is a big step.
At Bowdoin, recruitment of these students is both a priority and a challenge. Students need to see themselves as rising professionals. They need to believe that they can adjust to environments that are more homogenous and wealthier than they have ever experienced. They need to know that they are capable of writing application essays, handling interviews professionally and completing the complex financial aid process — frequently with minimal input from parents.
Students aren’t born with this knowledge. Wealthier students learn these lessons over many years and find countless opportunities to practice the communication, self-advocacy and adaptability skills that are necessary for success.
