Higher education has long provided a path to upward social mobility and economic opportunity for students across the United States. However, the traditional college admissions process favors certain types of students and can unintentionally screen out talented applicants from diverse backgrounds. Posse Scholarships aim to widen the door of access to elite colleges and universities by selecting dynamic students whose strengths and experiences may otherwise be overlooked. This alternative program focuses on developing student leadership through a team-based model that fosters mutual support, collaboration, and community.
The Origin of Posse Scholarships
The Posse Foundation was founded in 1989 by veteran teacher and social activist Dr. Deborah Bial. As the Dean of Admissions at Brandeis University, Dr. Bial observed that traditional admissions criteria often failed to identify motivated students from underrepresented groups who could thrive at selective colleges if given the opportunity and support. She envisioned an alternative model that evaluated applicants holistically based on leadership potential and the unique strengths they could contribute to campus life and the classroom.
Inspired by the Latin term “posse” meaning a group that comes together for a common purpose, Dr. Bial developed the Posse Scholar program to recruit dynamic students in multicultural “posses” or peer support groups. The first Posse class matriculated at Brandeis in 1991. Over the past three decades, the Posse Foundation has expanded to partner with over 60 top-ranked colleges and universities nationwide.
How Posse Scholarships Work
Each year, the Posse Foundation conducts an extensive nationwide search through public high schools in urban areas to identify extraordinary young leaders with academic and leadership potential. Nominees go through a rigorous multi-step selection process, including essays, interviews, and personal recommendations to evaluate their qualities and fit for the program. A select number are then invited to PossePlus, an intensive weekend retreat that allows students to form supportive posses.
Posse scholars receive full-tuition scholarships from their Posse partner colleges and are provided mentoring and support from the Posse Foundation throughout their college careers. However, the real transformative experience comes through posse peer support. Posses live together, take classes together, and collaborate on leadership projects as a unified team. This network of encouragement and accountability is integral to their success in navigating the transition from high school to prestigious colleges.
As posse members move through college together, their peer group becomes like a second family. Students gain confidence from having a ready support system to share challenges and celebrate victories. Past Posse scholars consistently credit their posse “family” as a top factor in their ability to excel both academically and through extracurricular activities at selective universities. With graduation rates far exceeding national averages, the Posse model clearly works.
What Posse Scholarships Accomplish
By widening the doorway to access top universities, Posse Scholarships directly advance the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. According to data from the Posse Foundation, over 90% of Posse Scholars are students of color. Many are also the first in their families to attend college. Through Posse’s innovative approach, talented young leaders from underserved communities gain life-changing opportunities that may have otherwise been denied to them.
Posse Scholars go on to have immense social impact after college graduation. As future leaders and change agents, they bring much-needed perspective and voices to sectors like business, law, medicine, education, technology and government. Having earned credentials from elite institutions, Posse alumni blaze trails as role models who expand what others see as possible. Their diverse accomplishments ripple outward to inspire even greater access and representation across all domains of American society.
Not only do individual scholars benefit – but their presence on campus enriches learning for all. As members of posses excel academically and emerge as campus leaders, they dispel unfair stereotypes while educating others about cultures and backgrounds different than their own. Over time, Posse partner colleges have seen increasing retention and graduation rates among students of color as campus climates grow more welcoming and inclusive. All of this advances the greater public good.
Success Stories and Voices of Posse Scholars
To better understand the Posse experience, we share a few inspiring profiles that illustrate the perseverance, drive, and leadership of Posse scholars:
Cesar
Cesar grew up in Miami helping to care for his younger siblings after experiencing family hardships. Through Posse, he earned a full scholarship to Vanderbilt where he majored in engineering and served as student body president. After graduation, Cesar worked as a management consultant before founding his own nonprofit to expand educational opportunity for underserved youth like him.
Brianna
Living in Chicago, Brianna felt out of place in her predominantly white high school but found empowerment through Posse. She went on to study biochemistry at Northwestern University and pursue a PhD in cancer research. Brianna credits her posse for giving her courage when she felt like an “imposter” and the confidence to keep chasing her dreams.
Alejandro
Coming from East LA, Alejandro was one of few Latinos at Boston College where he joined Posse 10. He became a leader in the campus Latino community while double majoring in psychology and theatre. Alejandro is now an assistant director at Bilingual Foundation of the Arts using the arts to empower youth. He says Posse helped him find community and strength in his identity.
In their own voices, Posse Scholars consistently express gratitude for the opportunities, support networks, and sense of belonging the program unlocked. As with Cesar, Brianna, and Alejandro, their diverse accomplishments demonstrate the triumph of potential over circumstance. Countless more inspirational success stories continue to emerge from Posse’s ripples of positive change.
Technical Perspectives on Posse Scholarship Outcomes
From an analytical viewpoint, Posse’s high graduation rates and scholar achievements speak to the program’s effectiveness on multiple levels:
Persistence and Graduation
National six-year college graduation rates hover around 60%, yet Posse reports figures around 90% consistently across partner institutions. This shows scholars persist at far greater levels with posse encouragement and resources.
Academic Performance
While average SAT/ACT scores are slightly below institutional averages, Posse scholar GPAs equal or exceed peers after the initial transition period. Posses boost adjustment and mutual accountability.
Social and Leadership Development
Scholars immerse fully through posse collaboration and independently emerge as campus leaders. Over 75% take advantage of high-impact experiences like research, study abroad and internships.
Diversifying STEM and High-Demand Fields
Posse promotes access to careers that historically lacked diversity. Nearly half of all scholars major in STEM, with increasing numbers furthering education in medical fields, computer science, engineering and more.
Statistical evidence confirms Posse succeeds in its mission to identify and develop scholars to thrive at top universities through a strengths-based, community-centered approach alternative to traditional admissions. Their accomplishments demonstrate talent exists in all communities when opportunities are equitable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Posse Scholarships
Now that we’ve explored the history, model, and impact of Posse Scholarships in-depth, let’s delve further by addressing some frequently asked questions:
How do I apply for a Posse Scholarship?
Candidates can start by consulting the Posse Foundation website for information on the current application cycle. Posse recruiters vet public high school nominations to select semifinalists for the intensive multi-stage selection process involving essays, interviews, and PossePlus. It’s highly selective but rewards those who persevere.
Which colleges partner with Posse?
Over 60 top liberal arts colleges, universities, and graduate programs partner with Posse across the US, including Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Middlebury, Tufts, Boston College, Brandeis, Chapman, and more. The full list is on Posse’s site and grows each year.
What careers do Posse alumni pursue?
Posse alumni enter all career fields due to their diverse strengths and qualifications from top universities. Common paths include education, law, medicine, business, technology, nonprofit work, science, and public service. Many become leaders and innovators in their industries or start their own successful ventures.
Is Posse only for certain ethnic groups?
While Posse aims to promote diversity and first-generation students, the program is open to all qualified applicants regardless of background. Posse evaluates each candidate holistically based on merits of character, such as leadership, potential impact, and cultural capital, rather than demographics alone.
How can I support the Posse Foundation’s mission?
Individuals and companies can donate through the Posse website to expand the program’s reach and impact. Other ways to help include volunteering as a mentor, sharing information to inspire more applications, advocating for diversity in education policy, or hosting internships for Posse scholars. Every act of support moves the needle toward equity.
