Taking the first step

Where should I look for money for college? How do I dress for an interview? What will make my college application stand out? What courses should I take to prepare for college? This is a small sampling of the questions heard from high school students and their parents in attendance at YSI’s annual College Admissions, Financial Aid and Career Planning Workshop.

The workshop is one of YSI’s core programs and is designed to prepare students and their parents for the initial phase of a secondary education. It is part of a comprehensive college prep approach that includes college tours, Princeton Model Congress and SAT Preparation.

The all day event featured a keynote speaker, various panels of parents, college students and professionals and presentations on admissions requirements, financial aid and scholarships. The keynote speaker for the April event was Trenton native Dr. Jacqueline Grimes, M.D. The product of a single parent home in Trenton’s housing projects, Dr. Grimes explained how she survived a difficult childhood with her spirit and ambitions intact and how the poverty and despair that pervaded her neighborhood proved to be the impetus for her to pursue a career in medicine.

Jacqueline graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University.  She went on to receive her medical degree from UMDNJ- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.  She remained at Robert Wood Johnson to complete her residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was determined to improve the high infant mortality rate, lack of prenatal care and high prevalence of HIV in the black community.  Committed to bridging the gap of inequity in medicine, with a mission to improve the quality of care and obstetrical outcomes in high risk populations, she will complete her fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine (High Risk Obstetrics) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in June 2009. 

While the keynote speaker changes each year, a talented group of four presenters has remained fairly constant. L’Oreal USA’s Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Edward W. Bullock provides a rousing career exploration presentation that gets students thinking about what it means to be a professional. Mr. Bullock is also a regular contributor to The Black Collegian magazine. He was joined this year by Mr. Robert Alston from The College of New Jersey and Michael Hannon from Princeton University. Both gentlemen volunteer their time and expertise to provide valuable, first-hand information on college admissions and financial assistance procedures.

Mr. Bullock offered this observation. “For over 15 years I have witnessed more than a thousand young people participate in the college admissions, financial aid and career-planning workshops. I have been fortunate to lead the career-planning session, where participants learn about job preparation interview skills and careers in the 21st century. This program affords students the unique opportunity to speak to adults who have made the successful transition from high school to college to the world of work.”

Panelists
Michael Troutman, Shenette Grey, Valerie Hedgpeth, Nykeya Tibbs, Marc McKithen, Les Summie