"Just saying you’re going to apply isn’t enough" by Adam Torres, MEChA de Yale, Alum. '06

"Just saying you’re going to apply isn’t enough" By Adam Torres, MEChA de Yale, Alum. '06

It has been approximately one year since I graduated from Yale University with my BA in Sociology and concentration in Political Science. Since graduating, I was hired as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University. Throughout this last year, I’ve been fortunate enough to be the lead officer responsible for Southern California admissions to the University, as well as the face of Yale to countless others. In my tenure, I have read a thousand or so applications, and have seen intimately the process of college admissions at one of the Northeast’s countless prestigious institutions. In my time, what have I come to notice? A lack of Latino applicants.

As an organization, the East Coast Chicano Student Forum aims to devote itself to the recognition and representation of Latinos in Higher Education. We work together to support ourselves and each other as we show not only our colleges and universities, but the rest of the country our presence and progress here in the Northeast United States. We continually speak of our small numbers, though, but show that we, as Latinos, are still formidable and should be acknowledged for our contributions. We also aim to increase our population, not only to build strength for our causes, but also because of our belief in the power of education and what experiences like ours at these wonderful institutions can do for our communities. As result, we work to spread word of our communities in the Northeast to our home communities and those communities similar to ours. And yet, after all we do, we still find that our community at our colleges is small.

Why? The answer to building up numbers does not only lie in making sure people know about us. Yes, indeed, it is an issue to make sure that schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton go to our communities and present these opportunities to more than just the traditional feeders. However, that is only part of the battle. Many young Latinos know about the possibilities. Now the issue is to get them to follow through and put themselves out there before the admissions committees. It isn’t enough to simply get our colleges and universities to visit. We, as invested third parties, must motivate the next generation of college students to apply. We know the process. We know what we did. More importantly, we know what we did NOT do. We must share our experiences, and encourage those we speak with to apply and then be assured that they will follow through. The issue with numbers remains in the last part of the statement. Many of those feel comfortable with our colleges and are often inspired to apply, but at last second, allow fear to keep them from applying. Yes, admission rates are intimidating. Yes, these students will be leaving home and traveling up to three thousand miles to attend school. Yes, there might be a need to pay for the experience. However, more often than not, these high schoolers, and sometimes their parents, teachers, and counselors, do not see that it is an experience worth having. Beyond it all, many discount themselves before the process begins. As such, I, and several others who are dying to see them in the Admissions Committee Room, will never get the opportunity, as this next generation denies itself the same opportunity we work to show them.

To conclude, we must continue what we have started. As an organization, and as individuals invested in a strong Latino presence in higher education, we must continue to hold our colleges and universities accountable to our people. We must feel comfortable enough with the efforts of our respective institutions to not only appeal, but admit, matriculate, and GRADUATE these individuals. Our part, though, must be expanded to include the fact that these same people MUST apply. It is the first step. To say it is not enough.