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Prep for Prep

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Prep for Prep is a leadership development and gifted education program dedicated to expanding educational access to students of color.[2] The organization's programs are targeted toward high achieving New York City minority students and helps with scholarships placement into many of the most respected secondary schools and colleges in the country.[3]

Prep for Prep
Information
Type
Established1978
FounderGary Simons
Leadership
  • Ruth Jurgensen (CEO)
  • Sharon Madison (COO)
  • Jackson Collins (Executive Director)
  • Rebecca Ervey (Director of Strategy)
SloganSuccess is Better Shared
Alumni3,000+
Board Chairs
  • Lisa Smith Cashin, Trustee
  • Margaret Morse, AC
  • Jake Chasan, AC
Chairs Emeritus
BenefactorsGoldman Sachs Foundation
Financial Aid$40mm (annual grant)[1]
Websitehttps://prepforprep.org

The New York Times has referred to the Prep for Prep program as the "ticket to the top [through] admission to one of the nation's premier colleges."[4]

History

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Prep for Prep was founded in 1978 by Gary Simons, a public-school teacher in the Bronx,[5] starting with 25 students from diverse and low-income backgrounds[6] and three teachers known as "Contingent I". During Prep for Prep's first year, eleven independent schools committed places for Prep students and 22 students matriculated from those schools. Within a year of inception, the acceptance rate had fallen to 12%.[7]

In 1988, Prep for Prep expanded its mission to independent boarding schools, launching a program known as "PREP 9" under the leadership of Peter Bordonaro.[8][9] PREP 9 helps the brightest and most hardworking minority students in New York City and the metropolitan areas of Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut prepare for success at leading independent boarding schools across the Northeast. The selection process begins in the 7th grade, when students apply to PREP 9 for entry into boarding schools in 9th grade. Space in the PREP 9 program is reserved for students who demonstrate very strong academic performance and high financial need, and as such, PREP 9 considers family income and financial assets as part of its application process.

In 1989, Contingent I students complete undergraduate studies,[10] graduating from Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Northwestern, Oberlin, The University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton.[11]

In 2000, the Goldman Sachs Foundation granted Prep for Prep over $1mm to expand the organization’s program and prepare significantly larger numbers of high potential underrepresented youth for selective colleges.[12]

In 2002, founder Gary Simons was succeeded by Aileen Heffernan.

By 2011, over 1,000 Prep for Prep students had graduated from college. and by 2018, over the number had increased to more than 3,000 Prep for Prep alumni.

In 2020, the Board of Trustees selected Ruth Jurgensen to succeed Aileen Heffernan after 25 years leading the organization.[13] In 2023, in partnership with advertising firm TBWA\Chiat\Day, Prep for Prep introduced a new slogan: "Success is Better Shared."[14]

Today, the Prep for Prep community includes over 3,500 students and alumni, having matriculated 45 contingents since inception. Each year, Prep for Prep hosts a charity gala called the "Lilac Ball" which is regularly attended by famous patrons.[15][16][17]

Student selection

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Each year, a citywide "talent search" selects about 125 minority students, including 95 fifth graders and 30 sixth graders.[18] To qualify for recruitment, 5th graders must have a scaled score of 330 or above on the English Language Arts (ELA) test administered during their 4th grade school year, or have scored in the 90th percentile on any standardized reading test administered in that school year. 6th graders must have a scaled score of 335 (90th percentile) or above on the ELA exam administered during their 5th grade school year.[19] Applicants then undergo a series of interviews and further standardized testing to determine admission into the program. Fifth and sixth graders are admitted into Prep for Prep and earn spots at leading day schools in New York City.

Program

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Admitted students undergo a rigorous 14-month academic course known as the "Preparatory Component"[20] before their sixth or seventh-grade year, which includes two intensive seven-week summer sessions and after-school Wednesday and all-day Saturday classes during the intervening school year. Courses range from History, Algebra, Pre-Algebra, Research, Latin, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Literature, Writing Conference, and Science, which includes biology, physics, and chemistry, Invictus, a sociology and psychology-based course, PIMAS (Problems and Issues in Modern American Society), term paper research, and newly added Computer Science in 2021. An average of 60 percent of students successfully complete this program and are placed in schools chosen from among three dozen leading New York City independent schools. These 36 schools commit places, especially for Prep for Prep students, and almost $12 million annually in scholarships. Throughout the program and past high school graduation, students also receive personal and academic counseling, college counseling, and career counseling, and participate in leadership and community development activities as well as parties and special trips for alumni.

The program continues to help the students post-college with placement into positions at prestigious firms such as Goldman Sachs, Google,[21] and J.P. Morgan Chase[22] through corporate partnerships designed to expand diverse talent pools on Wall Street, in engineering, and across business.[23]

School placement

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Secondary school placement

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Prep for Prep day students are commonly placed at some of the nation's leading independent schools as Allen-Stevenson School, Berkeley Carroll, The Brearley School, The Browning School, The Buckley School, Calhoun, Chapin School, Collegiate, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, Dalton, Fieldston, Friends Seminary, Horace Mann, The Kew Forest School, Marymount School of New York, Nightingale-Bamford, Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Riverdale Country School, Rye Country Day School, Grace Church School, Sacred Heart, Saint Ann's, St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School, St. Bernard's School, Spence, Town, Trevor Day School, Village Community School, Hackley, Trevor Day, and Trinity School NYC.

PREP 9 boarding students commonly enroll at prestigious schools such as Choate, Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, Taft, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, The Hill School, Loomis Chaffee, and Middlesex.

College placement

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Prep for Prep works with students to help with placement into top-tier universities such as colleges in the Ivy League and NESCAC. Students have regularly attended Amherst College, Brown University, Cornell University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania (including the Wharton School), Princeton University, Stanford University, Yale University.[24]

Notable Alumni

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Prep for Prep has had numerous notable people associated with the organization since its inception, including judges, attorney generals, actors, educators, entrepreneurs, and bankers.

Notable students

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The following people were students of the Prep for Prep or PREP 9 programs:

Notable faculty & staff

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The following people have served on the faculty or as staff members at Prep for Prep:

Notable board members

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The following people have served on the Prep for Prep board as trustees or associate council members:[34][35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Prep for Prep FAQ". Prep for Prep. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Prep for Prep High School Students Spend Four Weeks Discovering The Art World At Sotheby's". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "In The Press". Education Week. September 25, 1985. ISSN 0277-4232. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Nussbaum, Debra (January 5, 2003). "Trying To Narrow The Racial Divide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Prep for Prep: Spotlight on Education". Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
  6. ^ "Prep Schools and Minorities: A Place at the Table". The New York Times. July 7, 1993. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Brozan, Nadine (December 2, 1979). "Innovative Program Prepares Minority Pupils for Prep School; 300 Recommended, 37 Chosen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  8. ^ Abdullah, Halimah (July 16, 1997). "Class Notes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Supporting Letter" (PDF). United States Department of Justice. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Carmody, Deirdre; Times, Special To the New York (October 26, 1988). "EDUCATION; The Cream Of the Crop Gets a Lift To College". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "About Prep for Prep". Prep for Prep. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Goldman Sachs | Press Releases". Goldman Sachs. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  13. ^ Cunningham, Vinson (March 2, 2020). ""Prep for Prep and the Fault Lines in New York's Schools."". The New Yorker.
  14. ^ "Prep for Prep | Success Is Better Shared". www.prepforprep.org. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  15. ^ Heyman, Marshall. "The Lilac Ball, and Celebrating a Singer Who Couldn't Sing". WSJ. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "Scene Last Night: A-Rod, Teixeira, Blitzer, Narcisse, Sawhney". Bloomberg.com. June 9, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "SNAPS: Financial leaders raise more than $2M to fight cancer". Crain's New York Business. July 18, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  18. ^ "Prep for Prep and the Fault Lines in New York's Schools". The New Yorker. February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Prep for Prep Web Site". Archived from the original on June 6, 2004. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
  20. ^ "Prep for Prep". The White House. September 30, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Build for Everyone - Google Careers". careers.google.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (August 23, 2013). "A Chance at Learning". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  23. ^ Alexander, Reed. "These 4 young people are working to make Wall Street more inclusive by mentoring and empowering others". Business Insider. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "Prep for Prep | College Guidance". www.prepforprep.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  25. ^ "Prep's First Judge Appointed". Prep for Prep. August 26, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  26. ^ "Apple TV". Apple TV. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  27. ^ "Rob Brown throws touchdown with 'The Express'". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  28. ^ Ogunsola, Jennifer (April 3, 2018). "I Got A Story To Tell: Angela Yee Got the Juice". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  29. ^ Conn, Megan (February 23, 2021). "Jabari Brisport Eyes Leadership Role on Families in New York Senate". The Imprint. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  30. ^ "2008 Annual Report". Prep for Prep. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  31. ^ Coster, Naima (2017). Halsey Street. Little A. ISBN 978-1-5039-4117-5.
  32. ^ a b "Family Ties: 2015 Prep for Prep Annual Report by Prep for Prep - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  33. ^ Wong, Alia (September 22, 2017). "The Most Polarizing Education Reformer in New York City". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  34. ^ "Associates Council". www.prepforprep.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  35. ^ "Board of Trustees". www.prepforprep.org. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  36. ^ Yadav, Shweta (July 21, 2023). "Wahl Street Season 3 Release Date: Is Netflix Giving Fans Another Season Of Their Beloved Show?". Wbsche.org. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  37. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. June 10, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  38. ^ vCard, Download. "Martin Lipton". WLRK. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  39. ^ "Third Point's Dan Loeb – shrewd trader from a young age". Financial Times. May 14, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  40. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov. October 1, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  41. ^ "John Vogelstein - Team - Warburg Pincus". warburgpincus.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
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