Outdream. Outdo. Outshine

Oliver Scholars

Mission

Oliver Scholars prepares high-achieving Black and Latino students from underserved New York City communities for success at top independent schools and prestigious colleges. We provide crucial support for our Scholars so they can realize their full potential and ultimately give back to the city, the nation, and the world.

Founded in 1984, Oliver Scholars is distinctive among access programs for its commitment to providing transition support for the whole family, developing students’ social-emotional skills, and instilling an ethos of giving back. The Oliver experience includes up to 10 years of one-on-one support, after-school and summer coursework, and pre-career training.

A message from our CEO

Approximately $6 million in financial aid is awarded to Scholars each year by our partner schools

91% of Scholars in the Class of 2018 were accepted to a U.S. News & World Report top-100 college or university

100% of our Scholars graduate from high school

96% of Scholarssay they feel more academically prepared because of Oliver

Historically, more than 30% of Scholarshave attended an Ivy League University

Scholar nominations

The deadline to nominate a student to be an Oliver Scholar is in February. The process is competitive: In 2017-18, Oliver received close to 1,200 nominations for only 100 spots.

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Get Involved

Your involvement in Oliver Scholars will foster the development of our next generation of change-makers, thought leaders, and trailblazers.

Programs

We provide free wraparound support for exceptional students from middle- and low-income families in New York. Oliver’s cutting-edge, multi-year curriculum is comprised of academic enrichment, real-world learning opportunities, leadership skills development, and a focus on community service.

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Admissions

Our admissions process focuses on identifying talented and motivated students who will make the most of the Oliver opportunity. We invite nominations from high-achieving Black and Latino students in seventh grade from throughout the five boroughs of New York, and in fourth grade from Districts 4, 5, 6, and 7.

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