About - Oliver Scholars

/ About

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

What We Do

• Provide skills, strategies, and resources for students to navigate the independent school admissions process, including the SSAT exam.
• Prepare scholars for high school by equipping them with the academic and social tools that ensure success in independent school environments.
• Foster a sense of community among cohorts with leadership activities, community building opportunities, and service projects.
• Provide guidance and support to Scholars in high school and college.

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"When I tell people about Oliver, sometimes they don’t understand how it could be that great. But it actually is -- and more!"

Reinaldo Maristany

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

“It is nice to know that when I think about my life without Oliver, it’s only in my imagination.”

Ariana Jacobs

BARNARD COLLEGE

"Thanks to the support and guidance of Oliver Scholars, I have been able to cultivate the essential skills and confidence required to excel academically and reach my aspirations."

Jerelyn

OLIVER SCHOLAR

“Oliver’s continued support through SIP program and their high school and college counseling has helped me continue to grow and thrive at my institutions of higher learning. I’m proud to call myself an Oliver Scholar wherever I find myself.”

David Gonzalez

OLIVER SCHOLAR

"While other education systems usually erase our undeniable impact, Oliver Scholars bolstered our confidence in ourselves by teaching us about the change Latinx and Black students brought upon the world and preparing us for the hardships faced at elite and predominantly white institutions."

Koi

OLIVER SCHOLAR

Our History

Celebrating 1985 to 2023 and beyond!

1985

September: First Oliver Scholar Interview Weekend hosted by Brooklyn Friends School. Admissions representatives from the ten member independent schools interview candidates for 30 minutes, followed by parent and group interviews.

1986

July: All students matriculating into independent schools completed typing and word processing skills program at Betty Owen Secretarial Systems.

1987

September: Forty five students matriculate into independent schools. November: Oliver hosts its first Thanksgiving Holiday potluck dinner followed by a dance at the Plex at Columbia University.

1989

June-August: Oliver Scholars completing their junior year of prep school go on first college trips hosted by The Program. Trips included NYC (Columbia, Barnard, NYU), New England (Wesleyan, Yale, Brown, Harvard, MIT), Washington DC (American, GW, Georgetown, and Howard), and Middle States (Haverford, Princeton, Swarthmore, UPenn). September: Fifty five students matriculated into independent schools.

1990-1993

Between 1990 and 1993, over 230 students matriculated into independent schools and over 164 matriculated into colleges.

2003

Scholar Immersion Programs (SIP) was created.