Meet our Fellowship Recipients
Alfy
“I was raised by a Dominican family that proudly wore their Columbia t-shirts and baseball caps. Whenever I’d go to campus to visit my tías and tíos (who would be wiping off whiteboards and mopping classroom floors as custodians), I’d envision myself sitting in those classrooms, learning from the world’s greatest minds and leaders.
Two years ago, when I started preparing to apply to business school, admissions consultants laughed at my dream. I was told that my GPA was not Columbia Business School material, but I knew I had what it took to get in. I joined Access to give myself the competitive edge I needed to succeed in the MBA application process. Eric and the Access team believed in me, and took a risk on me when no one else did. I was ecstatic when I awarded The Access Fellowship. The Access team educated me on my personal brand, coached me, and gave the boost of confidence I needed to move forward with my dream of going to Columbia Business School.
I’m now proud to say that during the Fall of 2021, the Columbia legacy will remain in the Hernandez family, albeit from the vantage point I dreamed of as a kid when I start my MBA at CBS!”
Brandon
“4,463 – the number of days I spent on active duty as an Air Force pilot in support of our nation’s defense. I’m proud of that service, but my family and I decided that it was time to hang up the uniform. I knew that I still wanted to serve others but in a different capacity. An MBA would give me the skills necessary to smooth that transition.
By not pursuing the well-trodden path to the airlines, I found myself without many folks to lean on as I started the MBA application process. The Access Fellowship provided me with the resources to effectively tell my story and the support I needed to keep pushing when I was running on fumes.
During the Fall of 2021, I am excited to be attending the Yale School of Management whose mission to educate leaders for business and society resonated deeply with me as I aim to create positive social impact during my next chapter.”
Rocio
“Growing up in the low-income community of East Los Angeles, I experienced the challenges of being a first-generation student. I achieved my mother’s dream to make it to college, but my GPA suffered due to imposter syndrome and financial constraints.
Three years ago, I decided to be the first in my family to attend business school, yet doubted my abilities. The Access Fellowship initially caught my eyes because of the accessible admission resources, but I was blown away by the community that I was a part of. I realized that the Fellows were collaborative, the members of my learning team prepped one another, and Eric provided the tough love that built my confidence.
Fast forward a few months, I am happy to say that I was awarded a Consortium (full-tuition) Fellowship to my top school! As cliché as this sounds – Access made my dream a reality!”
James
“As a former foster youth, I was adopted at an early age and raised by two loving parents. Wanting to be the first in my family to attend and graduate college, I enrolled at West Valley Community College and transferred to UC Berkeley, which is where I obtained my BA. Following undergrad, I was awarded the Rackham Merit Fellowship and pursued my MA at the University of Michigan. As a MA student, I took electives at Ross School of Business and was determined to one day get my MBA.
After being waitlisted at a couple of top business schools, I came across the Access Fellowship. I knew I had the persistence to get into a top program but wanted to continue my re-application journey with a cohort of fellows who come from diverse backgrounds and share similar struggles.
The Access team took a gamble on accepting me when other schools had recently waitlisted me. This gave me the confidence and support needed to stick to my goal of getting into business school. During the Fall of 2021, I’m proud to say that I’ll be headed back to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to start my MBA at Michigan Ross; Go Blue!”
Susan
“During my sophomore year of high school, I first came to learn about “college” and its promises of financial security. As a Korean American immigrant from a low-income family that was barely sustaining a living above the poverty line, through its small dry cleaning business, I poured all my efforts into school in a desperate attempt to obtain an academic scholarship for college and change my family’s financial circumstances.
I miraculously received a full ride to UCLA and experienced four truly transformational years in undergrad, which inspired me to continue my educational journey and further advance my career by pursuing an MBA. Thanks to the tremendous support I received from the Access Fellowship through their personalized resources and strategic approach to MBA admissions, I will be matriculating at Harvard Business School in August of 2021, where I will prepare myself to lead a career dedicated to serving the small business community.”