Each admissions cycle, upon receiving their acceptance package for Colgate University, a select group of students is also offered a unique fellowship opportunity. The Office of Undergraduate Scholars (OUS) Program consists of a small cohort of students selected for their academic achievements and is primarily comprised of first generation, low-income college students from underprivileged backgrounds.
Before the start of their first year, these students are invited to participate in a five-week summer program. Over the course of these five weeks, the students take two courses from Colgate professors, helping them transition to the college academic and social environment.
For first-generation students, entering college can be overwhelming. While working part-time to pay for SAT prep, junior Valentina Mejia navigated the college application process largely on her own, receiving only limited guidance from her high school teachers. Following her acceptance into Colgate and OUS, Mejia described her feelings of self-doubt.
“There was a lot of imposter syndrome,” Mejia said. “Was I capable of doing what they were asking me to do?”
Imposter syndrome is a common feeling among OUS students. The purpose of the program is to help students overcome that feeling and provide them with the tools to do so. Mejia cited the relationships she formed with Senior Lecturer in Writing and Rhetoric Jeff Spires as critical to her academic development, leading her to pursue pre-law opportunities such as the University of Virginia Roadmap Scholars Initiative.
For Jatziry Macedo, a junior and member of OUS, the most valuable aspect of OUS has also been the opportunity it provided her to meet professors.
“Having a professor’s connection was crucial to my experience at Colgate University; [they] are the foundation of my college experience,” Macedo said. “One of my minors is Educational Studies — if it were not for Professor Sanya in the Educational Studies department and Professor Hill from Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to explore my interests or minor. Being part of OUS continues to open doors to connect with OUS Alumni and to thrive at Colgate University.”
OUS not only provides students with opportunities to build relationships with faculty, but it also enables them to build a lasting support system with one other. Junior OUS member Kelly Ribeiro described how the program and its members offered her comfort during her stressful move to Colgate as a first-generation student.
“OUS gave me more than an introduction to college life,” Ribeiro said. “It gave me reassurance, community and a true sense of home. It connected me with people who understand both the weight and the pride of being at Colgate, and whose resilience and motivation to succeed continue to inspire me every day.”
Gabriella De Souza, a first-year and member of OUS, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the connections she forged with other scholars and resources on campus.
“Beyond academics, OUS connected me with peers from similar backgrounds who share a deep commitment to their education and personal growth, fostering friendships rooted in mutual encouragement, shared ambition and support,” De Souza said. “These relationships have continued to grow throughout the year, and most of my closest friends are from OUS. Importantly, the program’s support extends well beyond the summer, offering ongoing mentorship, resources and community-building opportunities that reinforce a lasting sense of belonging.”
De Souza described the profound impact OUS has had on her time at Colgate, allowing her to pursue ambitions she once thought were out of her reach.
“OUS has been foundational to my Colgate experience, enriching my academic journey while providing a supportive community that continues to shape my time on campus,” De Souza said. “Being a part of OUS has opened doors to so many opportunities that I never would’ve thought that I could have, and I am grateful to be a part of this community.”
