The Dell Scholars Program: Transforming Futures Through Holistic Support

The Dell Scholars program, established by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, is designed to support students with a strong desire and determination to attend college. Dell Scholars looks at the whole individual, taking into account life experiences and resilience. When selecting its scholars, the program doesn’t focus solely on a student’s academic achievements, but rather holistically on an individual’s life experiences and demonstration of resilience.

Each year, the Dell Scholars program selects up to 500 students who are provided with extensive support throughout their higher education journeys. Scholars receive a $20,000 scholarship, a Dell laptop, access to teletherapy, financial counseling, career coaching, and academic advising. These wraparound resources ensure that scholars have all the necessary tools to obtain their degrees.

Impact on Students’ Lives

The Dell Scholars program aims to support determined young individuals in achieving their goals. The comprehensive support provided by the program has helped over 4,000 graduates excel in various fields, including public service, leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies, law, medicine, and business ownership. These scholars are transforming their own lives by leveraging the opportunities provided through the program and their college education.

Benefits of the Dell Scholars Program

The Dell Scholars program offers numerous benefits designed to support students through their college journeys and beyond.  These benefits include:

• Financial Support: Each scholar receives a $20,000 scholarship to help reduce loans and debt.
• Technology: Scholars are provided with a Dell laptop to assist with their academic work.
• Textbook Credits: Scholars receive vouchers to be used on textbooks for four years.
• Career Resources: Scholars have access to career support and resources to help them transition into the workforce.
• Support Services: The program connects scholars and their families with resources to manage life circumstances.
• Teletherapy: Scholars have access to professional counseling through a teletherapy service.

The Role of Counselors and Advisors

Counselors and advisors play a crucial role in the Dell Scholars program.  Their recommendation is essential for the application to be complete. The insights provided by recommenders help application readers score applicants. Therefore, it’s important for recommenders to provide detailed and honest insights into the applicant’s character, resilience, and potential.

Furthermore, during the selected Dell Scholars’ spring high school terms, the Dell Scholars team works alongside high school counselors to assist scholars in selecting their colleges.

Tips for Applicants

When applying for the Dell Scholars program, students should take their time to thoughtfully respond to the short-answer prompts. These prompts are an opportunity to showcase individuality and unique experiences. Applicants should ensure that their responses are specific, personal, and address all parts of the question. By providing detailed and genuine answers, students can differentiate themselves from other applicants and increase their chances of being selected.

The Dell Scholars program continues to make a significant impact on the lives of students, helping them achieve their dreams. By offering holistic support and focusing on the individual, the program ensures that scholars are well-prepared for success in college and beyond.

When to Apply

The Dell Scholars application opens on October 1,  2024. For more information, please visit dellscholars.org.

GUEST AUTHOR: MORGAN BROOKS, RETENTION OFFICER AT DELL SCHOLARS PROGRAM

This blog is written by guest author Morgan Brooks. Morgan is part of the Dell Scholars team at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Her role as a retention officer is to establish and implement strategies to ensure Dell Scholars graduate from college. Prior to her joining the foundation, Morgan worked with GEAR UP, where she supported cohorts of students through the middle school to high school pipeline. There, she guided students by providing advising, college and career exposure, and college readiness skills. Before her time at GEAR UP, Morgan worked at College Advising Corp’s Advise TX, where she assisted high school students in preparing for college.

Morgan believes in the transformative power of education and its ability to empower individuals to reach their full potential. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.