Low-Income Students Deserve Better Than the Typical College Fair. Here’s What We Did Instead

Breaking Down Barriers to College Access

Most college fairs ask students to come to them. Ours did the opposite – bringing 40+ colleges directly into our community.

At Apex for Youth, we’re always thinking about how to make opportunities more accessible for our community. This year, we hosted our first-ever college fair at the Apex office, transforming a familiar space into a hub of connection, exploration, and possibility.

For many students, the college application process can feel overwhelming due to limited access. Visiting multiple campuses, attending college fairs, or even speaking with admissions representatives isn’t always feasible. By bringing together over 40 colleges, including CUNY, SUNY, and private institutions, we created a space where students could explore a wide range of options all at once.

In just one afternoon, students were able to ask questions, compare schools, and build meaningful connections with admissions representatives, experiences that might otherwise take months to access.

“College fairs can help low-income students discover colleges, compare options, and ask direct questions about affordability in one place. Research also suggests that underserved students often have less access to college exploration resources at school, including college fairs themselves, which makes well-designed outreach especially important.” Assumpta Galang, Associate Director of College and Career Success

What made the event especially impactful was the presence of Apex alumni, who returned to share their experiences and advice. Hearing directly from students currently attending colleges like Columbia University, New York University, and Hunter College made the path forward feel more tangible. These weren’t distant success stories; they were relatable voices who once stood in the same place.

Community Partners Expanding the Circle of Support

We also partnered with community organizations and scholarship programs to ensure students and families had access to resources beyond admissions. Partners included The Posse Foundation, Reading Partners, Hamilton-Madison House, Scholarship Plus, AtomicMind Foundation, Greater NY Chinese Dollars for Scholars, and Garden of Hope. Together, they provided support ranging from financial aid guidance to scholarship opportunities and academic enrichment, helping students better understand the full landscape of support available to them.

Our goal in planning this college fair was to expand awareness of post-secondary pathways, build confidence in the application process, and strengthen connections across New York City’s college access community. Hearing students share that they felt more prepared and more empowered after the event affirmed just how important spaces like this can be.

Not every student has the opportunity to visit dozens of college fair events, and large-scale college fair events can be overwhelming. By bringing colleges into a space where students already feel comfortable and intentionally making it feel like a community event, we helped make that exploration more accessible and more personal with staff who can support with translation.

At Apex for Youth, this work is part of a larger commitment. Our Mga Programa sa High School support students in exploring college and career pathways, developing real-world skills, and gaining the confidence to shape their futures.

We hope this is just the beginning. Our vision is for every young person in our community to see Apex as a trusted resource as they navigate what comes next. and for partners across the city to recognize the drive, potential, and promise within our youth.

We’re deeply grateful to the colleges, universities, and community partners who made this event possible.

Thank You to Our College and University Partners

Thank you to Alfred University, Babson College, Bard College, Barnard College, Binghamton University, Brooklyn College and the Brooklyn College Immigrant Student Success Office, Bucknell University, CUNY BMCC, Fordham University, HEOP at The New School, Hunter College, Long Island University, Macaulay Honors College, NYADI: The College of Transportation Technology, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, St. John’s University, SUNY Farmingdale State College, SUNY Onondaga Community College, SUNY Oswego, the University at Buffalo, the University of Mount Saint Vincent, and the University of Pennsylvania for showing up, sharing your time, and investing in our students’ futures.