Hear directly from Point Scholars and Alumni.
Question: Hi! I applied last year and made it to the semi-finalist round. My test scores are very mediocre, but I have SO many other things going on to speak to my capabilities. Last year when I applied, it was my first year in my doctoral program. This year, my CV is super beefed up, […]
Question: I was looking through the previous Point Scholars and it seems to me that the majority of the students are already college level and have more real world experience than I do. Is it harder to be considered for Point as someone who hasn’t attended college yet? Point Scholar Grace Wickerson responds: Real world experience can […]
By Point Scholar Joan Mosyjowski Going to college gave me the opportunity to build a new life from the ground up, and I am proud of the life I lead now. I have classes that show me new ways to examine the world, as well as the problems in it that fuel my drive to […]
by HSBC Point Scholar Angelique Gonzalez When it comes to allyship in the LGBTQ community, I’ve been tired of hearing, “I’m trying,” “I forgot,” and “Oh, I didn’t know.” I’m not one to side with elitism, but when we’re talking about college students, I feel that there should be little-to-no error on some things, like […]
by Point Scholar Shayle Matsuda Last year, 2015, was a big year. I defended my biology masters’ thesis, became a Point Scholar, and packed up and moved to a tiny island in the middle of the ocean to start my Ph.D. January 2016 marked my second year on testosterone, and as I prepare to dive […]
For many of us, New Years Day is an opportunity for a fresh start. Whether it’s a resolution to be a better, kinder person or a promise to give back more to the community, there is often the impulse to reinvent ourselves in some way. It’s been nearly six years since I ran away from […]
Many of us in the “community” often use the terms LGBTQ out of habit, perhaps stopping to add or subtract letters, but still taking for granted the ideas behind the words. However, throughout history the queer/trans “umbrella” has not only been much wider- it once didn’t exist at all. For example, in what is now […]
There’s a sharp learning curve when going to school at the world’s premier culinary college. “Sharp” isn’t a mixed metaphor in this context. Knives come out fast at the Culinary Institute of America. In fact, a knife kit with an assortment of very sharp blades is the first thing issued to new students upon arrival. […]
Entering my freshman year at Oklahoma State University, I knew one thing was certain: I would try to excel in everything I participated in. Well that’s a nice dream and all, but reality has to kick in at some point. Reality kicked in for me when I realized I had spread myself way too thin […]
On November 14th of this year, I passed a milestone. Although my birthday is in June and receiving my Ph.D. from Harvard University in African American Studies is still years away, Saturday the 14th was a big deal for me. It marked my 10,000th day alive. I realize that 10,000 days is a completely arbitrary […]