OSSE Scholars at Syracuse University: The Start of a Friendly College Journey

Story by Jordan Rouse. Photo by Jessica Rodriguez. Students at Syracuse University, from left to right: Will Rosa, Jordan Rouse, Tyler McConville, Alexander Torres, Luke Melcher, Josef Korich, and Jessica Rodriguez.

OSSE Scholars is a scholarship program that allows eligible sophomores and juniors who display a desire to go to college a ‘mock college experience.’ This encompasses living at a college for four weeks during the summer and taking college classes to get a taste of the real experience. Scholars who are eligible to enroll in the OSSE Scholars program have to write an essay comparing two desired colleges offered by OSSE.. Their application essays are reviewed and, if the scholar is accepted, they are matched with a college based on their essay. After being accepted into the OSSE cohort, students then have to complete more steps in order to get accepted into the college itself. Once accepted, they move on to choosing their courses.

I personally decided to write about Duke University and Syracuse University in my essay and OSSE matched me with Syracuse University. This experience did not disappoint. Over my four weeks at Syracuse, I took part in college classes and got to experience college life. I built great friendships with students from around the world and I also earned college credits from this experience. 

I selected a sociology course and a coding course. I learned a lot from these courses and they helped me prepare for college itself, as well as for my return to my junior year in high school. I definitely enjoyed my four weeks at Syracuse and I look forward to doing OSSE Scholars again next summer.

Jordan Rouse is a junior at Friendship Collegiate Academy.