Preparing students for STEM success in college and beyond is central to BEAM’s mission. This work begins in our middle school summer camps, where students are introduced to problem solving, and continues through high school with enrichment classes that deepen their love of math. We prepare our students further by connecting them to advanced programs, internships, and research opportunities where they can see themselves as mathematicians, scientists and programmers. We organize trips to top colleges and universities so students can envision the reality of a 4-year STEM degree. Then in 12th grade, we provide targeted support around college admissions.
We’re proud to share that 90% of BEAM students attend college, with many—nearly 70%—attending Forbes “Top Colleges.” In 2025, BEAM students are celebrating admissions to dozens of great-fit colleges, including Bucknell, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Pomona, Princeton, UC Berkeley, and Yale. Members of this year's BEAM cohort have been named QuestBridge, Posse, and Simons STEM Scholars, and several are finalists for the prestigious Gates Scholarship.
Preparing Students to Major in STEM
Navigating college admissions is a challenge—often even more so for BEAM students, a vast majority of whom are the first in their families to attend college. As BEAM students face a complex landscape of applications, financial aid, and countless options, BEAM’s college admissions coordinators, Hector (NY) and Yesenia (LA), provide critical guidance.
“There’s so much misinformation out there,” says Hector. “Students hear so many contradictory things from their schools, their friends, their families, and the internet. A big part of my job is counteracting the misinformation by connecting with students and getting them engaged in our college admissions prep as soon as possible.” Yesenia adds: “A lot of what I do is breaking things down into simple terms. With so many of our students being first generation college students, the goal is really to make sure our students and families have the resources they need.”
Hector and Yesenia introduce students to college STEM programs that align with their goals—whether that’s studying civil engineering close to home or pursuing math in a research-focused environment. They encourage students to explore scholarship programs like Posse, Posse STEM, Gates, and QuestBridge, using their deep knowledge to match each student with the right opportunities. They also tap into BEAM’s strong partnership network to open up additional opportunities for students: for example, BEAM’s relationship with the Simons Foundation gives Hector and Yesenia a deep understanding of which students would be a great fit for the Simons STEM Scholars Program at Stony Brook University, leading to multiple BEAM students being accepted to the program. A newer partnership with Bucknell University offers BEAM students key benefits, including financial aid that meets 100% of need, direct access to admissions staff, and ongoing support through Bucknell's Center for Student Access and Success.
Students at BEAM’S College Admissions Prep Retreat at Stony Brook University in June 2024
As the BEAM alumni network grows every year, Hector and Yesenia frequently draw on this strong community to connect prospective students with graduates who can share their experiences and insights. “Preparing students for a STEM major—it’s a great path, but it’s a difficult one,” says Yesenia. “As someone who was a math major in college, I’m aware of how isolating it can be, and how it can often feel intimidating.” Hector and Yesenia know that a wide support network is critical to students’ college success.
Inside a Year of College Admissions at BEAM
DIVING INTO APPLICATIONS IN THE FALL
In August, NY-based students attend College Admissions Prep Week: five days of workshops focused on essays, financial aid, and hearing directly from college admissions officers (this year: Lafayette and Syracuse). This week gets the students’ wheels turning as they begin to think about college applications. LA BEAM students receive the same workshops all through the fall semester.
Fall is also when students can choose to enroll in College Start, BEAM’s support program designed to guide them through the application process. Each student has an initial meeting to talk about their GPA, classes, extracurriculars, and college goals; at these meetings, Hector and Yesenia get a sense of the specific needs of every student. Throughout the rest of the fall, Hector and Yesenia provide personalized support, helping students to finalize their lists of colleges, apply for scholarships, and tackle their personal statements—one of the most daunting parts of the college application process.
FINAL TOUCHES AND FAFSA IN THE WINTER
Throughout the winter, students attend BEAM workshops to put the final touches on their essays and applications and to learn about financial aid; winter is when the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other financial aid forms must be submitted. As students submit their applications through December and January, Hector and Yesenia ensure that each BEAM senior has a strong mix of schools on their list; they recommend that students apply to at least a few schools where students will get 100% of their financial aid needs met. “There are plenty of schools that are 100% needs met that our students may not know about, because they don’t necessarily have a network of adults around them telling them where they went to college,” says Hector. “We give them the tools they need to make good decisions about where they apply.”
SPRINGTIME: ACCEPTANCES ROLLING IN
In mid-March, decisions from colleges and universities start to roll in. As students begin to excitedly share their acceptances with BEAM, Hector and Yesenia continue to check in with students to make sure they’ve received financial aid packages. Hector and Yesenia help students compare all the packages they’ve received—breaking down confusing numbers and helping them understand what’s actually being offered.
Ashley celebrating her QuestBridge Scholarship
Ashley, a BEAM senior, says Yesenia played a key role in her college journey: “Thanks to Yesenia’s endless support, whether she was checking my application essays many times or helping me with financial aid paperwork, I was able to match to Pomona College through the QuestBridge College Match, where I’ll be studying biology,” Ashley says. “Now, I will be able to attend college at one of the best private liberal arts colleges [in the US] without financially burdening my family, and I will only need to continue being the student BEAM has helped me become to succeed.”