Landmark writing platform ‘Outline’ launches to help underperforming Minority Students level up to Higher Education
Outline IT is proud to announce the launch of its new and groundbreaking writing platform designed to empower underperforming, minority students and advance their access to higher education.
Outline is the brainchild of 29 year old entrepreneur, Sydney Montgomery, daughter of military and Jamaican parents, and a first-generation graduate from Princeton and Harvard Law School. Foregoing a high-flying law career, Sydney instead founded an admissions consultancy which grew into Barrier Breakers®, Inc. a 501c3 nonprofit which has helped thousands of students - the majority first-generation and minority students - achieve placements and full-ride scholarships with the country's top law schools and colleges.
“Strong writing can be one of the most significant factors in driving upward mobility and breaking systemic barriers in accessing higher education,” said Sydney Montgomery. “An impactful admissions essay can literally be the difference between an under-performing student going to Harvard and not going to college at all. The ability to articulate yourself impactfully through writing is an exceptionally powerful life skill that has a direct correlation to not only how far a student is able to advance through the education system, but beyond that in their career. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created with Outline and are excited to get it into the hands of students across the country and the world to help them meet their full potential and become future trailblazers in their field”.
The Outline platform was developed using unique and proven techniques, perfected from over a decade of experience working with aspiring college and law school students in preparing their admissions essays and materials. Outline provides a powerful and intuitive tool, enabling students to combine the flow of free writing, while mastering the art of structure. An interactive interface allows students to drag, drop and easily order seemingly disparate ideas and create a cohesive narrative that delivers on the core requirements of any assignment.
Outline successfully deployed with close to 3000 students crafting 2023 law school applications
As part of a large-scale pilot, close to 3000 aspiring law school students applying in the 2022-2023 application cycle signed up to the platform to explore the advantages of the technology as they craft their personal and diversity statements for law school applications.
While the platform is designed to benefit all students, it’s expected to have the greatest impact for applicants from marginalized backgrounds, such as first-generation college students and students from under-resourced communities.
89% of Black 8th and 12th grade students are failing national writing proficiency standards and since 2000, the percentage of Black students has decreased 60% at the top 101 public colleges in the US. 49% of Black students who apply to any law school get rejected every year.
Only 46% of Black students finish a four-year degree in six years and only 32% of students from the lower socioeconomic quintile pursue a 4-year degree as opposed to 78% of students from the highest socioeconomic quintile.
