July 7, 2006

For a Few Low-Income Students, Private Counselors Can Open Doors

By BEN GOSE

Theodora Walker was 7 when her mother died, 13 when she started high school in a drug-plagued neighborhood in Washington, and 17 when she graduated as valedictorian last month.

Any competent college counselor might have urged Ms. Walker to use her story of overcoming adversity to her advantage — by writing about it in a college-admissions essay. But Kpakpundu Ezeze, a private counselor who handles college advising for Ms. Walker's school, the Thurgood Marshall Academy Public

Digital or Print Subscription

Web Pass

Already have an account? Log In Now.