Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only historically Black and catholic institution, has long upheld its reputation of sending more Black and African American graduates to complete medical school than any other in the nation. This long-standing accomplishment was sparked by the work of Xavier’s prolific former pre-medical program director, Dr. J.W. Carmichael. Beyond the implementation of his initiatives at the collegiate level, in 1977, Dr. Carmichael spearheaded the establishment of Xavier’s pre-college programs that pre-college students continue to utilize today.

For over four decades, Xavier pre-college programs have stayed true to Dr. Carmichael’s vision: cultivating curious, capable, and collaborative learners pursuing education and careers, while increasing representation and diversity in science, engineering, technology, mathematics (STEM), and additional academic fields.

The Stress on Analytical Reasoning (SOAR X) program strengthens high school senior’s analytical reasoning skills and provides exposure to STEM and health careers. Previously known just as SOAR and only focusing on STEM-related programming, in 2021, a merger of SOAR with the humanities-based SuperScholar Excel program formed the new SOAR X.

Sydney Green, a current Xavierite, senior and biology pre-med major, participated in SOAR as a student and mentor. Green is also a JW Carmichael scholarship recipient for 2021-2023. She enjoyed her SOAR student experience as she developed connections with others.

“Me and many of the students in my SOAR group went on to attend Xavier, and I see a lot of them on campus all the time. SOAR played a role in us all being close, and we were able to build connections with one another,” said Green.

SOAR X is a four-week residential program for rising 11^th and 12^th graders and provides students with an introduction to college life and opportunities, allowing them to engage with other students from diverse backgrounds who share similar academic and career goals, enhancing their social and interpersonal development skills. They also participate in weekly study sessions and receive mentorship from current Xaverites and recent graduates.

Xavier’s pre-college programs have also expanded to include summer preparation programs for middle and high school students in biology (BIOStar), chemistry (CHEMStar), algebra (MATHStar), geometry (MATHStar II) and physics (PHYStar). Xavier’s pre-college programs have created a pipeline of academic and career preparation for students, increasing student knowledge as they continue their academic and professional pursuits.

Joining SOAR encouraged Green to attend Xavier. After Green’s SOAR participation, she saw an improvement in her American College Testing (ACT) test score for college admission.

“After meeting people through SOAR and experiencing the classes, I felt Xavier would be a good school for me,” said Green. “After attending SOAR’s ACT prep class, my score jumped up from a 25 to a 28. SOAR is truly a great program and definitely contributed to my score increase.”

During her time at Xavier, Green served as a general chemistry tutor and returned to SOAR as a mentor. She emphasized the importance of mentorship and its contribution to the student experience.

“Mentoring is so important because not everybody has a support system. Mentoring can be a less stressful way of gaining a support system because I’m still the students’ age, so they feel comfortable reaching out to me if they need help,” said Green. “Mentorship is a great avenue for guidance. I’ve noticed through mentoring, mentees feel less anxious about school. A lot of them come out of their shells and feel comfortable being themselves.”

Green plans to study for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and apply for medical school. She also currently works in a science lab and is researching various science lab programs.

To learn more about SOAR, visit www.xula.edu/pre-college-programs or email summerprograms@xula.edu.