The Advantage Testing Foundation is an American not-for-profit educational organization based in New York City. Founded in 2007 by
Arun Alagappan, the
501(c)
A 501(c) organization is a nonprofit organization in the federal law of the United States according to Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)) and is one of over 29 types of nonprofit organizations exempt from some federal income taxes. ...
public charity seeks to expand academic and professional opportunities for students of every socioeconomic background by sponsoring innovative educational programs and partnering with leading institutions across the United States.
Programs
In many of the Advantage Testing Foundation's commitments, it has partnered with leading universities to provide talented students of disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to excel at the highest academic levels.
''TRIALS''
In 2009, the Foundation partnered with
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each c ...
and
New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University, a private research university in New York City. Established in 1835, it is the oldest law school in New York City and the oldest surviving law school in ...
to launch ''TRIALS'', the Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools. The free summer law school preparation program for low-income college students boosts socioeconomic diversity at leading law schools. Students in the program undertake
LSAT
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT; ) is a standardized test administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for prospective law school candidates. It is designed to assess reading comprehension as well as logical and verbal rea ...
preparation courses, attend lectures, and meet with prominent lawyers and legal scholars. The program is fully subsidized by the three partner institutions, and was launched with the help of a grant from the
Heckscher Foundation
The Heckscher Foundation for Children is a New York City-focused private foundation that provides grants to underserved New York City youth. Often, the foundation's grant-giving takes the form of program support, capacity-building, capital project ...
.
Students enrolled in the program receive a $3,000 stipend.
The program has prepared students for admission to the nation's top 10
law schools
A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction.
Law degrees Argentina
In Argentina, l ...
. As of 2016, approximately 30 percent of students who have attended ''TRIALS'' have been admitted to
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each c ...
.
TRIALS is widely regarded as one of the nation's most selective full-scholarship pre-law program.
Math Prize for Girls
The Foundation organizes and sponsors the ''Advantage Testing Foundation
Math Prize for Girls'', a single day
mathematics competition for middle and high-school girls held annually at
MIT that awards cash prizes and encourages young women to seek careers in scientific and mathematical disciplines. The competition provides the world's largest monetary math prize for girls in the world, including a $31,000 prize for first place.
Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA)
Advantage Testing Foundation is a principal sponsor in partnership with
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
of LEDA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to diversifying the nation's leadership pool by helping high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds gain admission to the most selective colleges.
Each year, LEDA selects 100 exceptional high school juniors of modest means for the seven-week program. The Foundation provides LEDA Scholars with standardized test preparation. Additionally, scholars receive leadership training, writing instruction, and a year of highly personalized mentoring for the admissions process at the most competitive colleges. In 2017, "61% of the LEDA cohort class were admitted to an Ivy League college, MIT, Yale, or Stanford". More than 65% of LEDA Scholars are the first in their family to attend college.
The Advantage Testing Foundation also provides pro bono intensive SAT and
SAT Subject Test
SAT Subject Tests were 20 multiple-choice standardized tests given by the College Board on individual subjects, typically taken to improve a student's credentials for college admissions in the United States. On January 19, 2021, the College Board ...
instruction to high school juniors in
Prep for Prep, a development program that supports student success in high school and college by providing participants with college and career counseling and access to a deep alumni network.
Board of trustees
As of July 2017, the board of trustees are:
*
Arun Alagappan, ''President'', President of Advantage Testing
*
Martha Minow, ''Vice President'', Dean of
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each c ...
*
J. Tomilson Hill
James Tomilson "Tom" Hill III (born May 24, 1948) is an American billionaire hedge fund manager, the former president and CEO of Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM), Blackstone Group's hedge funds business.
Early life and education
...
, ''Treasurer'', Vice Chairman of
Blackstone Group
Blackstone Inc. is an American alternative investment management company based in New York City. Blackstone's private equity business has been one of the largest investors in leveraged buyouts in the last three decades, while its real estate bu ...
*
John Sexton
John Edward Sexton (born September 29, 1942) is an American lawyer, academic, and author. He is the Benjamin F. Butler Professor of Law at New York University where he teaches at the law school and NYU's undergraduate colleges. Sexton served as t ...
, ''Vice President'', President Emeritus of
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, the ...
*
Shirley Tilghman
Shirley Marie Tilghman, (; née Caldwell; born 17 September 1946) is a Canadian scholar in molecular biology and an academic administrator. She is now a professor of molecular biology and public policy and president emerita of Princeton Universi ...
, President Emeritus of
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
* Lauren Frank, Director of Marketing at Value Insight Partners
* Beth Nash, Founder of the Carr Center for Reproductive Justice
References
{{Reflist
Educational foundations in the United States
Non-profit organizations based in New York City