ABOUT
Our Story
We were in your shoes not too long ago.
The Struggle
Getting into college is only half the battle. Every year, talented first-gen and low-income students arrive on campus without the unwritten rules their peers grew up with: how to talk to professors, land an internship, find their people, or ask for help. Too many quietly fall behind in that first year.
The Solution
Unity Scholars began in 2024 with one frustration. Raised in a low-income household, founder Danny Ye only discovered that his dream school offered generous financial aid after countless hours of research on his own. Isaac Jiang, a student at Cornell University, faced the same struggle finding affordable help. So they built what they wished they had: affordable, near-peer college admissions mentorship for high schoolers.
Over the next two years, our mentors guided students through their applications, hosted admissions officer panels, piloted a chapter at Francis Lewis High School, and ran a summer accelerator. Then we noticed something: our students were getting in, but the real test came after. The first year of college is where potential is won or lost. So in 2026, we refocused on it, starting at Babson College.
MISSION STATEMENT
Unity Scholars Network helps first-generation and low-income students from under-resourced high schools reach their full potential in college. Through near-peer mentorship in the critical first year, we pair new students with upperclassmen who’ve walked the same path, reinvesting every dollar into the students who need it most.
Core Values
Accessible, High-Impact Mentorship
Personalized first-year guidance, designed so cost is never the barrier.
Support for the ‘Firsts’
Compassionate help for students navigating college without a family roadmap.
Holistic Growth
Academics, career, belonging, and well-being—support for the whole student, no matter the starting point.
Equitable Expertise
Peer insight into internships, networking, and campus life that’s often limited to the privileged.
Reinvesting in Students
100% of proceeds go back into expanding resources, opportunities, and support for students.
Community-Driven Growth
Mentees become mentors, creating a culture of long-term growth and support on campus.
