In 2012, a student named Kyle Lawrence published an article in The College Reporter, "Posse Foundation Has More Drawbacks Than Benefits." The sweeping (and offensive) generalizations made in that article reflect many of the misconceptions some students have about Posse. The problem is that many students have heard of Posse, but don't actually know what it is. As a Posse student, I've also heard some frustrating assumptions about the Posse Foundation and about Posse scholars on campus.

It's time to set the record straight. Students on campus can benefit from the Posse network and from connecting to Posse students through events such as the Posse Plus Retreat, and I would love for the student body to realize those benefits. Equally as important: Posse students shouldn't feel the need to prove themselves to others. Each and every student can be a valuable asset to this campus if we create an environment that cultivates those relationships.

So here it is: The Posse Scholarship, myths and facts. These are specifically based on my experience and the experiences of others as Posse scholars on F&M's campus, but it may apply to Posse students at other schools.

Posse is a scholarship for non-white and low-income students.

Posse is a completely merit-based scholarship. It is based in nine major cities across the country. F&M has partnered with Posse in Miami and in New York. These major cities tend to have higher numbers of low-income and non-white students. The fact that Posses on campus are mostly non-white is simply a reflection of the demographic breakdown of the applicant pool. Moreover, Posse's holistic selection process allows Posses to have a more diverse composition -- not just racially, but diverse in other factors such as socioeconomic status, religion, etc. -- than the typical composition of F&M's campus.

Posse students are admitted to F&M under lower standards.

The selection process for the Posse scholarship takes many factors into account: drive and motivation, commitment to community-building, ability to work well in a team and support the development of others, and much more. This myth is perpetuated every time a misleading statistic is circulated, such as "Posse students' SAT scores are well below F&M's average." The fact of the matter is that there are plenty of students on F&M's campus, Posse and non-Posse, whose SAT scores are well below the average, as well as plenty whose scores are well above the average. More importantly, F&M is an SAT optional school.

There are three stages to the Posse interview process. After submitting a paper application, you attend a group interview. If you are selected to move on to the second round, you have a one-on-one interview. For the third stage, F&M faculty and administrators come to the interview and hand-pick the 10 students that will be in the Posse. The application process is rigorous and both F&M administrators and the Posse Foundation recognize that students are not defined by that number and that there are many different ways to be successful, to be intelligent, and to be a student that enhances the campus community.

"My tuition pays for your scholarship."

F&M is dedicated to increasing financial aid to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. Student tuition does not cover that financial aid. F&M also depends on donations, grants, etc. to support their various initiatives. The fact that some students pay full tuition does not make them any more or less valuable to the campus community than students who pay partial or no tuition -- and F&Ms commitment to financial aid and increasing diversity supports that.

Posse is a free ride.

Posse is a full-tuition scholarship. It does not cover cost of attendance. This means that Posse students are still responsible for paying for room and board, meal plans, health services fees, etc. It's not a free ride; it's a scholarship that students earn based on merit. In the same way that athletic scholarships are offered to students with certain skills, Posse scholars are selected because they bring valuable qualities to the table.

Posse is a national organization that grants scholarships to groups of ten students who attend college together. This is a way of maintaining a support network to prevent students from dropping out and to push each student to succeed, because they can lean on their Posse for help. It's highly competitive and the goal is to send a diverse group of students who are leaders and change-makers to colleges across the nation. If we all understand Posse a little bit better, and if we open ourselves to the possibility of cultivating our campus community in new, inclusive, and comprehensive ways, we can take full advantage of the Posse Foundation's mission.

And for all the Posse scholars out there: never underestimate yourself. You were chosen for a reason. You are strong leaders, supporters, and students -- and you got this. Trust the process.