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When Carlos CuevaCaro ’25 was accepted to the Emerging Scholars cohort at Salem State, he decided he was going to take full advantage of the opportunities that came with it. Originally from Peru, Carlos especially benefited from the support of his Emerging Scholars coach who helped him navigate the American college system. “The education system in Peru is so different,” he explains. “Having a mentor to meet with on a regular basis and help me with planning and scheduling was so helpful.”  

Elisa Castillo, associate dean of students for wellness, says this is one of the most important goals of the cohort model: “Connection and belonging are so important to student success. We need to be intentional and strategic about creating these experiences for our students — that’s what helps them persist in their education.”  

“College life is complicated, especially as a commuter student, and we often don’t know what to do or where to turn for help,” Carlos reports. “My coach was a built-in support system who opened my eyes to everything that needed to be done in order to be successful — it really made a difference.”