“So you are from Idaho–do people just farm potatoes there?”

This was one of the first comments I received after my arrival to Claremont, California. The question made me laugh. On one hand, I was surprised my peers even knew that Idaho existed. On the other hand, it revealed how Idaho is truly seen: rural, agricultural, and far from opportunity.

Most of my peers came from Boston, Seattle, the Bay Area and New York, a completely different world from what me and my fellow Idahoans know. At home, most of us attend public schools with limited resources; fewer AP and honors classes, overworked and understaffed counselors, and a lack of robust college preparatory resources.

In contrast, my peers from Claremont came from a different world, consisting of private tutors, elite private schools, and college consultants. Our differences were more than cultural, but structural.

Urban privilege.

Elite college admissions pride themselves in admitting students based on “merit”. However, in practice, reward students that have access to extensive resources, usually concentrated in large cities and wealthy suburban areas. In contrast, students from rural states, like Idaho, no matter how hardworking, are placed at a disadvantage in an admission process that claims to be “fair”.

Many of my urban peers spent their summers curating the perfect resume through internships at fortune 500 companies, traveling (acquiring “cultural capital”), and playing niche sports to distinguish themselves as a competitive college applicant. On the other hand, lower income students often work part time jobs, care for siblings, and navigate public schools with limited access to college counselors, or advanced coursework that prepares students for the academic rigors of college.

This results in not a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity.

I am proof of what opportunity can do. Without federally funded programs like TRIO Upward Bound or nonprofit organizations like Seeds of Fortune, I would not be at the Claremont Colleges. These programs helped me understand financial aid, how to navigate college applications, and gain the confidence I need to thrive in higher education, allowing me to receive the mentorship and guidance my urban peers had. Without these programs, I may not have pursued higher education altogether.

Thus, expanding college access programs in Idaho is essential, as they ensure that the Idaho student bagging groceries after school has the same chance of success as the wealthy student who spends their time alpine skiing in Switzerland during their winters.

Critics argue that public school reform is the solution. While important, even the best public schools cannot provide individualized support for every student. College access programs work to solve this gap, ensuring that talented students receive individualized support.

Others argue that “test optional” is the solution, but dropping ACT and SAT requirements does not negate urban privilege. Wealth can still buy tailored extracurriculars, polished college applications, and influential networks.

Thus, college access programs do not lower admission standards, or provide handouts. Instead, they provide rural and working class students the tools needed to compete at an equal level.

The stakes for Idaho are high. Economically speaking, college graduates earn higher wages, contribute more in taxes, and strengthen Idaho’s workforce.

Politically, elite colleges are pipelines to leadership; CEOs, judges, policymakers, and entrepreneurs disproportionately come from these institutions. Why should the “coastal elite” monopolize these opportunities while rural students are left out? When rural students are excluded, Idaho’s voice is excluded from the rooms in which decisions are made.

Like my fellow Idahoans, I believe in the values of hard work and self-reliance. But these values mean nothing in a system that is inherently rigged. Grit should matter more than zip code. If America is truly the “land of opportunity”, then expanding access to college access programs is one of the smartest fiscal investments that can be made.

I am certainly a fortunate student. My high school (Nampa) offered TRIO Upward Bound, and that changed my life’s trajectory. But for every story like mine, there are thousands of low income, rural students who certainly have the talent and drive to attend an elite college, but simply lack the proper guidance and resources.

Idaho and America cannot continue to waste potential. The choice is simple: continue to let urban privilege dictate who succeeds and holds power, or invest in rural students so that merit reflects true effort and capability.

The future of Idaho depends on what path we choose.

Chantal Ramirez Sanchez is a junior at Pitzer College studying Public Policy and Economics and interned with Idaho Business for Education.