Every student can achieve amazing things
when given the opportunity.

Our Mission & Model

Our Mission

Barrier Breakers is dedicated to increasing access to and success in higher education for first-generation students and others facing barriers to education. We define first-generation students as those who do not have at least one parent who attended college traditionally in the United States. This includes students whose parents did not attend college, attended college in another country, or pursued their education later in life through adult or online programs.

First-generation students often face unique challenges navigating admissions processes, securing financial aid, and making informed academic and career decisions — not because of a lack of ability, but because of unequal access to information, guidance, and networks. Barrier Breakers exists to close that gap.

Our Model: From College Access to Career Mobility

Barrier Breakers supports students through a career-aligned, long-term advising model that meets them where they are and stays with them as they grow.

Rather than offering one-time admissions support, we walk alongside students through key academic and professional transitions — from high school through college, graduate education, and early career stages.

Our core model includes:

Expert Admissions Advising
Students are matched with experienced admissions advisors who provide individualized guidance for college and, when relevant, graduate or professional school applications.

Industry Mentorship
Each student has access to mentors and professionals who offer career insight, encouragement, and real-world perspective — helping demystify professional environments and expectations.

Career Exposure & Experiential Learning
Through corporate and organizational partners, students gain access to internships, shadow days, and career exploration opportunities that build confidence and professional capital.

Continued Support Through Graduation and Beyond
Our work does not end at acceptance. Students receive continued guidance, wellness check-ins, and career support throughout college and graduate school, helping them persist, graduate, and transition into the workforce.

This integrated approach ensures students are supported not just academically, but personally and professionally — at every stage of their journey.

How We Deliver Support

Barrier Breakers operates through a national virtual advising model, allowing us to serve students across the country with high-quality, individualized support.

In addition, we partner with schools, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and employers to deliver cohort-based programming, mentorship, and career exposure opportunities in local impact hubs that strengthen community and belonging.

We prioritize strategic partnerships that expand access, deepen impact, and meet students’ needs — whether virtually or through trusted local collaborators.

Our Commitment to Access

Our model is sustained through a cross-subsidy approach: families who are able to pay for admissions services help make it possible for low-income students to receive the same expert support at no cost.

We provide:

Free college advising to students who qualify for Free and Reduced Meal Services and/or attend Title I schools
Free law school advising to applicants who qualify for income-based fee waivers through the Law School Admission Council
Free public-facing resources, including conferences, guides, and educational programming, accessed by thousands of students annually

This approach allows us to scale impact while remaining mission-aligned and financially sustainable.

Our History

Barrier Breakers® was founded by Sydney Montgomery, the first student from her high school to attend Princeton University and later Harvard Law School. As the daughter of military parents and a Jamaican immigrant mother, Sydney experienced firsthand both the power of education and the hidden barriers facing first-generation students.

After years of working directly with students in college and law school admissions, she launched S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting in 2018. Recognizing the limitations of a for-profit model, she converted the organization into a nonprofit to expand access and align fully with her mission and values.

Since 2020, Barrier Breakers has served more than 7,000 students nationwide, helping families secure over $490 million in scholarships. Our virtual model — strengthened through partnerships with admissions leaders, institutions, and organizations such as the Law School Admission Council — has proven that expert guidance can be delivered at scale without sacrificing quality or care.

Listening to our students, we learned that access alone is not enough. Persistence, community, and career support matter just as much. That insight continues to shape our model today.

Looking Ahead

As Barrier Breakers grows, we are focused on deepening career-aligned mentorship, expanding experiential learning opportunities, and strengthening partnerships that create clear pathways from education to employment.

Our goal is simple: to ensure first-generation students are not only admitted — but supported, connected, and positioned for long-term success.

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