Gail Ford’s path to college started when not she, but her younger sister, was accepted into a precollege program in eighth grade through Ferris State University in Michigan.
Ford, who grew up in Detroit, attended events and Ferris campus visits with her sister throughout high school. Once it was time to prepare for college, Ferris was the only school she applied to. Her sister ended up at another school, but the impact of precollege opportunities and mentors has stuck with Ford ever since.