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Released in 2019

Directed and Produced by Jaye and Adam Fenderson

Narrated by Jaye Fenderson

Former admissions officer at Columbia University

"I wanted to make a documentary about the problems facing higher education and the system and how it’s broken."
-Georgetown Voice

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"Unlikely investigates America’s college dropout crisis and the barriers students face in their pursuit of a college degree and meaningful career."
-Unlikely website

"The scandal is a symptom of a larger problem in our higher education system which is that we say that it’s a meritocracy, that if you work hard you can get into a good school. But we’re not graduating those students and so there is a disconnect between the message that we’re telling people and then the outcome that we’re seeing in the real world.”
-Jaye Fenderson, Georgetown Voice

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Overall Message: what's causing students to drop out is the system of higher education itself, which is broken and in need of reform.

Political Ideas

College Accessibility

Economic Inequality

Loan Debt

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Part 1: How the System is Flawed

Profit and Prestige

Wealth/Economic Inequality

Lack of Guidance/Institutional Support

Time and Money (Cost/Debt)

All of these issues disproportionately impact students of color

Part 2: How We Can Fix It

Alternative Teaching Methods

New Advising Methods

Access Programs

Substantial Scholarship Access

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Core of the film is the five students it follows

Relies heavily on their experiences to get viewers to connect emotionally to the film

Provide experiences and insights that viewers can relate to and learn from

Also features interviews with industry and academic experts

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Unlikely (2019) Clip Falling through the Cracks

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"The codirectors, unconcerned with visual ornamentation, disseminate facts clearly in an undertaking that’s scholarly adept yet disappoints artistically. More digestible than a thick academic study, “Unlikely” was obviously designed as an issue-driven program without cinematic aspirations. That’s likely for the best."
-Carlos Aguilar, LA Times

"If a film intends to tackle education with the care and nuance the subject deserves, it should probably (a) narrow its focus or (b) be impeccably argued and researched [...] Unfortunately, “Unlikely" [...] accomplishes neither. Lazy and unfocused, it relies on brash emotional manipulation to hide the shortcomings of its arguments."
-Alan Zilberman, The Washington Post

"I do not deny the truth or urgency of the problem Unlikely brings to show us. It is very much so a topical and educational watch that is easy to follow. However, even though it is a call to action, its near constant heavy tone has the opposite effect, causing viewers to sink into the quicksand of pessimism and failing to completely pull them out of it at the end. While Unlikely is certainly not a fun thing to watch, its relevance arguably makes it a necessary one."
-Stephanie Chuang, UW Film Club

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Informative experience overall

Personally relatable, easy to empathize with the students

Ambitious but felt somewhat overloaded/overwhelming

Agree with the sentiment of "not fun, but necessary"

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Unlikely film website
Aguilar review
Zilberman review
Chuang review
Georgetown Voice interview
EducationData statistics