Although enrolment has increased at the remaining few, most of Radcliffe's sister schools have chosen to admit men or establish closer relations with their Ivy League brethren, all of which now admit women.

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After looking at the dismal public schools, my parents enrolled my sister in private school and planned to do the same for me.

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Eventually she teamed up with Sanders-Park, and the two started WorkNet Solutions and WorkNet International, sister career-consulting firms that work with institutions like trade schools, federally funded workforce centers and prisons, to help people with challenges in their personal stories find and land good jobs.

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But two years ago she closed down the Malawian office of her charity Raising Malawi, which was headed by President Joyce Banda's sister, Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo - who now works at the education ministry - and opted to fund 10 schools instead.

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