Published On: December 18th, 2015By Leticia Fehling

Aldine High School Student Named QuestBridge Scholarship Recipient

The program helps academically talented, low-income students get into top-tier universities.

Aldine-HS-PSAT-Nat-Hispanic-Recognition-Melissa-Perez-2

Melissa Pérez received a full-ride scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania.

[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]M[/dropcap]elissa Pérez has had an exciting senior year at [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Aldine High School. Earlier this fall, she received notification that she is a [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2015 National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. Then on Dec. 1, Melissa learned how she was going to pay for college. She was among the lucky named 2015 QuestBridge College Match recipients.

The senior was anxious since learning she was a finalist earlier in the fall. Melissa had applied to three QuestBridge partner universities. She found herself checking her email every day to see if she was matched.

The nonprofit is leveling the playing field for low-income students.

[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]QuestBridge works to support academically talented, underrepresented students. QuestBridge seeks to increase the number of [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]low-income students attending the nation’s best universities.

College Match is a national program that “matches” talented high school seniors with full scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. This year the program had 657 recipients hailing from 44 states. The number surpassed the 2014 figure of 501.

Ana McCullough is happy with the increase of College Matches. McCullough is co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge.

McCullough

“It is so exciting to see this great increase in the number of College Match Scholarships this year,” said McCullough. “It really demonstrates our partner colleges’ deep commitment to providing opportunity to these deserving students and taking away the financial worry that attending college often presents.”

Students that are “matched” to a partner college are admitted with a guaranteed full, four-year scholarship. This includes tuition, room and board and other expenses. Since 2003, the QuestBridge College Match program has connected more than 3,500 high-achieving low-income students with full scholarships to partner colleges.

Profile of 2015 QuestBridge College Matches

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]An average unweighted GPA of 3.91[/li] [li]The middle 50% have received between 1890-2140 on the SAT (out of 2400)[/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]The middle 50% have between 29-33 on the ACT (out of 36)[/li] [li]Approximately 96% rank in the top 10% of their class; 28% rank 1st in their class[/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]The majority of QuestBridge Scholars (75%) are among the first generation in their families to attend a four-year U.S. college[/li][/ul]

QuestBridge encourages [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]College Prep Scholars to apply for the National Match Scholarship. In 2014, more than 11,650 students across the country applied. Of that number, only 36 percent of the applicants became finalists. College Match recipients typically come from households with a median income of $30,245. And 84 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The deadline to submit an application is late September during the students’ senior year.

QuestBridge identifies strong potential applicants for top-tier universities.

This year broke many records. In September, QuestBridge received an all-time high of 13,264 applications from across the country. Of these, 4,895 advanced to Finalist standing to continue in the College Match program. QuestBridge selects Finalists based on their academic achievement coupled with high financial need.

QuestBridge Has 36 [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Partner Colleges … They include Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Princeton University, Rice University, Stanford University, University of Notre Dame, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University & Yale University

Melissa is not the only Aldine ISD student to be a QuestBridge College Match recipient. Sharon López is a QuestBridge College Match recipient. She formed part of the Class of 2015 from Aldine High School. Sharon is currently attending the University of Chicago.

Melissa got a full scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania.

“I am grateful to QuestBridge and its Partner Colleges,” said Melissa. “I worried about how to pay for college. I was happy when I received the e-mail notifying me of my finalist status. And I was ecstatic when I found out I was a recipient. It is still amazing. The scholarship has lifted a huge burden. I am able to afford to go to college.”

QuestBridge offers many opportunities like the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program. The programs give students an edge in the application process.

“I hope other high achieving low-income students consider QuestBridge,” said Melissa. “They should apply. I did and I got a scholarship. A full-ticket scholarship.“

Partner colleges will admit many more QuestBridge Finalists through Early or Regular Decision. Finalists who matriculate to a partner college are identified as QuestBridge Scholars.