QuestBridge seeks to provide resources and offer additional support to students in similar positions.

Since 1994, the national nonprofit has connected high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with a thriving community and transformative educational, career, and life opportunities that help propel them to lives of fulfillment, meaning, and purpose. QuestBridge offers two programs for high school students: the College Prep Scholars Program for juniors and the National College Match for seniors. The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges. Students who are selected as College Prep Scholars receive:

• College application resources and programming the summer before their senior year.
• Peer-to-peer support in an online community.
• Exclusive access to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference, featuring face-to-face time with representatives from our 55 college partners.

Being named a College Prep Scholar is an honor that will ensure an applicant stands out to colleges when they apply in the fall. In fact, College Prep Scholars are over seven times more likely than other applicants to receive full four-year scholarships through the National College Match. Moreover, students selected as College Prep Scholars may also receive additional awards such as:

• A full scholarship to a college summer program hosted by Rice, UChicago, Yale and more.
• Quest for Excellence Awards, such as $1,000 for a laptop or other resources to help the student enhance their college application.
• Personalized support with college essays, standardized tests, or applying to college and completing financial aid forms.

The free, online application for the College Prep Scholars Program opens in early February and closes in March. While students do not have to be referred to start an application, we know that a student is more likely to start an application if they have been referred by a trusted educator who believes they have the potential to be a successful applicant. I encourage you to refer students who you believe meet our academic and financial criteria, and please know that any student attending a high school in the U.S. regardless of citizenship status is eligible to apply. We offer many opportunities for students, their families, and educators to learn more about the program, as well as a help center to aid with submitting the application and a Resource Library with information about applying and paying for college.

For juniors who are considering applying for the College Prep Scholars Program, my advice is that they do not approach applying to college on their own like I once did. They can use the College Prep Scholars Program application as a rough draft, a practice run, or a dress rehearsal for their college application. The application gives students an opportunity to take time and space to reflect on their academic and personal experiences, collect key financial documents, obtain a transcript, and see what it’s like to ask a teacher to act as a reference so that they are better prepared to ask for a recommendation in their senior year. Students have so much to gain from the process of applying – let alone the program and the community of College Prep Scholars – and nothing to lose. As students work on their application, make sure they share the story of who they are, their accomplishments, their family and community, and let their goals and aspirations for the future shine through.

Guest Author:

 Dr. Christian Martell, Director of Educator and Community Outreach at QuestBridge.

Growing up in Brownsville, Texas, minutes away from Mexico, my childhood was a rich mix of my Mexican heritage and American culture. I navigated the world using Spanish, English, and Spanglish interchangeably, often serving as my family’s go-to translator. This instilled in me a ‘do it myself’ attitude, which served me well until I started thinking about applying to college as a first-generation college student. As I began receiving mail from schools, I didn’t know existed in places I had never heard of, I realized how few colleges I knew. I eventually found the courage to ask my counselor for more information and she helped me interpret messages from colleges. Yet, I still wished I knew more students I could relate to who were considering applying to schools far from home, and that I knew more schools that might be a good fit for me.

My experience is decades removed from what students undergo today, especially given that many have a world of information at their fingertips. However, the questioning and self-doubt remains the same. There are still so many students from low-income backgrounds, many the first in their families to attend college, who can benefit from having a supportive community and specialized resources to aid them with their college application process. This is especially important for students who are considering applying to selective colleges and universities. Most selective institutions require additional application materials and can be a lesser-known college path for students and families. Yet, these schools often boast high graduation rates and provide generous financial aid to students from low-income backgrounds, often resulting in students graduating debt-free.