501 Exceptional Low-Income High School Seniors Selected for Admission and Full Scholarships to Top Colleges
Palo Alto, California (PRWEB) December 05, 2014 -- QuestBridge is pleased to announce that 501 outstanding high school seniors from across the country have been selected as this year’s 2014 National College Match Scholarship Recipients. Now in its 11th season, the QuestBridge College Match Program (“College Match”) has successfully linked over 3,000 high-achieving, low-income students with admission and full scholarships to QuestBridge partner colleges since 2003.
The College Match program is particularly relevant now, as recent educational research shows that talented students from the lowest income quartile remain highly under-represented on selective college campuses, despite the generous financial aid that exists at these schools. These students, who hail from every part of the U.S., experience more barriers to obtaining a top-tier education than their higher income peers, and are often first-generation college students. QuestBridge partners with premier colleges, such as Yale, Amherst, and Northwestern, who are committed to socio-economic diversity. “We are thrilled to share the news with our largest group of College Matches in QuestBridge’s history, and are so pleased that our partner colleges continue to offer such generous aid to our students”, said Ana McCullough, co-founder and CEO of QuestBridge.
The College Match program is unique in that it not only educates students on the opportunities for them at top colleges, but it also provides a step-by-step early admissions process to connect students with the nation’s best schools. The QuestBridge application, which helps to highlight the unique backgrounds of high-achieving, low-income students, serves as a college and scholarship application to 35 colleges and universities. Students selected for the College Match are admitted with a guaranteed full, four-year scholarship— including tuition, room and board, and other expenses— provided by the college. In total, over $100 million in scholarships will be awarded to College Match Scholarship Recipients.
This year’s College Matches are academically exceptional, with an average unweighted GPA of 3.91. The middle 50% received between 1870-2130 on the SAT (out of 2400), and between 29-33 on the ACT (out of 36). 81% are in the top 5% of their graduating class and 95% ranked in the top 10% of their class. Financially, their median household income is $28,873, and 84% qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Additionally, 77% are among the first generation in their families to attend a four-year U.S. college.
About QuestBridge:
QuestBridge, a national non-profit based in Palo Alto, California, connects the nation’s most exceptional, low-income youth with leading institutions of higher education and further life opportunities. By recruiting, developing, and motivating these students— beginning in high school through college to their first job—QuestBridge aims to increase the percentage of talented low-income students attending the nations’ best colleges and to support them to achieve success in the respective careers and communities.
Grace Sun, QuestBridge, http://www.questbridge.org, +1 650-331-3280 Ext: 723, [email protected]
Share this article