Jose Sanchez, a senior at Collinsville High School, has been selected for admission to the University of Chicago with a full four-year QuestBridge College Match Scholarship.
QuestBridge National College Match is a program that pairs high-achieving, low income high school seniors with full scholarships to one of QuestBridge’s 38 college partners, including top liberal arts colleges such as Amherst, Colby, Pomona, and Williams and research universities such as Brown, Columbia, Duke, Stanford, and Yale. (https://www.questbridge.org/)
This year, QuestBridge received a record-high of 14,491 applications, from which 5,338 were chosen as finalists. Seven hundred sixty-seven exceptional students were named this year’s College Match Scholarship Recipients a 17% increase in College Matches compared to last year’s high of 657.
Students selected for the College Match are admitted with a guaranteed full, four-year scholarship, including tuition, other expenses and room and board. Sanchez was matched with the University of Chicago and will begin his studies in the fall of 2017.
Jose is very active at Collinsville High School and the community. He is a member of Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society) and National Honor Society. Through these honor societies, he has logged over 40 hours of community service. He is also president of the French Club and works at his familyåÕs store every day after school and on weekends.
According to Jason Corey, his counselor at CHS, What impresses the staff at Collinsville High School most is Jose’s consistent ability to work hard, produce quality work and lead by example. Whatever he sets out to do, he accomplishes. He is a first generation college student and highly motivated. Jose understands that true knowledge is power and is the pathway to him achieving his long term goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
Jose Sanchez attributes his strong work ethic to his father who åÐ in addition to maintaining a family business works a second job to support their family of six.
Jose’s parents are immigrants who faced hardship and uncertainty in their quest for the American Dream. In his application for the QuestBridge College Match program, Jose said, My parents are a constant reminder for me to seek more in education. My purpose [is] to provide my family with certainty. With orthopedic surgery I know what to expect and I know where I will be in ten years. I will keep providing my family with the assistance I always have and earn for myself a level of certainty I have always sought.
Since 2003, the QuestBridge College Match has successfully connected over 4,000 students with full scholarships to college partners. These prestigious scholarships are generously provided to recipients by the colleges.
Our college partners are so committed to providing access to a high quality education, said Ana McCullough, Co-Founder and CEO of QuestBridge. The increase in College Matches this year really indicates their willingness to identify and educate the best students, regardless of their financial background.
Reflective of the rigorous standards of the College Match, this year’s recipients average an unweighted GPA of 3.91; the middle 50% have received between 1320-1460 on the new SAT (out of 1600) and between 29-33 on the ACT (out of 36); 92% rank in the top 10% of their class. Financially, their median household income is $32,218 and 81% qualify for free or reduced- lunch. The majority of these new QuestBridge Scholars are also 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 nationåÕs 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 nationsåÕ best colleges and to support them to achieve success in their respective careers and communities.