In 2020, over 18,000 students applied for QuestBridge’s National College Match program and 6,885 were selected as finalists, including Rayburn Senior Marco Sosa. The National College Match program is an admission and scholarship process in which underrepresented students are selected as finalists and matched with highly selective universities across the country. If matched, the finalist will receive a full four-year scholarship worth over $200,000; including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, as well as travel expenses!
QuestBridge has partnerships with 42 of the country’s top-ranked universities and Marco has chosen University of Southern California, Rice University, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Notre Dame University, and Duke University as part of his National College Match application. Being able to rank colleges is what makes the National College Match so unique. By ranking colleges, students could be “matched”— or admitted early with a Match Scholarship — to the university that appears highest on their list that also wants to match with them.
Marco began the National College Match application process in the summer of 2020 and was notified in October that he had been selected as a finalist. Finalists are selected based on a number of academic criteria; including grades and rigor of high school curriculum, class rank, and standardized test scores; in addition to extracurricular achievements and personal traits. QuestBridge applicants are also considered for their evidence of strong writing ability, intellectual spark, and determination through applicant essays and teacher recommendations.
As a QuestBridge finalist, Marco is now working to submit each university's match requirements and Match finalists will be notified December 1st if they have matched with one of their selected universities. We are so proud of Marco and all of his accomplishments!