Among the Few: Sabrina’s QuestBridge Honor
Sabrina S. ’26 earned a place among one of the nation’s most selective scholarship programs, rising from a pool of more than 25,000 applicants. Her QuestBridge journey is a story of determination and possibility, and the excitement of a future at Davidson College that she’s now stepping into.
Out of more than 25,000 students who applied for the 2025 QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, only 7,026 were named finalists, and just 2,550 received a full four-year scholarship covering the full cost of attendance, housing, meals, books, supplies, and travel. Sabrina S. ’26 is one of them, earning a place among an exceptional group of students recognized for both academic excellence and future promise.
The QuestBridge National College Match is one of the nation’s most selective scholarship programs, designed to connect high-achieving students with full four-year scholarships to top colleges and universities. Through partnerships with 55 institutions, the program offers early admission and a comprehensive financial aid package. Each year, QuestBridge Scholars represent a broad and diverse community, spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, and join a global network of more than 35,000 Scholars and alumni.
For Sabrina, this achievement represents far more than a scholarship. It reflects years of dedication, resilience, and belief in what is possible when opportunity meets hard work. As one of the first QuestBridge Scholars in the Class of 2030, she now steps into a future shaped by access, support, and the chance to make a lasting impact. In the Q&A below, Sabrina shares what this honor means to her, the journey that led her here, and how the QuestBridge opportunity is helping her envision what comes next.
Personal Journey and Experience
Can you tell us a little about your college search process? What were you looking for in a school?
I was looking for community above all else. I wanted a place where I could meet new people from different backgrounds and be able to form connections. Academically, I was looking for a place that would challenge me but also guide me, so smaller schools were what I aimed towards.
How did you feel when you received your acceptance? And your scholarship award?
I felt very excited. It felt like a huge weight taken off my shoulders and off of my family's shoulders as well.
Was there a moment when you realized that college or this scholarship could become a reality for you?
I realized it could be a reality as soon as I was officially accepted into the program itself, up until then I hadn’t fully realized how possible it was.
Preparation and Challenges
What steps or strategies do you think helped you succeed in the application process?
Honestly, just staying motivated was the biggest strategy. There was a lot of work I had to do and a lot of deadlines to meet, but those become a little easier to keep up with when you’re driven towards your goal.
Did you face any obstacles along the way, and how did you overcome them?
The only obstacle I really faced was feeling unsure. I had to make a lot of decisions quickly and in doing that it was easy to doubt myself. I overcame those obstacles by just talking to my family and my college counselor which always helped me feel a little more sure of myself.
How did your experiences at CDS shape your preparation?
CDS helped me in terms of being used to a rigorous academic environment. The quick deadlines, problem solving, and overall workload of applying to college was nothing new after having experienced all of those same things in our everyday curriculum.
Scholarship Impact
How does receiving this scholarship change or influence your plans for college?
It makes me want to succeed more than I ever have before. Knowing that a school believed in me enough to grant me such an opportunity gives me an extra drive that I think will push me way farther than I would’ve expected.
What does this scholarship mean to you personally?
To me, it means that everything I worked for in the last four years was absolutely worth it. It brings me a strong sense of accomplishment because it's something me, along with my family, worked really hard towards achieving. And when you finally accomplish something you’ve worked at for years, it's an amazing feeling.
Do you feel it opens new opportunities or doors that might have been harder to reach otherwise?
Yes I do. Financial limitations unfortunately end up being the reason a lot of capable students aren’t able to go to their dream schools, knowing that I feel extremely grateful that I had this opportunity to go to an amazing school solely based on merit rather than what I could afford.
Advice and Reflection
What advice would you give to students just starting the college application process?
Stay on top of your deadlines, and throughout the process make sure to express your own personality in your applications and follow your heart in choosing what schools you want to apply to.
Looking back, what would you tell your younger self about working toward college goals?
I would tell myself that it’ll all be fine, and that I’d get further than I could've ever dreamed of.
How do you hope to make the most of your college experience, academically or personally?
I hope to, of course, push myself academically, but also grow as a person. I hope to make new connections with people and learn from them as well.
Looking Ahead
What are you most excited about in the next chapter of your life?
I am most excited about having a new place to grow into. A new state, new people, and overall a new environment that I can’t wait to experience to its fullest.