DIANA LIN

Brooklyn, NY
2010 College Match Recipient with Wesleyan University

What was your reaction to receiving a College Match scholarship?

Initially, I was unsure as to whether I would be matched with a college as many other brilliant and high-achieving scholars were also vying for the same scholarship and opportunity. Therefore, when I received the letter confirming my match with Wesleyan through QuestBridge, I was ecstatic. This scholarship was something I thought I could only dream about; now, it is a dream come true. Upon receiving the notification, I laughed and cried tears of joy as I was so excited to be able to attend a wonderful university without having to worry about the monetary aspect; coming from a low-income family, receiving the scholarship meant the world to me.

What challenges did you expect to encounter in applying to college?

As a very motivated and ambitious individual, I tried not to let any obstacle block the road to achieving my goals. However, I could not ignore the issue of money as I knew numerous money-related challenges were to arise during my college process.

What were your college plans before you heard of QuestBridge?

Fortunately, I had discovered QuestBridge very early on - during the summer before I was to attend high school as a freshman. I had stumbled upon a QuestBridge brochure at my local library. Hence, my plans for college revolved on my much hoped for match with a college through QuestBridge.

What are the benefits of applying to college through QuestBridge? Why should other students facing financial limitations apply to college through QuestBridge?

QuestBridge is a splendid amalgam of the general college application and a scholarship application. Applying to college through QuestBridge has allowed me to turn my low-income background into an advantage when applying to great colleges, especially through the essay prompts which granted me the opportunities to tell the colleges more about me and my background. Applying to college through QuestBridge is definitely an opportunity that should not be missed.

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