The path to college is bright for Los Fresnos High School senior Melissa Sosa who was recently announced as a Questbridge National College Match Finalist. The award guarantees her a full 4-year scholarship to her match school.
Sosa is a high-achieving student who is currently ranked in the top 5% of students, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, Dual Enrollment student, and participates in various diverse extra-curricular activities on campus. She says attending an out-of-state college was always an aspiration, but the cost was a set-back.
“I heard about Questbridge and realized it was perfect for my situation as a low-income, high achieving student,” said Sosa.
Sosa worked closely with the College Center at Los Fresnos High School to explore options to pay for school. She applied for, and was accepted to, the Questbridge College Prep Scholars program in her junior year. It allowed her to explore, learn more about, and apply at no-cost to top colleges across the country.
“Questbridge allowed me to shift my focus from “How will I pay for college?” to “What college do I really want to go to?” and I went from there,” said Sosa.
In fall 2023, Sosa was named a “match” with Smith College in Massachusetts. The “Match” schools offer a 4-year scholarship as a combination of school funding and state and federal aid.
Sosa says Smith College, just one of many Questbridge college partners, as one of fifteen schools she ranked in the “Match” process. She looks forward to attending Smith College to pursue a possible major in Public Health or a related field, and minor in Latino/a Studies.
“I have been highly influenced by my work in SMASH Club and hope to continue researching mental illness stigma, availability of mental health resources, and methods of advocacy,” said Sosa.
Melissa Sosa is a product of Los Fresnos C.I.S.D. schools attending Lopez-Riggins Elementary School, Los Cuates Middle School, and Los Fresnos High School. Her parents are Alicia Ramirez and Leon Sosa.