Questbridge Match Students
4SED Foundation is thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students who have been accepted to their top-choice universities through the QuestBridge National College Match! QuestBridge is a program that connects high-achieving, low-income students with the nation’s best colleges and universities.
This year, we're thrilled to recognize Jolyn Xu, Sabina Pabellon, Kezia Araujo, and Andrea Lopez, all from Downtown Magnets High School.
These students have been dedicated participants in our mentorship program throughout the 2024-2025 year. As they continue their academic quest, we know they'll build bridges to amazing opportunities.
Brief biographies from each student are as follows:
Jolyn Xu: “Hi! My name is Jolyn Xu and I matched to Columbia University through the QuestBridge National College Match. My current fields of interest are physics and computer science, and I'm looking forward to exploring these passions at Columbia. The application process for QuestBridge was both challenging and rewarding. While it was difficult writing so many supplemental essays in such a short time span, it was absolutely worth it, as the application is designed to help you express yourself authentically and comprehensively. I would recommend QuestBridge to anyone considering applying—just make sure to start early and research colleges thoroughly!”
Sabina Pabellon: "Hello! My name is Sabina Pabellon and I matched to Yale University through the Questbridge National College Match. Although I don’t declare my major till the end of sophomore year, I’m excited to explore the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health major at Yale. The application process (for both Questbridge Finalist and the National College Match) was definitely rigorous but well-worth it. I strongly appreciated the unique questions and extra space that Questbridge provided to allow students to share their stories wholly. Admittedly, it was quite stressful to write so many supplements in so little time, however, the pacing benefited me as it constantly kept me on my toes. For anyone considering participating in the Questbridge process, I’d definitely say go for it! Manage your time wisely and trust the process :)”
Kezia Araujo: “Hello, I'm Kezia, a senior at Downtown Magnets Highschool and I matched with Dartmouth College! The Questbridge process was initially quite daunting, but with my mentor, the process was less intimidating. I felt that the application allowed me to have a comfortable space to express the circumstances of my life and story. It was definitely stressful to write supplementals in a short span of time, however, the match made it all worth it!”
Andrea Lopez: “Hello my name is Andrea Lopez, I am currently a senior at Downtown Magnets Highschool and I matched with my dream school, the University of Chicago, through Questbridge National College Match where I plan to major in Psychology and Neuroscience.
Coming from a first generation and low income family, I knew I wanted to go to college but I knew there were going to be financial problems. I discovered Questbridge my senior year and saw it as an opportunity to not only attend a top college but also be part of a community from the same background and goals as mine. The application process was definitely scary and daunting at first; I had no idea where to start. However, with the help of my 4S mentor and Dr. Chase, I felt supported and reassured with every step of the process. Getting matched felt surreal—it still does, but I am beyond grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. Thanks to the 4S program, I now know that I can achieve not only this dreams but so much more.”