Hard work does not end after finishing the ACT junior year. Deciding what colleges to apply to is just an additional step in the stressful trek before high school graduation. For senior Serena Chapa this lengthy process became even more elongated once she became a Questbridge Scholarship finalist.

“I applied for the initial scholarship late Sep- tember and then I had to wait until the 21st of October, so it was only a few weeks to find out if I was a finalist or not,” Chapa said. “Then after that I had to get all of my applications in with my transcripts, I had to send in my scores and had to send in financial aid forms before November 1st for 10 different schools. After that, I was done and had to wait until December 1st  to see if I was ‘matched’ to any of the colleges.”

A month is not even that long, but when a potential full-ride to the school of your dreams is on the line, it feels like a lifetime. When Chapa was notified of her full-ride to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. excitement was an understatement.

“It was pretty surreal. I didn’t really expect much and kept my hopes a little low because it is kinda big. It felt crazy. It is insane,” Chapa said.

All recipients of the Questbridge Scholarship are guaranteed admission to one of Quest- bridge partner colleges along with a full, four year scholarship, worth over 200,000 dollars. This scholarship covers the student’s tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, as well as travel expenses. To be chosen, the applicant must have high academic achievement, particular financial qualifications, and be a citizen of the United States