a reflection on the Questbridge 2025 National College Exploration Conference

    Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the national QuestBridge College Prep Scholars 2025 National College Exploration Conference. From a beads activity, to delicious cookies, to the coolest and most confident group of teenagers I've ever met, to guest speakers that shook my very beliefs, the conference was an amazing event that changed some of the key beliefs I had about college.

    For those of you who don't know, QuestBridge is a national non-profit that connects high-achieving, low-income students with top colleges - and by top colleges, I mean some of the best schools in the country for subjects from the medical field to political science.

    QuestBridge has two main programs. College Prep Scholars is the program that this conference was for, and it is basically a group that provides resources for the college applications process - from this conference to college-essay writing webinars with the famous College Essay Guy. The other main part of QuestBridge is the National College Match - a highly selective application process through which low-income students have the opportunity to match with some of the programs college partners - from all eight Ivy's, to MIT and Stanford to BostonU and WashU.

    The college it was hosted at was Macalester College, a school that I was very lucky to be in the same state as. I discovered after talking to a few of my peers that people had come from all corners of the country to attend this conference - from Texas to Florida.

    The experience was amazing as a whole, but something I particularly admired was the organization and orderly nation of the convention. When we entered, both we and our chaperones were organized into smaller groups and given booklets that would be notesheets and guides for us as we proceeded through the conference. Here, I hope to go through each of the key segments of the booklet and share with you my thoughts and takeaways, and the biggest lessons I learned.

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PART ONE: Map your path - Identifying Your Motivations

    In this part of the conference, we were told to really reflect on what exactly we wanted from college itself. At first, I was skeptical of this entire activity, but the speakers challenged us to identify our primary motivators that were often buried under years of external expectations. Some examples were: Exploring the opportunities provided by college, gaining financial security, meeting new people and making meaningful connections, giving back to my community, making an impact in others' lives, discovering new academic interests in passions, and gaining a better understanding of the world. For me some of the biggest motivators was making an impact in others' lives and gaining a better understanding of the world. But it was fascinating how the reasons for others were completely different, and how the various ways in which we were raised and the experiences we had had were influencing our decision-making process.

    One of the biggest lessons we learned here was to identify the difference between personal and extrinsic motivators. For example, while my family is a big motivator for why I want to go to college, that is an extrinsic motivator - as are societal expectations. Meanwhile, my inherent curiosity and desire for knowledge is a personal motivator. It was interesting to me how, contrary to how I had predicted, the speakers hadn't entirely disregarded extrinsic motivators. However, they emphasized that while extrinsic motivators may serve their purpose for a while, personal motivators are the ones that will carry us through the highs and lows of our future career, acting as a life raft through any pot holes that life will drive us through.

    I found the way they addressed this subject helpful as it reduced the initial anxiety and indecision I had when I entered Macalester. Here are some questions we were prompted with to explore these motivators and our goals for the future further:

1. What goals and aspirations do you have for yourself in college?

2. How can attending a top college support your personal goals?

3. What skills and strengths do you possess that will help you thrive in college?

4. Describe the qualities of an academic, personal and/or professional environment where you feel your best.

    This segment of the conference taught me the importance of being mindful of your personal and extrinsic motivators for going to college, and to use deep reflection of your goals for the future to identify the real schools that will help you along that journey.

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PART TWO: Map your path - Visual Timeline

    In this activity, we crated a visual timeline segmented into 6 sections - present, senior year, then freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year of college. Each segment had three sections - personal, professional, and academic goals. This exercise was really eye-opening, especially through the inclusion of a prompt asking about our personal goals. Looking at the big picture like that was one of the best ways I learned to manage the anxiety of this entire process. Here are some questions they used to help us identify these goals:

1. What goals do you have for your final year of high school? What do you want to remember yourself doing when reflecting back upon this time?

2. What do you envision your college application journey looking like, and why?

3. What experiences do you hope to have in college? Personal, academic, and professional? Which feel the most important to you?

4. What academic, professional, or personal interests do you hope to explore in the future?

    My biggest takeaway from this part of the conference was the importance of not "missing the forest for the trees." While the college applications process feels like the biggest hurdle right now, 5, 10, 15 years down the line, it will likely be one of the least important things to you. What will be important is the time you spend with the people you love, and following the passions that bring you the most joy. At the same time, while you do not need to have your entire future mapped out, having some key goals in various areas of your life allows you to ground yourself in constant progress rather than tying your success to a single accomplishment. Do your best to keep these ideas at the epicenter of your college applications process.

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PART THREE: Explore College Fit

    One of the biggest ideas emphasized at the conference was the fact that not everyone is going to be a fit for every top school. In fact, it is impossible to be a good fit for every single school on the QuestBridge partners list because they have such different ideologies, practices, resources, foci, and not to mention geographical placement. For example, while I believe my ideologies align well with Yale, I may not align fully with WashU due to my personal interests. Plus, I'm not looking to live on the West coast due to the climactic familiarity I have developed with the tendencies of Minnesota weather, so I would not be entirely comfortable at a school out West like Stanford or UCLA. I know that's something we hear all the time "it's not just about the prestige" - but it really isn't. There are many and varied prestigious schools, and it is important to understand whether you will truly be happy or miserable at such a school, and able to explore your passions fully.

    It took me a while to understand this, but I believe it really clicked for me the most when speaking to one of my old friends who had gone to MIT. He told us how, despite his excitement about the obvious STEM possibilities present at the school and the people he had met, he didn't feel entirely able to explore his passions in full due to the schools deep-rooted promotion of being "master of one" and becoming the best at a subset or focused group of subjects. This is what made me do deeper research into MIT and their ideologies, past just the statistics and the obvious clout, and understand that it is not a place where I would truly thrive - and therefore not one I should waste my energies worrying about. Below are the key categories we were encouraged to outline and explore for each college before we put it on our list for reals - whether we are ranking them for NCM or simply seeking to understand how best to get the support for our future endeavors. The list is also helpful when writing non-generic and genuinely convincing "Why Us?" essays.

• Academic fit: majors, student-faculty ratio, curriculum / teaching style, research
• Academic support: writing/speaking centers, maker spaces, learning support centers, tutoring
• Athletics: intramural sports, club sports, school spirit
• Career development / exploration services: interview prep, career fairs, resume support, pre-professional advising
• Clubs and Activities: academic teams, creative groups, interests and hobbies
  
• First-year Advising / Support: first-year housing, first-year community groups, unique orientation events
• Housing / dorms: themed / special interest dorms, accessibility access, housing requirements, guaranteed housing
• Belonging and community: peer mentorship groups, affinity groups, Greek life
• Location / weather: proximity to a city or home, rural vs urban, geography, seasons
• Opportunities beyond campus: study abroad, internships, learning outside of the classroom
• Size: student body size, grad school, campus walkability
• Student / Campus life: student traditions, social environment, popular events

    For this section's takeaways summary, I'll tell you what I learned specifically from my long conversation with a Caltech representative: One of the most important parts of the college applications process, particularly for those seeking entry into some of the top schools in the nation, is to be able to perform a holistic review of your own and truly understand which ones we may excel and be challenged within. 

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PART FOUR: Chat with colleges - real talk about...

    Here, students got split into 4 groups by choice and went to a room with representatives who would teach us about a topic of our choice. I went to the room about "Careers, internships, and networking for success," presented by representatives from Coe and UPenn. Here, my notes were mainly in a bulleted format, so to preserve the integrity of my takeaways, I will also present them as such:

• Many professionals recommend, at least early in your career, to use Linkedin not as a social media, but as a way to share your successes and skillsets. It is important to build a community, but early on, focus on displaying your talent and accomplishments to demonstrate potential.
• Most colleges, and all Questbridge partner schools, have a robust career center with resources to help you both plan your future with advisors and prepare to reach out to the companies and people who can help you on that journey.
• Global research and internship programs are not as out of reach as you may believe - and often present greater opportunities for connection and even travel in comparison to domestic opportunities. Be sure to discuss this with your college advisor.
• While it is true that many have found success without going to college, it's purpose is mainly to serve as a liaison between you and a company or job you desire, providing resources and a guided path to success. It is important to acknowledge what is possible outside the worn path, but the path itself is worn for a reason - make sure you extract the most value and support from your school regardless of where you choose to attend.
• "Don't burn bridges." Even if you aren't a big fan of an internship or an opportunity doesn't turn out the way you had hoped, find ways to stand out within the program to utilize that existing connection and get to where you want to be. In turn, building a strong resume that is applicable to your field of interest involves researching what is required from each role you apply for.
• Do not take unpaid internships. Research and learning opportunities are different, but individual projects are always better than working yourself into the ground for someone else's complete advantage.
• When networking, always send personalized messages. A general outline to guide you to hit all the points you need to is alright, but recognizing the individuality and importance of each individual human is a highly important skill.
• The world is small, and people talk. People may not remember exactly what you said to them, but they sure as hell will remember how you made them feel. Give them something good to talk about.
• Highlight your intrinsic skills, but focus personally on areas where you need growth.
• Don't let the plethora of choices & paths available freeze you in inaction. You are in charge of your success, regardless of the way you choose to arrive at it - and that is nobody's business but your own. Everyone's path has a different start, middle, and end, and none are more valuable than the others. Take inspiration from others' journeys, but their replication is not necessary for your own success. 

    I have three favorite takeaways from this segment. The first is to focus on real, human connection and your genuine interest in others and their experiences - "networking" will comes naturally after that, and the way others talk about you when you are no longer present is of the utmost importance. The second is that comparing your path to anyone else's does nothing but limit your own curiosity and ability. And finally, college is about identifying the opportunities you have presented to you and understanding which of those aligns best with your personal goals.

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PART FIVE: Dream Big - Developing your Personal and Career Goals

    Now THIS segment was fascinating. We were placed in a mini auditorium to hear from two amazing speakers. The first was one of the lead directors of Questbridge, a Harvard Business School alum and passionate, curious woman. The second was quite possibly the coolest real person I have EVER met - after growing up in a small town in Wisconsin, he attended Princeton University for engineering, worked on developing JETPACKS AND HOVERBOARDS (you read that right), worked for SPACEX, then attended both Yale and UCLA to advance his education and academic honors before founding his own startup. Yeah - absolutely insane. This is the typa guy my parents point out to me on Linkedin. But the part that really shook me the most about him, I believe, is how... well... normal he was. He shared the struggles he faced as a young student in a rural town, and about how his counselors and teachers had always doubted him and were quite unsupportive. He even told us about how he always had felt a bit lost and was still working on feeling secure in his own self and accomplishments.

    If THIS guy was still working on his confidence and taking each day step by step... what is stopping me from doing the same? Why should I limit my aspirations just because I may not feel entirely ready to receive them? Oftentimes, we look at people we admire and believe that they must be incredibly different from us, somehow more naturally deserving of such achievements. That was my thought process while he was speaking and both leaders gave us some great advice about advancing both our academic and professional careers while prioritizing personal development. Again, I was focusing more on listening at this point, so my notes were a bit scattered - but again, I'll list the key points below.

• People are always going to be pulling you in so many different directions. You need to develop the strength to follow your passions - and believe in your ability to do so.
• To grow, you can't be in a comfortable place. Growth comes from adapting to discomfort.
• Be ready for failure - embrace it and use each mistake to climb just a bit higher every time.
• The most transformative moment in your life will be when you find something that inspires you and motivates you to get out of bed in the morning just to work on it. Don't know what that is? Try this exercise - choose a day you have absolutely nothing to do, and isolate yourself in your room with no technology and no one speaking to you and bringing things up or feeding you ideas. What do you end up spending the most time thinking about? What ideas emerge from your subconscious, previously drowned in the constant barrage of information we experience day-to-day?
• There are so many more opportunities at top schools than anyone truly understands - from the professors to the ambitious and curious people you are surrounded by each day. Take advantage of tutoring, events, meet & greets, intramurals, trips abroad, and more.
• Arguably, the most important part of college is CONNECTIONS - make sure to take advantage of it all. From professors experiences, to peer resources, to friendships that may lead to future partnerships, and more. 
• "You learn 95% of what you need to do the job ON THE JOB. Don't limit yourself with the belief that you are not fully prepared for a role - that's the whole point of taking it."
• If something is bogging you down day-to-day and stopping you from achieving the things you most want to achieve, ask yourself if it is something that you will be able to turn around from within 5 years. 99.9% of the time, the answer is YES - you will need to be able to stay above the daily riff-raff and focus on long-term success while enjoying the short-term nuances of life.
• Anyone who has gone to a top institution can always be trumped by someone who went to a state school or even community college and possesses more passion and effort. Your journey is not done when you are accepted into one of these top schools, and your acceptance itself is not necessarily the key to success.
• "The greatest college applications advice is to make sure that your passion for something shines through - whether through your essays, your personal projects, or extracurriculars, your excitement and genuine interest in a subject is the greatest marker of potential - coming from someone with extensive experience in admissions offices. Don't write about something you think AO's will like, because they can always tell - write about something you know you can be excited about."

    The main takeaways I gained from this segment and these amazing speakers are to prioritize finding your passions, your drivers (as they will carry you to success and opportunities that are meant for you), to prioritize connections, connections, and connections, and finally, to systematically identify and abolish the limitations you have placed on your own mental energy. You define the bounds of your ability, not others. That's a lot of responsibility, but it's also a lot of freedom - taking every turn and outcome of your life into your own hands means you are in full control. Trust in your ability to get back up and place yourself back on the right path each time.

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PART SIX: Engage with Students - A QuestBridge Scholar Panel

    At the end of the long day, we attended a panel with 5 past QuestBridge NCM Finalists, and learned more about their advice and experiences with QuestBridge. The majority of the information they provided us was related to QuestBridge itself and how to maximize what we get out of the program and the schools we may attend.

• QuestBridge hosts one of the most extensive and truly widespread alumni networks - use it to build a community and hear about new opportunities. Reach out to the QuestBridge instagram communities, Discord, and Linkedin communities / partners.
• GET USED TO USING A CALENDAR TO ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE - this was the most repeated tip, and while it may seem obvious, both the leads and students emphasized time-blocking everything - from personal time to professional engagements to time to work on personal projects.
• Use college as a new start to explore the things you didn't have the chance to do in high school. It's never too late to start something new, despite the media trends of child prodigies and creating startups fresh out the womb - take that dance class, learn a new programming language, switch your major until you feel satisfied, start a club in something you don't have too much experience in, and more. 
• QUESTBRIDGE RANKING PROCESS
• Take the extensive time to research each school you rank - each of the scholars advised against ranking 10-15 schools due to the low likelihood you would truly find yourself content at them all. "Either don't do the ranking at all, or make sure every single school on that list is one you would be overjoyed to attend. Take the binding nature of the application more seriously than you think you need to."
• Choose the prompt you are excited about, not the "best." Plenty of people have been accepted after choosing the prompt that others may claim is the least "convincing" to AO's - the most convincing prompt is the one that you can convey your passion through.
• The top areas of research these finalists recommended engaging in regarding your top schools were: size, distance, study abroad opportunities, teacher-student ratios.
• Write your essays earlier than you think you need to. Trust me, there is no such thing as writing essay's too early - there's only procrastination.
• Be proactive - email QuestBridge with extra questions, make the most of digital alumni networks, DM CPS Scholars and NCM Finalists on Linkedin and ask for a quick chat, call the schools you are interested in for details you may not be able to find elsewhere, etc.
• Make a list of non-negotiables for a college, and stick to it.

    It was great to hear from people who had recently undergone the same stressful process and have the insights applicable to current day youth getting ready to shoot their shot at their dream school. The key takeaway from here, I'd say, is to maximize your involvement within the QuestBridge Scholars community - put yourself out there, and you'll never know what you'll get back. I took this advice to get a chance to speak with a few alum from Yale, my dream school, and learn more about how to structure my application.

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    All in all, the conference was a beautiful reminder of the importance of surrounding yourself with a community of not just like-minded but like-driven students and mentors. This was one of the first conferences where I didn't just compare myself to others accomplishments - I found myself truly inspired by them and encouraged to push myself harder to match their effort and be worthy of these amazing partnerships. That's a moment that comes at different times in everyone's life, but I cannot stress enough the importance of putting yourself out there. My moments of the greatest growth were when I felt the most out of place - even if you don't feel entirely prepared to do something, treat that as you ensuring you have plenty of room to grow into the kind of person who is. "Rome wasn't built in a day" may be such an overused adage, but it's for a reason - every great invention, career, and story was built one step and brick at a time.

    And one final reminder - don't get lost in the A2C sauce. There are some great people on there, but many are going to drive you into a completely avoidable pit of despair. Take everything with a grain of salt, do your own research, and remember the energy you could spend comparing yourself to others is the same energy that could power your next great project or your next awakening connection.

That's enough yapping from me, comment any questions, clarifications, or random questions below!! I'm still working on carrying posts over from my previous blog, but there are a few up right now - take a read if you are interested :)

Signing off,

nexisphere