Andrea “Andy” Soto never thought she would be able to attend a big college in the United States.
Her family members had gone to college in Venezuela, but when she was six years old,
she moved with her mother and grandmother to the U.S. for their safety and to escape
the political climate in Venezuela.
For her high school education, she chose to attend the Odessa Collegiate Academy rather
than one of the larger high schools. “At OCA, I could take college classes while I
was still in high school, and it would push me more. I liked the rigor of the classes,
and I liked the smaller school environment. I also was becoming more outgoing and
part of my student community.”
Looking forward at her future, she said, “I will graduate from OC in May with a major
in biology. I want to be a doctor, and I am on a pre-med track in my studies. I am
interested in how the environment impacts our brain. In psychology, I learned about
trauma and its effect on the brain. Then I also became interested in the effect of
chemical imbalances on the brain and depression and anxiety. For my baccalaureate
degree, I plan to major in Neuroscience. I also love music and want to continue studying
music. I play piano, viola, am learning to play guitar, and I sing.”
Andy and her mother extensively researched how she could afford to attend a top university,
and they found QuestBridge, a national non-profit that connects the nation’s most
exceptional, low-income youth with leading colleges and opportunities. Andy qualified
for the program and applied to many of the 50 top universities who partner with QuestBridge.
With a big smile, she said, “A bunch of them accepted me, but I chose Dartmouth College,
and they offered me a full scholarship.”
“Dartmouth had an inclusive community feel that impressed me. Much like the OC community,
it was sincerely friendly and caring, and it felt safe. It had large groups of diverse
student populations including low income, Latino, international, religious, and more,
which are all very interesting and exciting to me. The town of Hanover also had a
quaint, smalltown feel.”