Carson High School Senior Kaitlyn Nguyen has been selected as one of only 2,550 students across the country to be awarded a full-ride scholarship to a top-tier university through the 2025 QuestBridge National College Match program.
QuestBridge connects high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships to the nation’s top colleges. Nguyen was matched with Carleton College, a distinguished liberal arts institution in Northfield, Minn.
Carleton College is highly selective, with recent acceptance rates hovering around 20-22%. For its Class of 2029, the admission rate was about 20%, and admitted students often have strong academic profiles, with SAT scores typically between 1450 and 1560 and ACT scores between 32 and 35.
“To be matched through QuestBridge is an honor awarded to some of the nation’s most exceptional college-bound seniors,” said Bridget Gordon, counselor at Carson High School. “Kaitlyn’s recognition places her among an elite group of scholars nationwide and highlights Carson High School’s continued success in preparing students for the highest levels of academic opportunity.”
Each Match Scholarship Recipient receives early admission and a full four-year scholarship to a QuestBridge college partner, ensuring students and their families that an education at a top college is affordable. The scholarship is made up of a generous financial aid package that covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and food, books and supplies and travel expenses.
With an extraordinary 4.775 weighted (4.0 unweighted) GPA and a 32 ACT score, Nguyen stands among the top scholars at Carson High. Her transcript is filled with rigorous AP coursework, each class reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence.
Beyond her accomplishments in the classroom, Nguyen is a passionate and engaged student leader. She has developed a strong love for public speaking, showing up to school board meetings for the 2024-25 school year and writing her own announcements with confidence and clarity. Her voice has been a powerful tool for representing student perspectives, and she has approached each opportunity with professionalism and heart.
Leadership plays a central role in Nguyen’s high school experience. She is deeply committed to ensuring all students feel supported, especially those at the Carson High Silver Campus, where she worked intentionally to make sure everyone was cared for. As a RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) camp counselor, she continued to expand her leadership skills by guiding younger students and fostering an environment of growth and collaboration.
Relational at her core, Nguyen attributes much of her success to the people who have supported her along the way. She credits her mother as an example of what hard work and a drive to succeed can do.
“Kaitlyn Nguyen is a student of profound substance, character and promise,” said Madeline Hull-Taylor, counselor at Carson High School. “Being selected for a full-ride scholarship through QuestBridge is a rare and prestigious honor, one that reflects Kaitlyn’s exceptional academic and personal strengths. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and cannot wait to see the extraordinary impact she will make at Carleton College and beyond. Congratulations, Kaitlyn—you truly exemplify what it means to be a Carson High Senator.”
