College Visits WIN-WIN for Quest

Building relationships with post-secondary institutions is part of good college counseling.

Last month, admission officers from six colleges and universities traveled to Quest to search for students who might have an interest in their institutions. Representatives from Vanderbilt University, High Point, Furman University, Hope College, Davidson College, and Washington University in St. Louis visited Quest to meet with Quest students about selective admissions, and the college admissions process in general.

Quest is a local non-profit that believes the key to economic freedom is education. For 24 years, Quest has worked with high achieving Collier County students to help them attain their goal of attending a four-year college or university, while graduating in four years with little to no student debt.

“These representatives from post-secondary institutions present students an exclusive opportunity to have a dialogue with the person who will evaluate their applications for admission,” explains Sue Zumstein, Quest executive director. “The purpose of these visits is to help students in the college admissions process, which can be overwhelming and confusing. College admission visits are a win-win: students get to learn first-hand about universities that may, or may not, be on their radar. The representatives get a chance to tell their school’s story and to search for that student who would be a great fit for their institution, a student who would contribute to the college community,” she explains.

“Quest ensures their students are educated consumers, so when meeting with college admissions officers they ask questions about four-year graduation rates, co-op and internship opportunities as well as average student debt,” Ms. Zumstein continues. “With thousands of colleges and universities in the United States, Quest students are encouraged to meet with admissions officers to explore colleges that may be a good fit for them and provide a rewarding academic experience while allowing them to reach their highest career potential,” she adds.

Upcoming college visits to the Quest Center include Haverford, Middlebury, Franklin and Marshall, Elon, Wesleyan, and Rice University. Quest encourages students and parents to take advantage of these opportunities to explore college options and make informed decisions.

Quest is a community-based organization providing highly personalized and effective methods for students to access and pay for most college. Quest began with 10 students in 1993 and currently serves over 381 students from Collier County public and private schools. Quest’s mission is to foster economic freedom through education by empowering high school students to reach their highest career potentials through lifelong learning. For more information about Quest, call 239-403-7174 or visit www.questforsuccess.com.