Ronan senior earns full-ride scholarship to Yale University

Ronan High School senior Tobias Wilson was accepted into Yale University with a full four-year QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship.  

QuestBridge is a national nonprofit organization that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with education, career, and life opportunities to help propel them forward, according to its mission.  

“Tobias has been an extremely active high school student, maintaining excellent academics while pursuing leadership roles in multiple activities,” the QuestBridge press release stated.  

He’s involved in the Business Professionals of America club, the National Honor Society, jazz band, community mentoring and volunteer work. At almost 17 years old, he’s also a two-sport athlete who participates in tennis and cross country.  

His volunteer work started with the National Honor Society, but Wilson continues to help out in the community at the Ronan Bread Basket. While he’s involved in many activities, Wilson said he wanted to take every opportunity he could, and do the best he could.   

Wilson learned about QuestBridge through his school counselor and started applying during his junior year. He said there were four rounds of the selection process, with each becoming more difficult, and that in December, he found out he matched with Yale.  

Each recipient receives early admission and a four-year scholarship, including a financial aid package that covers the full cost of attendance, encompassing tuition, housing, food, books and travel expenses. This year, QuestBridge had 55 college partners with 2,550 finalists who received the match scholarship.  

Wilson said he had to rank the universities he wanted to attend, and the universities ranked the students simultaneously, which is how they determined who matched. It was never his dream to attend a prestigious school; he was just looking for the right fit.  

“I didn't really know exactly where I wanted to go when I started the college search,” Wilson said. “I kind of just narrowed stuff down. I did research and took the things I wanted and knew I needed for my future school, and Yale just happened to be that.”  

Wilson aims to study astrophysics at Yale and hopes to enter the field and learn as much as he can. He said his major could change as he starts his college career. Yale doesn’t make students declare their major until their sophomore year.  

Wilson said his interest in astrophysics stems from a general interest in science, as he’s always enjoyed studying scientific topics. In addition to his science studies, Wilson plans to continue his involvement in music.  

“I love music, and in the future, I will probably keep playing it into my career,” he said.  

Wilson said it’s a big decision and choice he’s making for the next four years. He’s excited to see what it’s like all the way across the county at Yale.  

“But I think it's worth the experience, 100% whatever happens. I'll be a much more experienced person afterwards,” Wilson said. “And that's why I think it's the most important thing.”