Fort senior Olivia Gomez has received a distinctive award by earning the Posse Scholarship, a full-tuition award to a Posse partner school: the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This esteemed scholarship is given to students with outstanding leadership potential and is known for its selective and demanding application process.
The path to securing the scholarship was not easy. Gomez filled out numerous questionnaires, wrote essays, and went through three rounds of interviews. Although she was initially waitlisted, she later became a finalist and was ultimately awarded the scholarship. Reflecting on the experience, Gomez described it as “nerve-wracking,” particularly the group interviews, which featured many impressive and qualified candidates.
While Gomez initially considered Vanderbilt University as her top choice, a visit to UW-Madison changed her perspective.
“I was able to tour UW with my mom,” she said. “It was one of Posse Stem partners, but I did not truly know how many resources they had within their engineering department. They had a little bit of everything, sports, clubs, arts, academics, and I loved that.”
This visit solidified her decision to choose UW-Madison as her first choice.
Gomez’s extensive involvement in extracurricular activities played a significant role in her success. As a leader on the Law Team, cheer captain, and member of the National Honors Society executive board, she showcased her ability to excel in various areas. She believes these experiences helped her stand out during the application process.
Throughout her journey, Gomez received steadfast support from her family and friends.
“My family kept reminding me that even if I didn’t get it, it was still such a big achievement to make it to the stage I was at in the first place,” she said. Her friends also contributed by helping her remain calm and confident before the interviews.
Looking forward, Olivia is eager to connect with her Posse cohort and embrace the opportunities that await her at UW-Madison. She encourages future Posse applicants to be authentic.
“They are looking for all different types of people, so don’t try to be someone that you may believe would be more impressive; it will end up hurting you,” she said.
