The Posse Foundation was founded on the idea that students succeed better together. By pairing students with a supportive and diverse group of peers and mentors, the Posse Foundation helps students not only thrive in college but also prepares them to become leaders in their communities and beyond. Posse Scholars aren’t just going to college—they’re joining a network of future change makers who will help shape our country’s future.
This year, three students from the Law Magnet—Katherine Tamez Martinez, Morgan Vanarsdall, and Sridurga Revu—were selected as Posse Scholars. Here’s what they had to say about the process:
Katherine Tamez Martinez
How did you decide which schools to rank?
“I started by looking into colleges I hadn’t really heard of or considered before, and I instantly fell in love with Case Western Reserve because it’s one of the top 10 nursing programs in the country. However, when it came time to rank my schools, I was hesitant to put Case Western first because of the distance from home, so I ranked Texas A&M as my top choice. Luckily, everything worked out, and I ended up matched with Case Western.”
Were there moments when you doubted yourself, and how did you stay motivated?
“There were definitely moments when I doubted myself. Throughout the application process, I struggled with imposter syndrome, constantly feeling like my grades and extracurriculars weren’t good enough for the program. But I really focused on maintaining a positive mindset and reassuring myself that everything would work out the way it was supposed to. Overall, I stayed motivated by focusing on how far I’ve come and reflecting on everything I had already done during the application process.”
What are you most excited about at your matched college?
“Besides the fact that Case Western has an amazing nursing program, I’m excited to learn from professors with real experience in the medical field and get hands-on experience myself. Case Western offers incredible opportunities for nursing majors, like internships starting freshman year where you intern at local hospitals. The school also has state-of-the-art skills labs and simulations where you can practice routine procedures at any given moment. Overall, I’m just really excited to have access to all these opportunities.”
Morgan Vanarsdall
What motivated you to apply to Posse?
“I’ve always wanted to go to Texas A&M since middle school, it’s the reason I wanted to apply for Posse. On top of that, I really liked the idea of having a support system to help me transition into college. It was really important to me, especially seeing how impactful it was being in link crew and helping freshmen transition into high school.”
Is there anything you wish you knew before starting the application process?
“First thing I wish I knew before starting the application process would be not to wait until the last minute to start my essays. Second thing is it’s okay if your college lists don’t match your friends, it’s all about where you think you’ll be the happiest and get the best education.”
What was the most challenging part of the Posse application?
“The most challenging part of the Posse application was the self doubt. I always doubted myself thinking I wasn’t impressive enough and would worry about not advancing to the next round. During the final round where you’re being interviewed in front of the admissions committee alongside all of the other finalists. You get to see all of the amazing people you are up against and it feels intimidating. But through it all I had an amazing support system who helped me prepare. I remember my parents doing practice interviews with me and my friends constantly being my biggest cheerleaders like Anaya, Elizabeth, and Sukhi. They were the first ones I called when I found out I got the scholarship because they really believed in me enough to help me keep trying my best”
Sridurga Revu
What was the most challenging part of the Posse application?
“The most challenging part of the Posse application was the final interview. It was somewhat nerve wracking because it was the LAST interview. I knew that the other students I would be grouped with were smart and accomplished, so I was nervous. Plus, most of them couldn’t properly pronounce my name, so I was forced to go first most of the time which was tough since I had to answer personal questions on the spot.”
What do you think made your application successful; what do you think helped you the most?
“I believe that doing the parts of the application that were considered optional really helped a lot. I also believe that my passion was shown throughout my application. I ranked Texas A&M first because I knew I wanted to go into STEM. I Volunteered at ENGin, a platform where English speakers can teach classes to Ukrainian students, which demonstrated that I was involved in my community.”
Were there moments when you doubted yourself, and how did you stay motivated?
“To be honest, I doubted myself before the process even began. After realizing that only a small pool of candidates would be chosen, I already had a feeling I was not going to make it to the final round. Luckily I had a support system that encouraged me to keep going. My family, Ms. Sikes, and my friends’ encouragement really pushed me to do my best. Because of the people around me, I was able to keep myself positive throughout the process.”
