San Luis student Kassandra Thompson accepted to Columbia University

Kassandra Thompson turned a demanding course load and extra hours of studying into a rare prize for a Yuma County student: admission to Columbia University in New York, one of the most selective colleges in the country.

The 18-year-old San Luis resident and Yuma Catholic High School student was accepted after years of taking advanced classes and putting in more academic effort than usual. That path matters in Yuma County, where families often look for a clear blueprint for what can move a student from a local campus to an Ivy League university. Thompson’s route showed that the combination of rigorous classes and sustained work outside the classroom can open doors far beyond Yuma.

Columbia’s numbers show how steep the climb was. For the Class of 2025, the university received 60,551 applications and admitted 2,355 students, for an admit rate of 3.9%. Among students who submitted test scores, the middle 50% SAT range was 1490 to 1560. In other words, Thompson reached a school that rejects most applicants and still draws students with exceptionally strong academic profiles.

Her preparation started at Yuma Catholic High School, which serves about 500 students in Yuma County and surrounding areas. The school offers Advanced Placement, dual credit and honors courses, the same kinds of classes that can help students build a transcript strong enough to compete at highly selective universities. Thompson’s acceptance underscores how those options can matter for students in San Luis, Yuma and nearby communities that want a direct path to top-tier colleges.

Columbia says it reviews first-year applicants holistically, weighing academic potential, intellectual strength and the ability to think independently. That approach fits a student like Thompson, whose record combined advanced coursework with extra academic time. For Yuma County families mapping out high school years, the lesson is plain: choose harder classes early, keep the grades high and treat every semester as part of the application. Thompson’s acceptance to Columbia shows that a student from San Luis can turn that strategy into a spot at one of the nation’s most exclusive universities.