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Alexander “AP” Piggatt started thinking about his college plans earlier than most of his peers.

Now, the Collegiate High School senior is a finalist for QuestBridge National College Match. QuestBridge is an organization that matches students from low-income backgrounds with full four-year scholarships from 55 of the best colleges in the United States.

Piggatt, 18, applied with QuestBridge’s National College Match as a junior – which was also his first year as Collegiate.

QuestBridge allows its members to apply to up to 15 of its member colleges free of charge.

Piggatt applied to Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, Penn, Rice, Vanderbilt and USC, although he considers Stanford, in Palo Alto, California, to be his top choice. He’s applied to Stanford and will know on December 1 if he’s been accepted.

“Stanford is my dream school – they have resources, great networking and an amazing alumni base,” Piggatt said.

Piggatt is also not ruling out the military service academies, having attended a camp last summer at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Piggatt transferred to Collegiate from a neighboring district because of the opportunities in CHISD. Collegiate Principal John Edmun is glad to have him in the Collegiate Pathway.

“Alexander is laid back yet undeniably scholarly,” Edmun said. “He brings a level of focus and maturity well beyond his years. His steady work ethic and genuine heart show up in everything he does. I couldn’t be more proud of the individual he’s becoming.”

Piggatt is grateful to Collegiate Counselor Salillian McDaniel for “helping him realize the resources that are out there.”

“Cedar Hill ISD has been very helpful on my journey,” Piggatt said. “I am understanding my place and fulfilling my potential.”

Piggatt plans to study Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Computer Science in college.

“I’d like to work in AI for robotics or medicine,” Piggatt said. “I’d like to evaluate and improve the processes to help advance AI.”

Piggatt will graduate from Dallas College with an Associate’s Degree this spring. He’s involved with the National Honor Society, Senior Council, the Cedar Hill Tennis Team and the STEM League at Dallas College.

“I’ve played tennis since I was five years old,” Piggatt said. “It’s taught me how to stay calm under pressure and to take care of opportunities when they’re given. I’m a student coach for tennis at the country club, and I volunteer a lot as well.”