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SPRINGDALE, Ark.—Jennifer Garcia began searching the Internet last summer for scholarship opportunities to help pay her college expenses.

“I knew my mom wouldn’t be able to help,” said the 17-year-old senior at Springdale High School.

She happened onto a Web site sponsored by QuestBridge, a national organization that matches students, especially low-income students, with top-ranked colleges around the country. On a whim, Garcia went through an exhaustive application process and it’s paying off in a big way.

Garcia received a $200,000 scholarship to attend Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., the liberal arts women’s college of The Claremont Colleges. The college has an enrollment of about 900 students. “I was shocked and seriously surprised,” she said, when she was notified she was being awarded a scholarship. She is also a recipient of a $20,000 scholarship from Dell computers.

Heading toward a career as a doctor, Garcia said she was impressed by the science programs offered at Scripps, particularly a two-semester course combining chemistry, physics and biology, which will earn her 24 hours of credit. She plans to major in neuroscience and biochemistry.