Maryann Dang grew up in Winona, Mississippi—which she calls a “pit-stop town.” It’s the kind of place where people get gas, pick up food, and then move on.

She was interested in college but didn’t think she would ever consider a top-tier institution.

This fall, she’ll be attending Yale University.

“I definitely realized that high-level colleges look for all types of kids,” Maryann says, “and one of those types is rural kids.”