<p>I need your guys opinion. The QB program seems great and everything but Im honestly scared. I want to do it because I qualify; this opportunity is rare and is once in a life time. I know other indivuduals (even some people here) who would die to be able to apply to this prgram. </p>
<p>Now Im scared of the binding agreement for the sole reason that I haven't really visted none of the colleges. I'm low income as well so it's not like I can say "Mom get your things, we're going to swarthmore, amherst, bowdoin and some more colleges." We can't afford to visit all the colleges Im intersted in. What If I get into Bowdoin,UChicago, Amherst but don't like the area, or something to that effect? It's just nerve racking and scary; the fact of me making a decision based off of a website and a viewbook.</p>
<p>Also, I feel I have A LOT to offer in the program but I'm at a disadvantage. My GPA is 90; Top 25% of my class (over 75% of applicants are top 5% of their class). My SAT scores are 1480/2400 (The average SAT score is 1940). It's things like this as well that makes me insecure and not want to apply.</p>
<p>Can you guys just have patience with me and give me advice? Every single peice of advice will be helpful and I WILL listen to every single one of you. This is one of the hardest decisions of my life. </p>
<p>Any thoughts/opinions guys? It would really help.</p>
<p>23 replies =[ Guys I would really take all and any advice. This si truly a hard decision for me. =[</p>
<p>I have the same concern with not visiting the colleges. Am I correct in that you must be chosen as a finalist to apply to the colleges via questbridge in the first place? If so I would apply and see if I was selected before worrying too much about it.</p>
<p>You can always apply RD or EA outside of questbridge and they’ll probably give you the same FA packages. </p>
<p>You do have to realize you are well below the average at these schools, so you may want to see what you can do to raise your scores and find plenty of safety and match schools. A safety school is one you’d be happy to attend and that is likely to meet your financial need.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks aigiqinf! I wish that was the way it went but the informations says after I submit my application, I must submit up to 8 colleges I want to attend if I make it to the finale. </p>
<p>And yeah, I do realize that. That’s the one thing I do have to take in account.</p>
<p>Yes, you have to be chosen as a finalist to qualify to apply through Questbridge:) It’s hard to get into those QB partner colleges in the first place, so I can imagine it’s just as hard, if not harder, if you’re asking for a full ride. You’ll need good GPA and SAT scores, the same as if you’re applying to these schools without QB, so you definitely need to improve upon your SAT score.</p>
<p>As for college visit… if you’re minority, here’s good news for you! Being low-income myself, I received a letter from Amherst College some time around May this year about their “Diversity Open House Weekends”, which will take place Sep 26-28th and Oct 24-26th. According to Amherst:</p>
<p>“Typically, the Admission Office will fund 100% of airline, bus, or train transportation costs for students visiting during the Open House Weekends. Some students who apply to the Open House will also receive a fee waiver for the Amherst College application fee in order to encourage their applications to Amherst, regardless of whether they are invited to attend…” So definitely check it out if you’re interested in Amherst! </p>
<p>It is encouraged that you submit a completed application by the priority deadline of Aug 3rd, though they will accept applications until the programs are filled… ideally you should send in application no later than Aug 14th. There’s a good chance that they may still have space, so why not give them a call:) Sincerely explain your situation to them and ask whether you can still apply. You’ll need a copy of their application, and you need to ask your counselor to send them your high school transcript.</p>
<p>Also, there’s already a QuestBridge discussion forum somewhere around CC… if post your situation on there someone more knowledgeable about QB may be able to better answer your questions. Good luck!</p>
<p>^^^^^^^^</p>
<p>You do NOT have be a finalist to apply through Questbridge.</p>
<p>[QuestBridge</a> National College Match - Regular Decision Table](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/students/post_match.html]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/students/post_match.html)</p>
<p>Beatfreaks, keep in mind that you do not have to apply to the college match program. You could always opt to apply to schools through Questbridge’s regular decision round.</p>
<p>Yeah, GA2012MOM and evertheoptimist are right, you can apply through the regular decision round. I was only thinking of QB college match.</p>
<p>Ds also is hesitant to apply to schools he’s never seen – and who can blame him? He’s applyng frst choice to the one binding school he;s seen and knows he loves and then picking two nonbinding schools that I said we’d pay to fly out to see because $500 in plane fare would be a good investment for a free ride.</p>
<p>Guys – seriously, thank you all. I’ll deffinately post my situation at the thread. And wow, my darn SAT score is what’s killing me. It’s so fustrating but I do indeed plan to take the SAT again in October (aiming for a 400+ point increase). </p>
<p>xrCalico23: That’s right! I forgot to mention Amherst – I got the DivOH invitation as well. I sent my things in late July (I think 2 weeks ago). So I’ll probably see you there! And thanks for your input. </p>
<p>And will the partner schools be able to see my SAT scores if I take them in october? The deadline is sept. 30 so how would that work (ikf anyone knows)?</p>
<p>I think June SAT is the latest for becoming a finalist. But you can send later SAT scores to colleges, of course.</p>
<p>Oh no! I didn’t apply for the Diversity Open House since I’ve decided not to apply to Amherst:(. Now I almost wish I did… then I might have actually been able to meet you in person!</p>
<p>Just a quick question: I thought that if you don’t apply through the college match program, then you’re not guaranteed to receive a four-year scholarship that pays for all board and tuition? If so, I see little point in applying through QB just for the regular round other than to showcase the fact that you’re low-income and have might have therefore overcome unusual hardship. The thing is that usually, once accepted, low-income students generally receive great financial aid packages at those listed colleges anyway, even without QB. So what’s the benefit of QuestBridge if you don’t participate in College Match?</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, I think Questbridge is absolutely awesome. I’m just a little confused about the process.</p>
<p>The QuestBridge application is different any therefore allows you to tell more about your individual circumstances than colleges would know otherwise. </p>
<p>Students would receive great financial aid packages at the same school, yes, but they’d have a harder time getting in. The way I see it is this: the schools participate in QuestBridge so that they look nice, can get students who wouldn’t have applied otherwise, and they know that they will automatically get a lot of the qualified low income people they accept and increase their yield.</p>
<p>Okay. This is a stupid question, but what if you are not interested in applying to the 25 schools listed as partners? Should you apply for the Questbridge program? Would it give you an up on perhaps getting scholarships at a regular college that you hope to attend?</p>
<p>These colleges are all wonderful, the ones we’ve heard of down here, but if these colleges either don’t have your child’s intended major, or they’re not a good fit, for one reason or another, should you apply to the program?</p>