ACT just sent me an email regarding my delayed scores. How does this impact my Questbridge App?

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I reposted this here, as I may get a better response under the ACT section.

Hello.
I will be applying to a few top-tier schools through the Questbridge College match. I am a finalist in the program and hope that I will be matched to schools.

I am in a bit of a pickle. I just got this email from ACT regarding my scores being delayed. How does this impact my application if I am applying to schools like Columbia, Yale, Prinecton, and Stanford?

Also, I just took the October ACT on the 24th. Do you guys think that my scores will reach the schools in time if I send them via the testing agency? I am desperate right now. I have a really strong application yet have no test scores, and my October score is supposed to be a few points higher than my September. What do you guys think I should do?

The email text is as follows:
ACT is aware that you have not yet received your September writing test scores, and we are working to report those scores as quickly as possible. Thousands of new scores are being released each day. The scoring and reporting of the writing test is taking longer than typical due to the introduction of the enhanced design of the writing test. We anticipate all writing scores will be released within the stated 3-8 week timeframe communicated on the ACT student website and in other materials (by November 6th).

We understand that you may be facing important application and scholarship deadlines. Unfortunately, official ACT score reports are not available to you, your high school or colleges until after your writing test scoring is complete. Because of this, ACT has alerted colleges that some September writing scores have not yet been reported.

ACT has been in contact with many institutions about their upcoming application deadlines and found that different colleges have different preferences and acceptable options for students still awaiting their ACT writing scores. For this reason, ACT encourages you to contact applicable college admissions offices and/or scholarship agencies to learn their specific procedures under the circumstances.

Potential options may include:

Submitting a copy of this email as evidence that you are among the impacted students
Submitting a screenshot of your September multiple-choice scores
Sending scores from a prior ACT or SAT test if available. (Additional information on submitting a prior ACT test score can be found at http://media.act.org/documents/septemberscores.pdf)
We know and appreciate how hard you worked to prepare for the ACT test, and we understand how important this is to you. We are working as quickly as possible to report each examinee’s scores.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact ACT Customer Care.

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@Yomo710 Have you either called or e-mailed QuestBridge? Reminder they are on Pacific time and therefore they are still open for business today. In my dealings with them they were always prompt in getting back to me. I usually had an e-mail reply the same day and/or a return phone call within 24 hours. You aren’t their only student that is being affected by the delay in ACT scores. They may have something already in place with their partner universities and colleges to cover the finalists. You could also reach out to the schools you ranked alerting them that you are a QuestBridge finalist and are among those affected by the scoring delay. I know from personal experience that some of the campuses have a QuestBridge liaison to contact with questions or problems.

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@saffysmum I will contact Questbridge, but do not think they would of much help as it is out of their hands. I had to remove about 6 schools from my ranking list because my October score will not be here in time.

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@Yomo710 I understand that they have no control over ACT scores however they may have an arrangement with their partner schools to help the finalists that have ranked them. Use the partnership between QuestBridge and the schools to your advantage. You worked extremely hard to become a finalist. Take the help they offer. Reach out to the individual school’s QuestBridge liaison with your concerns. I know that Columbia has one and so some of the other schools you’ve mentioned.
As for removing schools there is no need to do that if you are truly interested in the school. You are making an assumption based upon a generalised statement. Yes scores have a cut off date however this is not a typical situation. The fault is with the testing organisation not due to poor planning on your part. Do not assume anything, allow the other party to tell you that you didn’t meet the criteria. You have one opportunity to be matched and the odds are not good. It would be a disservice to do anything to reduce your chance of being matched.

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@saffysmum you’re absolutely right. I ill keep the schools on my application.

As far as the liaison goes, do I contact them using the regular questbridge@school.edu email?

Thanks for your help!

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@Yomo710 When we needed to contact Columbia that is the address we used. I believe we had a reply by the next day. It was almost impossible to get a phone call through. Don’t sell yourself short. You have one shot at being matched, leave no stone unturned. You do not want to look back and wonder “What if I had just…?”
I wish we had known last year when we were going through the matching process what we know now that it is over. We ended with a happy result but to get there was long, hard and filled with anxiety and tears for us as a family. The more colleges you are willing to commit to the greater your chance. You have a life changing opportunity being placed in front of you. Seize it. Good Luck ! :slight_smile:

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@saffysmum

I will take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you for your kind and moving words. I will keep you posted!