<p>I am a low-income rising senior and I just found out about Questbridge. First of all, is it too late for seniors to apply? The website is a little confusing to me. Also, what advantage does Questbridge give to its applicants? Is the only advantage being able to write more in the Common Application? I think I would qualify, however I don't know if it's worth my time.</p>
<p>No it is not too late, The Jr year application period (for advising/summer programs) is closed. For Sr year, it is due sometime toward the end of summer. All this is on the website. There is also a QB section under the Financial Aid forum. Go there and read answers to other people’s questions about advantage of being a Finalist. I think 1) College Match if you like to do that 2) a chance to present yourself a little more in depth to partner colleges, 3) nice award for your applications partner or not
<a href=“Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/</a></p>
<p>What is College Match? Also, it’s an award? I thought it was just a program. Thank you.</p>
<p>Do a search of QuestBridge here on CC. It’s all spelled out, in great detail. @GA2012MOM does a nice job of explaining it on the thread! Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Ok, thank you. I guess I just don’t really see what it means to be involved with Questbridge, despite the fact that I’ve read their website. I don’t really get what the program does for the students. Thanks for the information</p>
<p>I have read a few of the forums here on CC too.</p>
<p>QB finalists are thoroughly vetted and highly sought by very exclusive colleges. If you become one, you may be matched with some great schools. Even if you’re not a finalist, QB participants benefit from the fact that colleges recognize it’s a serious honor and you’ll be targeted with great offers.</p>
<p>If your family qualifies under its financial terms and you have the drive/determination to complete the QB app process, I recommend it.</p>
<p>Awesome thank you!</p>
<p>Questbridge is an intensive, wonderful program – but in exchange for the benefits, you have to put in a lot of work. Do the research, read a lot, find a guidance counselor at your school to talk to about it.</p>
<p>Also, depending on what city you live in, check out Posse.</p>
<p>For the record, I agree that the QB website is not as clear as it should be.</p>
<p>You have to apply to QB College Match which is the program for Seniors.If you are named a Finalist, you can put that on your college applications, under Awards section. Your award is being named a Questbridge Finalist. You list that for any college you apply to RD. It is considered an honor and makes you look somewhat special to colleges.</p>
<p>If you are a finalist, you can choose to do College Match. It is optional. Read about it on the QB pages or on the QB forum here.</p>
<p>Great info, thanks for helping me understand.</p>
<p>The advantage of Questbridge is exactly as you said, that it gives you more space than in the Common Application to talk about your background. It offers essay prompts that help you better highlight what you can bring to colleges, brings your family’s income situation right to the front of your application, and I think there is more of a sense of “social camaraderie” by being a QB finalist. </p>
<p>Otherwise, finance-wise, if you qualify for QB you receive full FA at their match schools regardless of how you apply. Also, another downsides to consider are that MOST schools in this country do not participate and application to most QB school are binding, i.e. you must attend if accepted.</p>
<p>Although it is true that 99% of US schools do not participate, the QB app is essentially an early decision app- it is binding and I think the deadline is November 1. You can choose between 4 and 8 schools and if you don’t get matched you can apply to any other school you want in December. And your match schools can roll over to regular decision if you want.</p>
<p>The app is due at the end of september and you can choose to fo the match or defer till the RD round. Ormdad, students can choose anywhere from 1 to 8 schools for the Match, and not all schools are binding. </p>
<p>@GA2012MOM thanks for the clarifications. The 4 schools that are non-binding (Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT) do not have binding ED policies so I guess that makes sense. Yale, Princeton and Stanford are restrictive EA so QB seems like a way to get around this if you are a highly qualified candidate.</p>