Can someone explain Questbridge?

<p>OK so I've read in several forums how kids who do Questbridge, which I think is a low-income sort of thing, are finding out from colleges earlier than most. In the Princeton forum, even though Princeton eliminated early decision, a poster claimed that he would know his decision on December 1st because he had applied through Questbridge. If true, how is that fair to the rest of the candidates? Wasn't the whole reasoning behind getting rid of ED/EA to put everyone into a single, more fair bracket? If some kids, albeit low-income ones, are being notified earlier, isn't there inherent hypocricy in the Universities' policies? Can someone help me out?</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/381912-official-questbridge-scholarship-thread.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/381912-official-questbridge-scholarship-thread.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks for the link. An interesting program, but I'd be interested to see how Princeton can justify ending Early Decision but still notifying Questbridge kids by December 1st...seems a little ridiculous.</p>

<p>They can easily justify it.</p>

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Wasn't the whole reasoning behind getting rid of ED/EA to put everyone into a single, more fair bracket?

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<p>Yes, because all the low-income students, by being put in with all the middle- and high-income students, are at the same advantage, right?</p>

<p>All the information you ask about is one the QuestBridge site, which you could have easily found by Google.</p>

<p>QuestBridge</a> Home Page</p>

<p>ED/EA was eliminated to give students a fair chance -- aimed mainly at low-income students, who were discouraged from applying early (you are advised not to apply anywhere early unless you can pay for it). Thus, having an early program through QuestBridge--aimed at low-income students--makes sense. Plus, before Princeton had ED; through QuestBridge, it's EA.</p>

<p>I understand that ED hurts low-income students and that Questbridge has EA...but why can't everyone have EA? Is it really fair that the rest of the applicants have to wait four more months simply because of their family's circumstances (some families have more money than others...completely being kids' control). I don't see why Questbridge kids being notified December 1st by their top-of-the-list schools is fair while the rest have to wait until April 1st.</p>

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I understand that ED hurts low-income students and that Questbridge has EA...but why can't everyone have EA?

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<p>QuestBridge is mostly ED; for the twenty partner schools, the majority have ED through QB. A few (like Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Notre Dame, etc.) are non-binding; for them, QB is, essentially, EA.</p>

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Is it really fair that the rest of the applicants have to wait four more months simply because of their family's circumstances

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<p>Is it fair that some are more impressive applicants because they've been blessed with higher incomes? Or that some applicants get legacy preferences? Or that some applicants get athletic preferences? There are many injustices in admissions. Notification date is the least of them.</p>

<p>
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I don't see why Questbridge kids being notified December 1st by their top-of-the-list schools is fair while the rest have to wait until April 1st.

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<p>Many of QB partners have early programs outside of QB, so if you want to apply to that, go ahead. The point of QB is to flag high-achieving, low-income students to colleges.</p>

<p>In addition, QB partners are not necessarily at the top of students' lists, though it is ED for most.</p>

<p>You honestly sound like a kid crying because somebody else has a better flavored lollipop than you do.</p>

<p>Well, to tell you the truth, I would cry if someone's lollipop was a better flavor so HA!</p>

<p>I'm sorry if I sound childish, I just don't understand why kids using Questbridge NEED to be identified by their first-choice schools earlier. Why should they get preference? Does notifying them 4 months earlier really make a difference/eliminate cost barriers, really the issue at stake? I don't see it at all. All I see is hypocrisy.</p>

<p>Please stop hating.</p>