<p>My top school goal in Stanford. And I was wondering for when I apply early, should I apply through normal EA/ED or through the Questbridge program?</p>
<p>I know Questbridge offers me great financial support and opportunities for other top institutions, but I was wondering if Questbridge can be a disadvantage? Are my chances applying early lowered, because colleges don't want all these financially needy kids pouring into their school?</p>
<p>Bump! Lots of views, I’d appreciate a reply, thanks! :X</p>
<p>Bump again? :X</p>
<p>I haven’t checked Stanford specifically, but most QB schools allow you to apply ED if you’re not matched.</p>
<p>For example, if you find out you’re not matched on Dec. 1st, you could email Haverford, Wellesley, or many other schools and tell them you want to apply ED there.
UChicago will automatically consider you for EA if you’re not matched, and then you can forward for RD.</p>
<p>Essentially, through QB, you can go through the decision process potentially three times - which I think is really strategic.</p>
<p>Here is the FAQ page for Stanford: [College</a> Match Program: Stanford FAQ](<a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge)</p>
<p>There’s also a table somewhere where they tell you how to forward your application for ED/EA/RD but I can’t find it right now.</p>
<p>@CalvinTBOD QuestBridge is not at all a disadvantage, as a matter of fact, it helps increase your chances of attending the college of your choice. I was part of the National College Match Scholarship and was matched with Stanford, my first choice school that I really didn’t think I had a chance of getting into. Not only did I get an amazing FA package, but I have a support system at Stanford with the QB program to keep me on track. QB isn’t just a great scholarship opportunity, it is a whole network of people whose goal is to help kids like us succeed in the colleges of our choice. Another great thing is, even if you’re not matched, your application goes on into the Regular Decision round with the QB app as a supplement to your CommonApp, meaning you have twice as many chances to show them how great an applicant you are. I really hope that you take the opportunity to do the QB programs and that you get accepted into Stanford, and any other schools you want. Hope this helps you make your choice. (:</p>
<p>Ah, thank you both very much! I think I will go for the Questbridge program.</p>
<p>I was mainly concerned because my brother was a Questbridge finalist but was not matched with any of his schools. However, when Regular Decision came along (he didn’t apply as QB for RD), he was accepted into Columbia (studies Industrial Engineering and Economics). So he felt that Questbridge was a disadvantage for students, since it would let colleges know you would need financial assistance.</p>
<p>Well, sometimes in the Match round, colleges are looking for very specific groups to match - URMs, for example - and you may not be matched. The RD round, however, gives you a MUCH better chance of being accepted into a QB partner school. If you don’t want to do the Match round, you can always apply for QB, then if you become a finalist, put that on your application and apply SCEA to Stanford. Win-win. Best of luck! 
</p>
<p>(P.S. I was exactly like you - Stanford was #1 by far. But I was not matched to Stanford, but to Yale, which is non-binding. So now, I have another shot at Stanford in RD round, and PLUS I don’t have to worry at all through these months because I have another great school I could go to. Just make sure you don’t do binding schools since Stanford is your #1.)</p>
<p>So I can apply to Stanford theoretically three times, once in the “Match” round, once again through SCEA, and for a third time through RD? And applying SCEA/RD via Questbridge isn’t a disadvantage?</p>
<p>Sorry if I sound naggy. But thanks for all your help, really. :]</p>
<p>Yup Calvin, I’m personally on my third application to MIT. Questbridge was one, deferred in EA and I am now waiting for regular decision. If I get wait-listed I think I’m in contention for the longest college decision wait time.</p>
<p>Haha, I see. Thanks a lot! And good luck! :D</p>
<p>I was not aware of the multiple attempt option, but have heard that for example, Caltech accepts only 1% of QB applicants. </p>
<p>Will some schools say/think “we already denied you on one application, so we’ll deny you on all” ?</p>
<p>@Calvin. Not quite - You can’t apply both for the Match and SCEA. A part of applying for the Match is that you won’t apply EA anywhere else - so you can pick Match / RD or SCEA / RD</p>
<p>I read your post again, I see what you’re saying. :P</p>
<p>I’ll probably apply to the three non-binding QB schools, and if I’m not matched with Stanford, I’ll try again RD round. But that all depends on how much high school resume would look by then. Personally, I’d be happy right now to attend Dartmouth. And again, thanks! xD</p>
<p>Ya, Physicsnut is right, Stanford doesn’t allow it. Check out this list to see who does allow app forwarding to the EA decision. [QuestBridge</a> National College Match - Regular Decision Table for Finalists](<a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge)</p>
<p>Does that mean being a Questbridge finalist has no impact on your chances when applying for Stanford RD? Sorry, this is getting all confusing now. :X</p>
<p>I know, it is confusing :)</p>
<p>It does NOT mean that being a finalist has no bearing - it means that you will have to fill out the Stanford application in RD (if not matched with Stanford in the Match round) and that the QB application will only act as a supplement in RD (not the whole application as in the case of some other schools, Brown for instance). BUT, that’s still three more essays for them to get to know you better, so yes, it does help Hope that was somewhat clear.</p>
<p>Agreed. The admissions officers will have three extra essays that they can read AND a lot of little boxes throughout the application where you can explain details of your existence. It’s awesome :D</p>
<p>Also, some schools, UChicago for instance, will have a specific Questbridge representative that will keep in touch with you until December 1st. The QB rep for UChi was so, so, so nice and helpful, and replied to my questions as soon as she could.</p>
<p>For clarification, Stanford does not consider you for SCEA if you are not matched–thus you have only two opportunities to apply: once through the Match process, once in the RD (if not matched). In either case, you have to complete the Common App. But applying to SCEA carries a significant chance of being rejected, whereas with the Match process, you are guaranteed at least another shot in the RD round (deferral). Most Quest Scholars at Stanford are actually admitted in the RD round–100+ in most years, I think. Still the acceptance rate is <10% but you do get special consideration, being in an identified pool, in both rounds.</p>
<p>Okay so I was a finalist, but I was not matched with a school. Is this like being deferred?</p>
<p>^Exactly .</p>