Harvard Dream School

Paying for College Access Programs (Questbridge, Posse)
1

<p>[I'm going to do my best not to sound pretentious here, but it's almost unavoidable when speaking about Ivies + QB. I really don't think I'll get into either though, I'm usually really humble.]</p>

<p>Hello CC. I'm a really poor junior in high school, and everyone is pressuring me to apply to QuestBridge, which is totally fine because it's a wonderful program. However, when I looked into it and discovered that QB is binding and doesn't include a lot of wonderful schools, I became a little anxious. It's mostly because, as stupid as it sounds, Harvard is my dream school.</p>

<p>Okay, I'm 99% sure I won't get into Harvard next year. Because Ivy admissions are a crapshoot etc etc. BUT I know I'm going to slave over my app and apply next year. (Preferably EA because my odds increase and it isn't binding.) The problem is, if I apply to QB and get matched and all the rest (which I'm not saying I will, but if I do) I can't go to Harvard. There goes my ~dream.</p>

<p>The thing is, I need a full ride wherever I go. If not, I just can't go to college. So reasonably, QB is my best bet. However, I'm also a helpless college romantic, and Harvard is my one true love. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding whether to apply or not? Is there anyway to withdraw from QB if accepted?</p>

2

<p>There’s no way to withdraw from QB if accepted that I can think of. I think what you really want to hear is that you’ll get into Harvard, but the chances are not in your favor (they’re not in anyone’s favor!)</p>

<p>I think that you should apply through QB because they have harvard caliber schools. If you’re meant to go to Harvard, you won’t get matched and you’ll get into harvard with full financial aid regular decision. If you’re not meant to go to Harvard, you’ll get matched.</p>

3

<p>There are 4 non-binding schools you can apply to… Yale, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford. </p>

<p>The QB partner schools are some of the best schools worldwide… commenting to your “and doesn’t include a lot of wonderful schools”. Wonderful is most definitely a matter of perspective.</p>

<p>Harvard isn’t included likely because they will offer the exact same offer either way (as do most/many of the partner schools).</p>

4

<p>First of all, you do not have to list any colleges at all for the match round if you become a QuestBridge finalist. You can just opt to go into the regular decision round. Then, you can apply to Harvard, as well as the amazing QuestBridge partner schools and see where you land. I also know that Harvard is very aware of the QuestBridge program, and do believe that they may give your application a further peek when evaluating because they know QuestBridge has already doen a lot of the work identifying the best kids. This way, you are open to all your best options. If you get into Harvard, then if you have as much need as you suggest, you should get a free ride there because they say they give 100% of your need. But, I wouldn’t rule out the other great schools QuestBridge is partners with.</p>

5

<p>“doesn’t include a lot of wonderful schools”
Are you serious? They have, according to the US News Rankings(Schools that are tied are just given the ordered rank):</p>

<h1>2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25- for the top National Universities</h1>

<h1>1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 24, 29, 37- for the top Liberal Arts Colleges</h1>

<p>Parsons, one of the best art schools in the world</p>

<p>If you don’t consider 5 of the 7 Ivy League Members, top schools such as Stanford and Northwestern, the 4 most elite liberal art colleges, the top engineering/science focused schools MIT and Caltech, and an assortment of other top schools to be wonderful schools, you are severely, severely misunderstood. </p>

<p>You seem like a person who hasn’t done enough research beyond the prestige of schools. Don’t worry, I was just like you. Then I did research on the QB schools and discovered Pomona was my top choice. I got matched with a full ride, and I have absolutely no regrets about it. Seriously- go and research each of the school before the match process…quality of life, quality of teaching, the student body, the diversity, the course offerings, EVERYTHING. I promise you that you’ll find more choices among the exceptional Questbridge schools than you think there are. I promise your current statement “Harvard is my one true love” will be proven wrong.</p>