<p>hi,
Has anyone ever been a QuestBridge Scholar and gotten a full scholarship to say Columbia, or any of the schools? If so, tell me your stats and how you got into the program? Any advice?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>look up "finale" on collegeconfidential. She was a QuestBridge Scholar and a QuestLeadership Scholar. She's going to Harvard.</p>
<p>Michelle_b, my D was a finalist. It is a FANTASTIC opportunity.Grueling and early application but definitely worth the effort. D did not do the CollegeMatch part of the program because she was not willing to go into a binding decision. If she had been, she would probably have had full ride at most of the partner schools. I notice that Columbia is one of the "Match" partners this year. Wow! QUESTBRIDGE IS AN AMAZING AND UNDERRATED OPPORTUNITY. Go for it! PM me if you want. </p>
<p>Here are D's "stats". </p>
<p>Fee Waiver Used?: No
SAT I (by section): 2080 (680 M) (660 CR) (740 W)
SAT II: Literature 740, US History 690, Writing 700
ACT:29
APs: 7 (all offered on campus)
IBs: none
GPA, Weighted and Unweighted: 4.0 UW, 4.41 W
Rank: 2/250
Senior Yr Courseload: 5 APs + 2-year environmental monitoring project
Number of Apps from Your School: 4
Other stats: National Achievement Finalist, Questbridge Finalist, bunch of school awards, league swimming awards, county art award (oil painting), Summertime spanish language and Stanford philosophy program
Subjective:
ECs listed on app: Interact Club founder and president, Interact District Council Area Rep., swimming, dance, art, National Honor Society president and v-pres., environmental monitoring, Key Club, peer tutor (Spanish, English, Biology, Chemistry, Math)
Essays (subject and responses): Simple, descriptive, heartfelt, well-written
Teacher Recs: amazing
Counselor Rec: Hmmm...a lot of spelling errors, but glowing
Interview (feel and general location): didn't have one
Hook (if any): Low-income, highly motivated, URM, First Generation 2 year environmental monitoring project is unique
State or Country: Boulder Creek, California Rural Suburb
School Type, Average Stats of School: Noncompetitive public, (CA API = 8) 50% graduate with UC qualifications
Ethnicity: Afro-Caribbean-American
Income Bracket: low $50K-$60K
Gender: Female
Strengths/Weaknesses:
strengthscultural awareness, leadership, writing, spanish, science
weaknesses--SATs</p>
<p>I, too, was a finalist. It really was an amazing opportunity. I got a letter from Williams, one of the three schools I ranked, saying they couldn't accept me through QB because my EFC was not zero, but they still "encouraged me to apply." My EFC at Williams ended up being 3,000 so I was definitely pleased. Also, my stats were not amazing, I had a 2150 SAT, 3.7 GPA, but I had a job where I worked over 20 hours a week. My essays were good, I think, and I had good recs. If you decide to apply, realize two things: 1) start the application as soon as it is posted, it is very time-consuming. 2) once the finalists are selected, it is HIGHLY competitive and that just because you aren't matched does not mean that you will not get accepted RD; in fact, you probably will, it's just that the school can't afford to give everyone a full ride. Good luck. Email me with questions.</p>
<p>I too was a Quest Bridge Finalist and a Quest Scholar semifinalist. It was an amazing opportunity for me and it really looks great on your resume. I am going to Pomona College next year, one of their match schools, although I did not initially get matched to a college. Quest Bridge only gives you full scholarships to the schools on their list, most of which are top LACs and Universities, but it definitely will look nice on your application even if you decide not to match.</p>
<p>and about the application...
Doing the essays for Questbridge will get you over the self-reflection and procrastination involved in starting the college application process. You will go through that in August/September rather than in November when you have full probably AP course loads going on. My D used all of her QB essays for actual RD applications later. The QB app included essay prompts that were taken directly from the Stanford and Princeton applications. She also modified and used these essays for several scholarship apps. </p>
<p>If your family income under $65K and you are high-achieving (among the top students at your school, URM and first generation = BONUS POINTS) do it. Even if you are not selected as a finalist, you will have gone through a good part of the college app process just by submitting your QB app. </p>
<p>btw Princeton flew my D from CA to NJ for Questbridge Scholar visit and though she applied RD to Stanford she received early notification of her admission. Both of these schools consider your QB application when applying RD. DO IT! (did I say that already?)</p>
<p>What the heck is this QuestBridge Scholar thing?</p>
<p>I wish I wouldve applied to it.</p>
<p>oh...doesnt look like kids from NY get accepted...and its too late anyway.</p>
<p>still, a free ride at Amherst would have been awsome.</p>
<p>I regretted not applying for that. I finished all of the short answers, then got disheartened by the number of essays (and the early deadline, not to mention there was the whole hurricane rita thing going on around here at that time).</p>
<p>I guess I kind of regret not applying for it. I was a QuestLeadership semifinalist and was too lazy and disheartened to apply for QuestBridge - when I got the call asking if was I going to apply, I think there was only really a week left. I actually didn't put anything about QuestLeadership on my application at all...(Though it was a good experience to start writing essays I guess, and just get a feel for the college admin process.) Oh well, I still got into Stanford, and with their policy, still got a full-ride, and will still be going there next year.</p>
<p>full-ride as in $0 student contribution, no work-study program, free?
how free is it?</p>
<p>keep in mind you do not have to be a URM to apply for questbridge.</p>
<p>Partner schools are </p>
<p>Amherst College</p>
<p>Bowdoin College</p>
<p>Grinnell College</p>
<p>Pomona College</p>
<p>Rice University</p>
<p>Scripps College</p>
<p>Trinity College</p>
<p>Wellesley College</p>
<p>Williams College </p>
<p>Wheaton College</p>
<p>Princeton University</p>
<p>Stanford University</p>
<p>So do I understand correctly that you have to be EITHER lower income (under 65K someone said earlier in the thread) OR URM, but not both -- is that correct?
My son received an invitation to apply and I'm trying to understand it all.</p>
<p>this is from <a href="http://www.Questbridge.org%5B/url%5D">www.Questbridge.org</a></p>
<p>Eligibility Criteria</p>
<p>The QuestBridge application is only open to students eligible to currently apply to college and who are able to matriculate in the next academic year. QuestBridge also looks for the folowing criteria.</p>
<p>Academic Excellence: QuestBridge seeks students who challenge themselves with the most difficult courses their high schools have to offer. We partner with some of the best colleges and universities in the country. QuestBridge finalists must also meet our partner schools' standards of excellence. Please visit the overview of our 2005 Match recipients' academic qualifications.</p>
<p>Range on our College Match students**: Most College Match students had a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0 (unweighted) and were in the top 10% of their class. These are not requirements to apply. </p>
<p>Financial Need: The College Match pairs students who would not otherwise be able to afford an elite private education with full, four-year scholarships at our partner schools. Additionally, many matched students do not have a history of higher education in their families and thus lack essential knowledge concerning the college application process. QuestBridge aims to make higher education a reality for such high-achieving, but under-privileged students.</p>
<p>Range on our College Match students**: Income: $0 to 60,000 per yea. This is not a requirement to apply. </p>
<p>Intellectual Curiosity and Dedication: QuestBridge looks for students who genuinely love learning and are motivated to succeed in the world of higher education and beyond, despite such barriers as financial and family circumstances.</p>
<p>**Ranges do not indicate absolutes. Ranges are given as guides. We consider many criteria when a student applies that often qualify scores or incomes outside the above ranges.</p>
<p>Found this while browsing <a href="http://www.questbridge.org/cps/info.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.questbridge.org/cps/info.php</a></p>
<p>Deadline 5/15/06</p>
<p>"College Prep Scholarship for HS Juniors</p>
<p>High-achieving low-income students often lack many of the resources and information available to their more affluent classmates when applying to college, such as SAT prep courses, college visits, and college summer programs. The College Prep Scholarship is designed to provide a risk-free opportunity for outstanding low-income students to explore and prepare for applying to the nation's top-ranked colleges and universities."</p>
<p>Right. It sounds like a great opportunity, but I'm wondering if there aren't kids who are much more lower income than my son who would be applying. We can't afford "an elite college" at all, but our EFC would probably be around 10k.
I don't want to seem sleazy by applying if it's really for free lunch students - but on the other hand - THEY contacted him, we didn't go out looking...
I'm just not sure how I feel about it
He's also 1/8 native american, but I don't think they would know that...</p>
<p>Csr43: I have 2,500 in work study and the minimum student contribution of 1,700 which mainly goes into the Other/Transportation category. Otherwise, the rest is paid for in a combination of scholarships and grants. So not exactly "full-ride" but as full-ride as you can get at Stanford, I believe, without outside scholarships. </p>
<p>I think some people who are not incredibly low-income also get it. I have less experience, but apply! One thing that has always bothered me me about it is that several people from very good public schools - one from Stuveysant, arguably the best public in the nation - got in. The program is billed to help people who otherwise wouldn't have that much of a chance get into "elite" colleges. I think several of these students had very good chances, even without the program. Maybe I'm just bitter (well, maybe not as this would also apply to me, because I also had the same qualms applying because I am no where near as underprivileged as some of the other people there), but can someone explain this?</p>
<p>They also contact people on basis of PSAT score, and it should say that in the e-mail. They don't very specifically look for low-income students, last I heard, because I remember it said in the e-mail that if you aren't low-income, ignore the e-mail or forward it to someone who is.</p>
<p>orjr, on whether or not your son should apply:
Although the application takes some time, it is not really a waste of time. Your son will end up with some essays that he will be able to use on other applications. Plus he will have gone through some self-reflection which can be a stumbling block for many kids beginning the app process. </p>
<p>Last year, the app included these short answer questions (limit 3 lines each):
What is (are) your fav type of music, sports, book or movie, website, source of inspiration?
How do you spend a typical weekday evening?
How do you spend a typical weekend?
Who are your heroes; whom do you admire?
What things make you the happiest?
My friends see me as _________
What are 3 qualities you admire most in others?
What things make you most angry?
What do you do when you are upset with a classmate?
How do you rejuvenate your spirit?
What qualities do you look for in your friends?
What do you consider your most important achievement?</p>
<p>And here are the longer essays from last app:</p>
<p>Describe an extracurricular activity or work experience that made you doubt yourself and explain what you learned. (answer 40 lines max)</p>
<p>How would you complete the following quote by Albert Einstein:
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of __________________" In completing this quote, describe an experience or idea that awakened your intellectual curiosity. (40 lines, and this was a tweaked version of a question on Princeton's app)</p>
<p>List and describe the factors in your life that have shaped you. (40 lines - and my D later edited and used this essay on ALL of her applications that
asked a "Tell us something about yourself")</p>
<p>And then there is a choice of two 80 line answer questions.
A) Choose a photograph of something important to you and describe its significance. (This is directly from Stanford application.)</p>
<p>B) Estimate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and it's impact on you (from the Common App)</p>
<p>That's it on the essays. Believe me, no matter what, your son will be able to use these essays again. During the Nov application process my D was so thankful that she already had a handful of usable material for the applications.</p>
<p>The application also requires 2 teacher recs and a counselor rec to be submitted on line. There is also a huge advantage to doing this for QB because your son will be asking for recs WAY before the crush of other recommendation requests in Nov and Dec. Give the teachers as much notice as possible. He should make sure they save a electronic copy so they can be used again for regular applications.</p>
<p>Anyway, obviously I am a huge supporter of Questbridge. The application is daunting. Whether or not your son is selected as a Questbridge Scholar, his effort will be worth it.</p>
<p>Yomama - Thank you so much for all your info! It's not that the process scares him off, we just thought maybe we aren't low enough income to be who they are truly looking for, and I don't want to be "gaming the system" - I WAS a person that would have qualified for the program - parents who didn't finish HS, 6 kids in the family, no running water for part of my growing up years....
Our family has come a very long way and we want to respect both the Questbridge folks and ourselves. On the other hand, if their definition of "low income" means you can't pay for Stanford - we're definitely in!! :)
I'm just conflicted.</p>