<p>Do you need to have a 4.0, get amazing test scores, and write perfect essays? If so, I have no chance in hell.</p>
<p>I have a 3.8/4.8, ACT score of 28, 27 and crap essays… You think I’ll make it?</p>
<p>Don’t worry dudes. The average SAT score of last year’s finalists was only 1326/1600 and 1940/2400. Even though a lot of them were valedictorians, it could be largely attributed to that fact that most of us attend crappy public high schools. I’m pretty sure the vast majority of the applicants on CC will become finalists.</p>
<p>[National</a> College Match Program: 2009 College Match Finalist Profile](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/students/profiles_class2014/finalist.stats.html]National”>http://www.questbridge.org/students/profiles_class2014/finalist.stats.html)</p>
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<p>Although that would be very cool, just fyi I believe last year’s “finalist rate” was about 43%, so not quite 1 in two were selected as finalists.</p>
<p>^ Keep in mind that CC posters is a very self-selective pool. More than 70% of the posters in Penn’s decision thread last year were accepted even though the acceptance rate was really only 14.3%. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if over 85% of us here obtain the finalist status eventually.</p>
<p>What do you have to do to qualify for questbridge?</p>
<p>And what exactly is this program?</p>
<p>I think Questbridge accepted 6500 applications this year so that’s definitely more than the past years’ numbers :/</p>
<p>I’ve been constantly worrying about this ): </p>
<p>I wish I would have taken the ACT earlier (I’m taking it in October) because I’m pretty confident that my ACT score is going to be wayyyyyy higher than my SAT score - so that would help a lot. But as of right now, I probably have an average to slim chance… I’m definitely not “National College Match” material. No way in hell am I actually going to get a full ride ED to any of those colleges with my current test scores, haha.</p>
<p>@hanstick</p>
<p>Questbridge, in the context that is being discussed in this thread, refers specifically to the National College Match scholarship program. It’s essentially a special kind of Early Decision program specifically for low-income students. </p>
<p>To qualify, you generally need to have a household income at $60,000 or lower (although it’s not necessarily a requirement), and you must fill out an application, similar to one you would use to apply to college. </p>
<p>If you’re a senior, it’s too late to apply to the National College Match. The deadline was last week.</p>
<p>If you’re still interested, visit the Questbridge website: <a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge;
<p>i wonder, does being a finalist guarantee full ride? :/</p>
<p>James, College Match guarantees the particular college’s “full-ride” package (but usually it includes a student job, so not really full-ride). See their website for details. It explains everything.</p>
<p>as long as i can go to college on full ride, i dont mind doing some job or internship… i mean, i can write it on my resume later…</p>
<p>@3coolcats What’d you get on the ACT?</p>
<p>@gadgor, well I haven’t taken it yet (I’m taking i in October), but I’d to think I’m going to get at least a 32. <em>fingers crossed</em> I’m terrible at tests.</p>
<p>This is kind of immaterial since we already all know our results, but I would question whether your financial status means you really need Questbridge rather than if your scores are good enough.
I was a College Prep awardee, 2360 SAT, 4.0, strong extracurriculars etc, 40,000 income…not a finalist.</p>
<p>As you can tell by last year’s finalist profile, there are considerably many people who have incomes ranging from 40-60k. Personally, I’m around your range, but I think my essays and adversities played a larger role than test scores and academics (not to say the latter were too weak!)</p>